John 12:1-8 The Anointing at Bethany
“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
The Plot to Kill Lazarus
John 12:9-11 “Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.”
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem so what is more logical than to stop in Bethany and spend time with Mary and Martha and Lazarus? As usual, Martha bustles around and creates a feast while Mary retreats to her room, confused. One of the few treasures of this home is a pound of oil of spikenard, something so rare that it must be imported from the Himalayas. This amount of spikenard represents a year’s wages for a working man and would be worth tens of thousands of dollars today. The family used a small bit of this oil on Lazarus when he died recently; however, they are keeping the rest of it safe for to use on other family members at their deaths. But now Mary feels God tugging at her heart; meanwhile, she can hear the guests seating themselves at table and preparing to eat. What should Mary do?
Gathering her courage, Mary swiftly walks to the dining area, kneels at Jesus’ feet, and pours the spikenard over his feet, wiping his feet with her hair. The disciples watch in horrified fascination. Even though a servant has washed all their feet as they have entered the home, Jesus has been walking for days. How clean are Jesus’ feet? UGH! Traditionally, Jewish girls keep their hair bound up and covered to protect it; yet, here is Mary fearlessly wiping Jesus’ feet with her hair. Amazing!
As the pungent fragrance of spikenard fills the room, Judas Iscariot just has to speak up. “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” The other disciples simply stare at Judas. While Judas thinks he’s so clever, the other disciples have known for a long time that he’s been helping himself to the money earmarked for the poor. A few of the disciples are muttering behind their beards, “Hmph! This guy! All he thinks about is how much he can get for himself! Why has Jesus persisted in keeping him as a disciple, for goodness’ sakes? And why is Mary wasting this spikenard on Jesus? Surely, Jesus; enemies won’t be able to touch him. After all, he IS the Messiah, the Son of God!”
Meanwhile, Jesus and his Heavenly Father have been engaged in a quiet conversation. Jesus: “Father, what’s happening? Why are You having her do this?” God the Heavenly Father: “It’s for your burial, Jesus. When you die, they won’t have time for anointing then.” It’s after this silent conversation that Jesus defends Mary’s actions. “But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
Jesus blesses Mary’s sacrifice on behalf of her entire family because he knows that the Holy Spirit has moved her to this act. Although many people focus on the spikenard and its cost, Mary’s willingness to get her hair dirty is equally important. Throughout the Bible, there are repeated references to a woman’s hair as a sign of her femininity and glory. The only thing Mary might do with her hair that would be more radical would be to shave her head, giving up her hair completely. As it is, the entire room and everyone’s clothes will smell of spikenard for some time. Mary’s hair will likely smell of spikenard for weeks; in fact, Mary’s hair might still smell of spikenard as she and other women cluster at the foot of Jesus’ cross on Calvary. The fragrance of that sacrifice will last a very long time.
What can we learn from this story? Many times, we work diligently and sacrifice, only to have our efforts ignored or even scorned. But when we are working for God, God sees all and knows all and understands all. Nothing done for God is ever wasted, provided it is truly done in His spirit and not as a calculated act to gain divine favor. True sacrifice carries its own scent with it, pervading everything it encounters.
Luke 18:28-30 tells of a time when the disciples were beginning to feel a bit sorry for themselves and wondering if they would be recompensed for their sacrifices. “Peter said to him, ‘We have left all we had to follow you!’ ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus said to them, ‘no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.’”
In this story, Mary is acting on behalf of her entire family. People have flocked to see Lazarus since his resurrection, and religious authorities are plotting to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus. “But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.” Does Mary’s sacrificial act put her family at even greater risk than before? Quite possibly. But when we are acting under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we must act, trusting that God is guiding us and that He will protect us.
There are several different traditions surrounding Lazarus; however, several of them agree that he moved to Cyprus and eventually became a bishop there, dying in about 63 AD. No matter which story is correct, the Jews never succeeded in slaughtering Lazarus or either of his sisters.
May God help us, so that we will sacrifice faithfully, fearlessly, and totally!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to sacrifice faithfully, fearlessly, and totally, knowing that You are the One who will reward us. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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