Isaiah 43:16-21; John 12:1-8 Jesus anointed at Bethany (also in Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9)
What is the most expensive or meaningful gift that you have given someone? As you look back on that occasion, do you think it was worth it? I wonder.
In our reading from John, we witness a most expensive, extraordinary and extravagant gift given to Jesus by Mary. We’re going to be thinking about the significance of this.
But first some context and background to help us see what’s happened so far in John’s gospel.
John begins his book by telling us that Jesus is the Word of God, who was born as a babe in Bethlehem, who became one of us - lived and dwelt among us. The Word became flesh. John goes on to say that Jesus came unto his own people but they did not receive him as the Son of God come down to earth to rescue and redeem humanity from sin and death. In the first eleven chapters, John presents witness after witness, proof after proof, to convince us that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. We read of many miracles and healings performed by Jesus. In chapter 11 we read how Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, demonstrating his power and authority over death.
All this evidence was seen by the leaders of the nation and the religious authorities of the day, and yet they rejected him. Jesus’ preaching, teaching and his call to repent and turn to God has been met with indifference and increasing hostility to the point that towards the end of chapter eleven we read the chief priests and Pharisees are looking to arrest Jesus during the Passover festival (11:57).
When we get to chapter 12, we read how Jesus comes back to Bethany to visit his dear friends Lazarus, Martha and Mary, six days before the Passover festival. And so, a dinner is given in his honour. Let’s try and imagine the scene; try and picture yourself perhaps as one of the guests at this meal. Now, this should immediately remind us of another occasion when Jesus had visited their home and shared a meal (Luke 10:38-42). That account in Luke tells us how Martha did all the work of preparing and serving the meal while Mary simply sat at Jesus’ feet. Martha was quite put out and complained to Jesus about her sister.
Back to our reading this morning. Once again, we read that Martha had prepared a feast to set before Jesus and all the other guests. Bear in mind that Jesus is returning to this home after raising Lazarus from the dead. There is an extra element of celebration and of honouring Jesus. And no doubt Martha would have worked very hard preparing food and getting the house all ready for the guests.
Now you’d expect Mary to be helping her sister with the meal, making sure everyone had food and drink and just generally ensuring the guests were being cared for. That is certainly what would have been expected of her at that time and in that culture. But that is not what the text says.
It seems Mary is once again centre stage. What she does is quite outrageous by social and cultural norms of the day. She doesn’t just sit at Jesus’ feet as she had previously done. No, this time she anoints his feet with expensive perfume and wipes them with her hair. We read, “Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair.” (v3)
We need to process what’s just happened by seeking to understand Mary’s actions. To wipe Jesus’ feet with her hair she would need to let it down. This is a scandalous act. Jesus the teacher, the rabbi, being treated like this by a woman!
Commenting on this episode and Mary’s action, biblical scholar N.T. Wrights likens what she has done to a respectable woman at a modern polite dinner party, hitching up a long skirt to the top of her thighs in the presence of all the guests.
Did Mary have no shame? What was she trying to say to Jesus, to the dinner guests? All sorts of disturbing and disapproving thoughts must have been flying around the room. People must have been shaking their heads. There would certainly have been raised murmurings. One can almost feel the tension in the air as everyone’s eyes are fixed on Mary and Jesus.
Martha may have thought that on this occasion, her sister Mary had really blown it – gone completely over the top. Her heart must have sunk as she thought about the ripple effect from friends and neighbours as word got out. Oh, the shame that this would bring on the family. How could she face them? And what of Lazarus’ reputation? I bet Martha wanted to scream at Mary. Or at the very least to take hold of her and get her out of the room. But it’s as though she is frozen with shock. Surely Jesus realises and should say something to limit the reputational damage caused by this reckless, unacceptable act of her sister.
The hushed silence is interrupted by Judas. He’s the first to speak. ‘Why this waste?’ Why wasn’t the perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth three hundred denarii - a year’s wages; that is a lot of money.
What a noble suggestion. You can imagine the rest of the disciples and guests nodding in agreement. But then we read verse 6 and see the true motive and intention behind his objection to this seeming waste of expensive perfume. Judas didn’t really care for the poor. He was more interested in lining his pockets. He was a thief who stole from the money he was in charge of. How sad.
The next person to speak is Jesus. ‘Leave her alone,’ he says. ‘She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.’ In Matthew and Mark’s account of this, Jesus says she has done a beautiful thing to me by anointing me.
Mary's act of anointing Jesus was unique and anticipated Jesus' burial. It was a public declaration of faith in him as Messiah. Whether or not she fully grasped the full significance of what she had done, we don't know. But what we do know is that she loved and followed Jesus. She had listened to his teaching and no doubt heard him talk about his death. She knew he was about to endure suffering and death. She knew what he was going to do.
And so, her actions are motivated by love and worship of her Saviour. It is spontaneous, costly, very public and she is not embarrassed. Her posture is one of humility; of sacrifice. In a sense, she is showing her devotion to Jesus before it is too late. You could say that she was giving the roses while He was still alive, and not bringing them to the funeral! And Jesus, far from condemning her as might have been expected; commends and defends her for what she has done. He accepts her act of sacrificial worship. Jesus knows how costly it is for Mary – not just financially, but also socially and culturally. She’s going to be the talk of the town. And yet, Jesus affirms her actions, recognising that it is done out of love and devotion.
But here’s the thing. Mary knew Jesus was worth all that she could offer in worship. Mary had glimpsed something of Jesus’ sacrificial life and love, and accepted him as her Lord and Saviour. In some small measure, she knew what lay ahead for Jesus. And so, she pours out her heartfelt worship by anointing his feet.
I wonder where you see yourself in this picture? Are you with the shameless Mary, worshipping Jesus with everything you’ve got, risking everything - your reputation, social standing, approval of friends and family?
Or are you with the cautious Judas, looking after the limited resources of the group, looking at what you can get out of it while ensuring that you give some of your leftovers in service and worship to God?
Maybe you’re in the kitchen with Martha. Busy, busy, busy serving others. How do you feel about Mary & Judas and how do you feel about what Jesus has said?
Perhaps this season of Lent gives us an opportunity to pause and ponder anew the wonder and beauty of Jesus’ sacrificial love for each one of us. And then to let his love infuse our whole beings and overflow in worship to our loving Saviour.
Amen.