Jesus Anointed at Bethany
Mark 14 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you,[b] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
“The Perfume of Gratitude"
Jesus is Anointed at Bethany
14:1–11
Subject: Why does this woman make an extra-ordinary sacrifice by anointing Jesus with expensive perfume?
Complement: to show her extraordinary gratitude!
Idea; Amazing grace produces amazing gratitude.
Introduction:
We are called to be good stewards of time, treasure and talent.Yet sometimes we are called to be extravagant!
Lulu Fleming (1862-1899), was the daughter of a slave and a Civil War veteran. She was valedictorian of her class at Shaw University, she became the first Black person appointed a career missionary by the Woman's American Baptist Foreign Mission Society of the West.
She sailed for Africa in 1887; in 1895 she received a degree from the Pennsylvania Woman's Medical College. She returned to Africa, and for the remainder of her life was a medical missionary in the Congo.
Read text:… Mark 14:1-11
SITUATION : it is now just 2 days before Passover. Jesus arrest is immanent.
Ancient custom suggests that Jesus would have been anointed more than once as a guest.
The setting is in the home of “Simon the Leper” - who was cured. He was no longer a social outcast.
This anointing was not unprecedented: a distinguished rabbi might be honored in this way too.
this woman may be his wife - or sister - or neighbour. something prompted her to make this extravagant gesture of worship.
The cost of the “perfume” (from the nard plant, native to India), was an entire year's wages. think about that in terms of today's economy.Spices and ointments were quite costly because they had to be imported. these perfumes were sometimes used as an investment because they occupied a small space, were portable, and were easily negotiable in the open market.
in today's economy this perfume represented her retirement plan or saving's account.
the offering was valued at three hundred denarii, approximately a year’s wages for an ordinary working man.
She presented it as an offering of love and gratitude, prompted by Jesus’ restoration of this man. The fragrance of the perfume that filled the house told all present of her sacrificial gift.
The perfume was extracted from the thin-necked alabaster flask by snapping off the neck.
Meet Simon the Leper.
Is was unclean…and therefore ostracized by society - and likely living in poverty.
Jesus accepts him & heals him - while others refuse him.
and so we read this story of a woman spending extravagantly - because of deep gratitude.
Complication: but this perfume is very expensive… it seems like such a waste…what about the poor?
• Why this waste of perfume?
• One year’s wages
• 300 denarii
we have here a story of deep devotion - sandwiched between stories of betrayal… one of Jesus very own disciples - Judas conspiring with the religious authorities of judaism.
And so, they rebuked her - this could have been given to the poor !
**Have you ever tried to do something extravagant for Jesus and been rebuked?
Examples:
• I’m not going to become an accountant I’m going to be a Pastor
• I’m not going to practice medicine in Canada--- but in India - among the poor
• I’m going to give 10% income to the church… isn't it better to invest it and build up for our retirement…
I think I’d like to put a new roof on the cottage.
its a question we must all consider - What to do with my resources?
Give extravagantly or hoard?
RESOLUTION: Jesus commends the woman’s action.
It’s a metaphor of what Jesus has done and will do for us!
Thus, it's not much afterall… compared tot eh sacrifice Jesus will make on the cross - it’s a modest offering—not an extravagant one.
What they call waste, Jesus calls “a beautiful thing.”
And there's more - Jesus says, this story will be told wherever the gospel is preached – as an example of discipleship!!!
Immediately following this event Judas has had enough and decides to betray Jesus!!!
conclusion:
Jesus sacrificed himself for us!!!
This woman’s worship was modest compared to what Jesus was about to do for us!!!
Mark tells us… this anointing was for Jesus death and burial. This woman knew or sensed something that even the 12 had trouble understanding.
**Jesus was broken and wasted for us…. For our salvation! He went all the way to the cross….
Was that also a waste? No… it was a necessity.
Romans 5:6-8 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus sacrificed himself for us and for our salvation.
The anointing prepares Jesus for his burial after dying the death of a criminal - for only in that circumstance would the customary anointing of the body be omitted.
What sacrifices have you made?
Who knows - Can I even call it a sacrifice?
Romans 12: 1-2… Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Application: This story is a case study in worship!
The woman’s extravagant devotion exhorts devotion and love for Christ. Her gesture displays the proper personal devotion of the disciple toward Jesus, and he comes to her defense. The text prompts us to ask: How much is too much devotion to Christ? A little oil, even expensive perfume, is fine; but to break open a whole jar seems too extravagant.
Comparing this incident with the widow and her two copper coins (Mark 12:41-44) may help clarify things.
Both women serve as examples of total commitment that holds nothing back.
• It is as case study in gratitude!
• It is the gospel in dramatic expression!
• Gratitude. Love… leads to sacrifice.
• Because of what happened on the cross – this woman’s sacrifice isn’t extraordinary at all – its proper.
• And I would say for us – we also must give all that we have and dream to become – to him.
• Your career … give it to him !!!
Why? As an expression of love and devotion. So then it’s not your career… its his calling on your life. Don’t settle for a career – seek his calling on your life.
Idea: Amazing grace produces amazing gratitude.
Live a life of gratitude – don’t live a life of entitlement… you will always be disappointed and frustrated…. Live a life of gratitude… give yourself to him and his cause.
Listen to these words from Paul…
Acts 20:22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Christianity is about gratitude before guilt or duty or burden of responsibility.
Sacrifice…
Song… Steve Green.
One day a plain village woman
Driven by love for her Lord
Recklessly poured out a valuable essence
Disregarding the scorn
And once it was broken and spilled out
A fragrance filled all the room
Like a prisoner released from his shackles
Like a spirit set free from the tomb
Broken and spilled out
Just for love of You, Jesus
My most precious treasure
Lavished on thee
Broken and spilled out
And poured at Your feet
In sweet abandon, let me be spilled out
And used up for Thee
Lord, You were God's precious treasure
His loved and His own perfect Son
Sent here to show me the love of the Father
Just for love it was done
And though You were perfect and holy
You gave up Yourself willingly
You spared no expense for my pardon
You were used up and wasted for me
Broken and spilled out
Just for love of me, Jesus
God's most precious treasure
Lavished on me
Broken and spilled out
And poured at my feet, in sweet abandon
Lord, You were spilled out
And used up for me.
