MARY OF BETHANY
MARK 14.3-9
Have you ever done anything extravagant for love’s sake? The advertisements tell us to buy diamonds as an expression of love. All sorts of things are suggested at Christmas time to express our love for someone. Matthew, Mark and John all record this incident of Jesus being anointed with an expensive perfume. John (ch.12) tells us that the woman involved is Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha. John places the incident as having taken place just prior to the beginning of Holy Week, whereas Mark places it at another time. The discrepancy is explained by the fact that Mark arranges his material in theological order and not chronologically. For Mark the conspiracy to kill Jesus (expressed in verses 1-2) and the betrayal by Judas (verses 10-11) provide a stark contrast to this act of love and devotion (verses 3-9). So our context in this passage is the plot to kill Christ and against this background Mary’s act of devotion comes vividly to the fore.
Verse 3. Mark tells us that the incident takes place in Simon the Leper’s house. We do not know who this man was. He may have been healed by Jesus – but he was certainly healed – otherwise he would not have been living in the village of Bethany, nor would anyone have come to have a meal with him. Added to this the retention of suffix ‘the Leper’ after his name hints at the fact that the disease was now a thing of the past. Again we can see how Jesus was not afraid to be seen with those who were, or had been, considered outcasts of society. Mark proceeds to tell us the kernel of the story – a woman (who we know from John’s account is Mary) comes into the room at which the guests, including Jesus, are reclining enjoying a meal. She has with her an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. The alabaster jar would have a had a long neck and have been sealed with wax to prevent the fragrance escaping. Mark tells us that the perfume is pure nard, a perfume which came from India and as he rightly explains was extremely expensive. In fact the value he places on it is 300 denarii, a year’s wages. The average wage being 1denarius per day. In order to use the ointment inside the neck of the bottle would be broken and the contents poured out. However an expensive ointment like nard would have been rationed and used over a longer period. Mark tells us that Mary breaks open the jar and pours the content over the head of Christ.
There is no holding back in her giving here. There is no reluctance to give all to Christ Jesus. Mary gives what is expensive and costly to her. She gives extravagantly without thought for self or for the opinion of others around her. Her focus is on Jesus and the anointing of His head as a sign of her love and devotion towards Him. She gives in order that she might be a blessing to Him.
Verses 4-5 - some of those present react with indignation to what they have just witnessed. Matthew records for us that it was some of the disciples, as well as the religious leaders, who display this indignation. John tells us that it was Judas in particular. Mark however focuses more on their reaction rather than who was involved. He deliberately uses the word ‘embrimaomsi’ when describing their reaction. This word does not just mean they are angry but that their anger was expressed as violent displeasure. They begin to show their displeasure at Mary for her act of devotion. They seek to justify their anger by pointing out the ‘waste’ and how the poor could have benefited from the money raised by selling the ointment. John reveals for us that Judas, at least, had ulterior motives for wanting to sell the nard. At Passover time it was common for gifts to be given to the poor – so Mary’s act of devotion was not only considered to be extravagant but also to contravene the religious conventions of the time of year. Not much has changed in 2000 years when someone does something extravagant as an act of worship to Jesus. Yet stop and think for a moment about the reaction of the religious leaders and the disciples. The disciples had enjoyed hospitality at the home of Mary and Martha on many occasions and yet here they are quick to condemn her. They knew her. They knew Jesus. They knew her devotion to Christ, after all He had raised her brother back to life and yet they are quick to criticise, to misinterpret and to condemn her actions. I find it striking that those who are ‘close’ to Jesus are the ones who are the most critical and condemning of Mary for this act of devotion.
Verses 6-8 – now listen to what Jesus says in response – ‘Leave her alone!’ These disciples had been rebuked for refusing to allow little children to come to Christ and now they are rebuked for criticising a woman’s act of devotion. I can hear the frustration in the voice of Jesus at these men. Look at the next sentence – ‘She has done a beautiful thing to me.’ You know I sat and pondered that line for a while. How Mary’s heart must have been lifted by those words. One minute her ears are filled with the overheard harsh criticism of the disciples and the religious leaders and the next these words of comfort and gratitude from Christ. How her heart must have been touched and warmed by these words of thanks. To have it said that you did ‘a beautiful thing’ to Son of God – is that not an awesome thought. Why did He say such words to her? It was surely not just to heal a heart that at this moment was bruised and battered by the words of angry men. I believe the beauty that Christ was speaking of is revealed to us in His words in verse 8. She had anointed His body for burial. Mary may not have realised the full reality of what she had just done but Christ did. She may not even at this stage understood fully that He was on the way to the cross, but we know from elsewhere in the gospel that on many occasions Mary was to be found at the feet of Christ listening, but He understood the cross was near. He knew the full significance of her anointing. He knew here was another sign from His father that the cross, and His death, was near. He speaks of His burial – the reality of His death which would precede the empty tomb and the resurrection. Mary did not fully understand but I believe she understood more than the disciples at this point. I believe that because by the end of this chapter the disciples will have run away and who will be left to follow the cross of Christ and to take down His body and prepare it for burial – the women. The disciples can express all the ‘righteous anger’ at the ‘waste’ of the perfume but the reality of love and devotion Mary would be seen that she did not desert her Lord, unlike these men.
Verse 9 – Christ Jesus then goes on to speak about the ‘gospel’ and Mary’s association with it. When He speaks of the ‘gospel’ He is speaking of His death and resurrection and the fact that His burial is the bridge from death to life. His burial speaks of His actual death and will lead to an empty tomb which speaks of His glorious resurrection. Christ says that whenever we preach the gospel this story will be remembered – and is that not what we are doing this morning – remembering the love and devotion of Mary of Bethany.
SO WHAT? I always say to you that that is a good question to ask of any bible passage or sermon. So what do we learn here this morning from Mary of Bethany? I think there are a few simple lessons for us all to learn this morning:
Love and devotion are more than mere words. Our love and devotion for Christ must be seen by others. It must be seen in action and sometimes in extravagant actions.
Our love and devotion must not be directed or dictated to by the context. Mary would have known that to such and act of devotion in the presence of men would be criticised but her focus was on Christ. Sometimes we allow the company we keep, the place we are in and the fear of others to dictate and direct our devotion. Let me give you an example – there are occasions when you are moved in your heart to lift your hands in praise, or to clap as sing the praise of Jesus, but fear of what others might think or say lead you to stand ramrod straight. Mary did not allow the fear of others to dictate her actions – neither should you.
Criticism often comes from those within the fellowship rather than those from without. The disciples, who should have known better, criticised Mary. Don’t be surprised when your devotion to Christ leads to criticism from those within the fellowship and from those close to you. But here is the key – Mary did not respond she allowed her Lord to speak for her.
Jesus understands even if others fail to. Jesus knew Mary’s heart and He knew her love for Him in this act of anointing. He said it was a beautiful thing – He will say the same of your love and devotion to Him – even if others criticise it. Whose approval are you seeking? Mary was more concerned in doing this for her Lord than what men thought – so should we.
He knows the significance of it even if we don’t. Mary did not realise the significance of what she was doing but Christ did and He used her act of devotion and love to once again teach about His death. There will be, there have been, moments when Christ has taken your acts of love and devotion and used them to teach others about His death and resurrection for them. Yu and I may never know the significance of our extravagant acts of love and devotion.
Finally let me say this to you all. The cost was not the key to Mary’s act of devotion. The key was in the sacrificial heart of love which brought the best she had to anoint Christ’s head. In verse 8 Jesus says ‘she did what she could.’ I believe there is the key to this whole incident – to do what you can with what you have for Jesus – is a beautiful thing to Him. AMEN.
