With Dale Ratzlaff
John 12:1-11
Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.
John chapter twelve records three episodes describing the last public ministry of Jesus. They are the anointing at Bethany, the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, and the visit of the Greeks seeking Jesus. In this study, we will discuss the anointing at Bethany.
All four Gospels record incidents of similarity. Most scholars believe that the anointing mentioned in Matthew, Mark, and John all record the same incident from different perspectives and the one in Luke is a separate event (see D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, p. 427; R.C.H. Lensky, Commentary on the New Testament, John, p. 835,836; Leon Morris, The Gospel According to John, p. 575). As we are focusing on John’s Gospel, I will only refer to the other accounts in a limited way.
Six days before the Passover places the event of the anointing of Jesus by Mary probably on Saturday just after sundown at the close of the Jewish Sabbath (Ibid.). Just why John recorded this fact is not stated. Some have speculated that it was to show
…that Jesus himself is the true Sabbath-rest, or that proper Sabbath worship directs its devotion to Jesus (see Carson).
We do not know for sure in whose house this took place. Some believe that it was the home of Martha, whose husband was deceased. John records that they came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, indicating this is where he lived. It is possible that both Mary and Lazarus lived with their older sister, Martha, who was now a widow. This fits into the way Martha is represented as one who made the decisions and took the leading role in serving.
There are many indications that the family of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus was quite wealthy. The tomb of Lazarus in a rock cave is consistent with how wealthy people would bury their dead.
The purpose of the gathering was to honor both Jesus and Lazarus. They made Lazarus “a supper”, and he is introduced as,
whom Jesus raised from the dead.
We can only imagine what a joyous occasion this was. Lazarus is presented in a matter-of-fact way without any ill effects of his recent sickness, death, and resurrection. He was “reclining” with the other men—probably Christ’s disciples. They reclined (sat) in a circle with their feet stretched out from the center.
Mary, whom we have previously noticed in the Gospel of John, seems to be the one with the deepest emotions. The mourners at the tomb of Lazarus were comforting Mary. Now, no longer weeping, her sorrow has been turned into joy.
Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
The cost of a pound of “very costly” pure nard would have been the equivalent to a man’s yearly income. This gift, freely given, expressed her joy and thanksgiving to Jesus for who He is and what He had done. Did she consider the cost? We do not know. She went with what was in her heart.
Years before, David was offered the land and material to build an altar to the Lord. He turned down the offer. Here was his reason.
Araunah looked down and saw the king and his servants crossing over toward him; and Araunah went out and bowed his face to the ground before the king. Then Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be held back from the people.” Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight. Look, the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. “Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.” However, the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the LORD was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel (2 Sam. 24:20-25).
Mary’s “offering” to Jesus is an example of real gratitude. Jesus had called her brother Lazarus from the grave. Now those gathered for this special supper, who were witness to this miraculous event, are sharing a meal of joyous thanksgiving.
…the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
What a difference there is between the tomb of Lazarus, where Martha objected to removing the stone because of the smell of death, and this banquet room where the sweet fragrance of perfume fills the home of a restored family. And now this family with their guests, and Jesus who is the resurrection and the life, are enjoying a celebratory meal with Lazarus.
But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?”
It appears that Mary gave this expensive pure nard without regard to the cost, out of a heart filled with love and gratitude. Judas, however, was quick to calculate the cost. He figured it was worth three hundred days wages. During the year there are 52 weeks, each with a Sabbath when work was not done. This corroborates the value of Mary’s gift to be approximately equal to a working man’s yearly wage.
John, writing after the character of Judas had been fully exposed, shows the motive behind his criticism of Mary. He wanted that large amount of money in his money bag!
Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.
John’s comment is congruent with many organizations today that raise money for charitable causes. Without naming a specific organization, to avoid liability, I have read of organizations that have an overhead of some 90% and what actually goes to the charity is only about 10% of the money collected. In other words, like Judas, the “poor” or “charity” is just a means to get money from unsuspecting people. There is nothing new under the sun.
Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”
We do not fully understand this statement. If the account reported in Mark is the same incident, we have this statement:
While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head (Mk. 14:3).
Whether it was Jesus’ feet or head that received the perfume is of minor importance as it could have been both. However, Mark records that “she broke the vial”, and John records Jesus as saying,
Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.
Perhaps she broke the neck of the container and poured out some of the pure nard, and Jesus is suggesting that Mary keep the rest for the day of His burial.
It is doubtful any of the guests understood what Jesus was saying. However, the irony of the situation is that in the presence of Lazarus, whom Jesus had just raised from the dead, He is speaking of His own soon coming death.
For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.
The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead.
What a testimony this must have been! What wonder was expressed; what questions did they ask Lazarus? Would not we all like to interview someone who had been dead four days and then resurrected? The integrity of the witness was indisputable.
But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.
Here we find the result of unbelief. The Jewish leaders had been given sign after sign regarding the truth of Jesus. Each rejection of truth hardened their hearts and consciences. Now, unbelievable though it is, they plan to put Lazarus to death, whom Jesus had just raised from the dead! Why? Because they were losing power and influence. Self-interest was the god of their world.
Application
- Mary’s expensive gift to Jesus and David’s example of offering to God something that cost him is an example to us. Today, we call it “sacrificial giving.” This principle is taught throughout Scripture. We give the “first fruits” to God. Let us each contemplate this principle and let the Holy Spirit apply it to our situation.
- Like Judas, it is easy for us to criticize how other people spend their money. Let us be careful here.
- Jesus commended Mary, not on the way it appeared to some—as a waste of resources which could have been directed to better ends, but upon the love and devotion in her heart. We have to ask ourselves, when we give, do we do it out of a sense of necessity or privilege?
- Judas was not a faithful steward of the resources under his control. Apparently, he took out a little here and a little there, but not enough to be caught. Those who administer the funds of others must be people of integrity who not only want to be audited, but design their systems to show an honest “paper trail” for the distribution of funds received.
- As the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Lazarus and by so planning showed how far their sense of right and wrong had fallen because of multiple rejections of truth, it is a warning to us always to do what is right regardless of the consequences.
Prayer
Father, I have promised to do your will if you show me clearly what it is. Help me in my giving. Help me know how much to give, to whom, and when. Help me not to criticize others in their giving, but to consider my motives. Strengthen my will to do what is right.
In Jesus name.
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