Jesus Anointed With Perfume
March 15, 2020
Commentary
Two days before the Feast of the Passover, which was about the 14th of April, the Sanhedrin was gathered at the house of Caiaphas to discuss when and how they might put Jesus to death (v. 1). This last act of Jesus’ life was to take place in a city crammed with Jews who had come from the ends of the earth. It was compulsory for every male Jew who lived within 15 miles of Jerusalem to come to the Passover, but it was the ambition of every Jew to eat at least one Passover in Jerusalem before he died. It is estimated that there was close to 3,000,000 people there. Since Jesus was surrounded by many who liked Him the religious leaders were afraid to kill Him during the Feast (v. 2).
During this time Jesus was staying at the home of Simon the Leper in the village of Bethany (vv. 3-9). It was the custom to pour a few drops of perfume on a guest when he sat down at a meal. A woman with a flask of perfume, made in India, broke it and anointed Him with the contents. Her action brought criticism from some of the bystanders (John specifically says this was Judas – (John 12:1-5) who said that it could have been sold and the money given to the poor. This can be understood because its worth is estimated at almost one year’s pay and this would seem wasteful. However, Jesus said, “Ye have the poor with you always….but me ye have not always.”
Application
When it comes to giving money, which of the following factors do you consider?
___ IRS deduction.
___ how great is the need?
___ how will it be used?
___ what will others think?
___ do I believe in the cause?
Mark 14:1– 9 (NET)
1 Two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 2 For they said, “Not during the feast, so there won’t be a riot among the people.”
3 Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of costly aromatic oil from pure nard. After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head. 4 But some who were present indignantly said to one another, “Why this waste of expensive ointment? 5 It could have been sold for more than 300 silver coins and the money given to the poor!” So they spoke angrily to her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a good service for me. 7 For you will always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want. But you will not always have me! 8 She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”