ANOINTING THE LORD
John 12:1-8
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages." 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
In the anointing of the Lord Jesus by Mary, we have a wonderful narrative. Did Mary fully understand what she was doing? It is important to see the words of the Lord just here. The Lord said she did it for His burial!
Matthew 26:12 By pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she has prepared Me for burial. [Holman]
Did she really understand? The Lord stated that He was going to be betrayed and crucified.
Matthew 26:2 "You know that two days from now will be Passover. That is when the Son of Man will be handed over to his enemies and nailed to a cross." [CEV]
Let us look at the account concerning this great gift.
It was
I. A GIFT OF GRATITUDE
Lazarus, Mary’s brother, had been raised from the dead by the Lord Jesus just a few days earlier. I feel sure that Mary, and Martha her sister would have been extremely grateful for the raising of their brother Lazarus from the dead.
We also have much to be grateful for
II Corinthians 9:15 thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]! [Amp]
II. IT WAS A GIFT OF LOVE
There can be no doubt of the love which Mary and her brother and sister had for the Lord Jesus – their home at Bethany was open to Him at any time. I wonder what the conversations were about when He stayed with them. Did He recount the miracles that had taken place? Did He repeat the discourses?
This love was a mutual love.
John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [They were His dear friends, and He held them in loving esteem.] [Amp]
The love that Jesus was showing to them is the same love He shows to all His ‘friends’. Let us remember that
I John 4:9-11 God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. 10 Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other. [CEV]
I John 4:19 We love Him, because He first loved us. [Amp]
III. IT WAS A GIFT OF WORSHIP
This was true abandoned worship. She did not care for those who looked on and criticised. We can get side-tracked by our concern for others coming before our concern for the Lord! We say ‘What will they think’, instead of ‘What will He think’!
In our worship, let us know something of this abandonment!
I Chronicles 16:29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the splendour of [His] holiness; [Holman]
He is wonderful! Praise him and bring an offering into his temple. Worship the LORD, majestic and holy. [CEV]
We can only use words like that if our eyes are focused on the Lord, and not on people.
IV. IT WAS A FRAGRANT GIFT
Kings were anointed; Priests were anointed. In feasts, the guest of honour was often anointed by the host as a sign of esteem. This was certainly a sign of the esteem with which Mary held the Lord Jesus.
In Luke 7, we have a similar happening, but the host, Simon, neglected the courtesies of the day, but the woman who was criticised so much was willing to show her appreciation and love for the Lord.
44 He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home, you didn’t give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn’t even pour olive oil on my head, but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet
Are we willing to anoint Him with our worship, as King of our lives; as our Great High Priest; as an honoured guest; as a sign of the esteem in which we hold Him?
Let us take note that the anointing
It Refreshed the recipient
It Graced the giver
It Affected others.
In Revelation 5:8 we read of the prayers of the saints being special.
Each of them had a harp and a gold bowl full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
V. IT WAS A COSTLY GIFT
The Authorised Version gives the value as 300 pence; the NIV suggests a year’s wages! If we remember that for many, a days wage was one penny, you will see that in today’s value we could be thinking of in excess of £12.000! She must have saved hard to be able to own such a valuable item!
What is of great interest here is the different value placed on the gift, and on the Lord. Judas, who was the treasurer, valued the gift at ten times more than he valued the Lord Jesus – he later sold Jesus for just thirty pieces of silver. Mary however was willing to pour out the precious ointment on the Lord Jesus, who was of far greater value than all the savings and work and effort that she had put into the purchase of this valuable perfume.
We need to evaluate our own values here. What is Jesus worth to us?
II Samuel 24:24 I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing.
These are the words of David, King of Israel.
Surely only the very best is good enough for the Lord, and for that reason we should willingly give our all to Him.
VI. IT WAS AN ACCEPTED GIFT
While others would have rejected this offering – Judas for the reason that he was a thief – Jesus was willing, and pleased to accept it. He looks at the motive behind the gift!
Mark 12:43-44 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” [NLT]
Many gave out of their abundance, but the widow gave from her poverty and gave far more than the others because it cost her so much to give.
The Lord is still looking for those who will willingly give out of what they have, even though it may be small. We must remember that He looks for our worship. Worship can be something directly between the heart and the Lord, and it can take the form of ministering to others in the name of the Lord.
John 4:23 the time is coming - indeed it’s here now - when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.
Are we willing to give Him our best?
