Mark 14:3-113And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. 4And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. 10And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. 11And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him. (Mark 14:3‑11)
“AND BEING in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on His head.” v. 3.
Mary, Martha and Lazarus were all present on this occasion. We have no information about Simon, but like to think that he truly loved Jesus. From other portions of the gospels we know of the special fondness that Jesus had for the two sisters and their brother. Martha knew the Lord loved her and she, in turn, loved Him and apparently enjoyed serving Him. Lazarus, who had died from a serious illness, was restored to life by the Lord, so we can be certain about his response to the One who had done so much for him. We read of Mary that she, “Also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His word.” The Lord responded to this attachment by sang, “Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:39, 4239And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. (Luke 10:39)
42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:42).
In the scene before us we see Martha getting the supper out on the table, Lazarus sitting at the table with Jesus, and Mary coming, with some premonition of Jesus’ death, bringing a rare and very costly ointment, which she pours on His head. How lovely this must have been to Him, who well knew her sorrowful and adoring heart! He recognized this in its true value and said, “She is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying.” v. 8. In addition to the deep personal response of Mary’s heart to His Person, He no doubt saw in this a token of the recognition that His people Israel should have given Him—the anointing being figurative of His right place as their King. Perhaps He was also looking forward to the millennial day when He will have that place with His people.
Although the house was filled with the fragrance of this ointment, the evil of Satan is expressed first through Judas, who in turn influences the others so that they ask: “Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor.” vv. 4, 5. Judas would have liked to get his hands on that money for his own use. The others, not knowing of his treachery, yet allowed themselves to be influenced by him. Ah, Christian friend, what care we need, even in the fragrance of things pertaining to Christ, that we guard the motives of every circumstance of life. If the Lord had been as much in the thoughts of all present at that supper as He was in Mary’s heart, they would all have rejoiced to see that loving tribute to Him.
The Lord rightly rebukes those who criticized and tells them, “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” v. 9. The Lord will never forget one kind thought, or one deed of love performed by His own. “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” 2 Corinthians 8:1212For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. (2 Corinthians 8:12).
After this, Judas went to the chief priests and covenanted to betray Jesus to them for thirty pieces of silver. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 11:1212And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12): “So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.”
ML-03/08/1964