Lesson Text: John 12:1-11
Golden Text
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 oil. John 12:1-3 NKJV.
Pause and Consider
As you read this passage, imagine a house filled with food, fellowship, and gratefulness.
Lazarus has risen from the dead!
John must have remembered fondly the joy of this moment. Martha serves gratefully; Mary’s eyes are only for Jesus, and Lazarus is there with them. It is a cause for celebration. They, and the disciples with them, are witnesses to life after death.
Everyone in the house was grateful for what Jesus had done, but outside, the chief priests plotted not only to kill Jesus, but Lazarus as well.
Lazarus was a liability. He was a walking, breathing, living testimony. Because of him, many of the Jews chose to believe in Jesus.
In the house, though, was a celebration of life.
Jesus is anointed
Mary could no longer contain her appreciation, so she took her most treasured possession and gave it to Jesus. She anointed His feet with an expensive, pure perfume of spikenard – a fragrant ointment of the ancients. It was worth three hundred denarii, or nearly a year’s wages for a laborer!
She put her extravagant love into action.
Love never calculates the cost. She gave all. Real love gives. Her eyes are only on Jesus.
Points to the Cross
She didn’t wash His feet and then dry them with her unbound hair. She anointed them. It was more than a gesture of gratitude; it was an act of utmost devotion and reverence.
In six days the cross took Him into its cruel arms; the anointed feet would be blistered, bruised, and pierced through with a nasty nail for you and for me.
Judas Speaks
A voice of disagreement rose above it all.
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot… said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” John 12:4-5 NKJV.
It is Judas, the treasurer, who used his position to enrich himself. Jesus knew his heart and rebuked him: “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.”
Judas is silenced by Jesus’ rebuke. But Matthew gives us a clearer picture of what Judas would soon do.
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So, from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. Matt 26:14-16 NKJV.
The Anointed One
Why is this so important? Because Jesus is the promised Anointed One. The Hebrew word translated “anointed” is māšîaḥ (Messiah).
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord… Isa 61:1-2a.
Earlier in His ministry, Jesus had read these very words in the synagogue and declared, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).
Mary pointed us to the “Anointed One.” Sadly, Judas couldn’t see it.
Call to Action
Judas had eyes for the earthly prize; Mary did not. Her treasured possession was insignificant compared to the Anointed One.
Only one heart was fixed on Jesus. What do you see when you look at Jesus?
Take a moment to examine your own heart. What will your love move you to give Him today?
O, Sista bear, were does one go to envision this Anointed Moment! This is a moment for us to hush and see into the past, yet the presence also, Mary is touching Jesus’ feet not with a rag or a towel she is using her hair, and the Anointing perfume, what a wonderful sacrifice (I wonder if this was her marriage dowry?) I marvel that we can enter into this holy moment, just think she handled her Saviors feet, she didn’t speak out, no words were needed, Jesus knows and for her that is enough.
Love you
your Lizzy, my Johnni