The Last WeekSample

ANOINTED AND PREPARED FOR BURIAL

Matthew 26 tells us Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon the Leper.

Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the Leper, a woman came up to Him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at a table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” Matthew 26:6-13

Those who questioned how this ointment was used didn’t care about the poor people; they had dollars in their minds. The Nard’s estimated worth was about 300 denarii or a year of wages in the Roman era. Mary’s love for Jesus was shown when she freely anointed his body with the ointment that permeated the room.

We are also to be as a sweet fragrance to the Lord. 2 Corinthians 2:15

How much do we love Him, that we freely and openly show that love to Him?

We also know later that day, the scribes and high priests were plotting to kill Jesus (Mark 14:1-2). It was two days before the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread when they were looking for a way to arrest Jesus and put him to death.

CAN YOU RELATE?

Jesus knew evil was lurking, and to complete God’s plan, He would suffer and be put to death. When Mary anointed his body with oil, Jesus had to have had bittersweet emotions. Because He was human, hearing those attacking her for wasting the oil on Him had to have hurt. Yet the gesture of her love in freely pouring out the expensive ointment at the same time warmed His heart.