John 12:1-7, Mary Anoints Jesus

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” 

This is the third Passover mentioned in John and will be Jesus’ last. Whereas the blood of the Passover lamb kept the Israelites safe from the wrath of God poured out upon the first-borns of the Egyptians, the cross-shed blood of God’s first-born One and Only Son will keep those who believe in him safe from the wrath of God. At the cross, the only one who will experience the wrath of God will be Jesus himself. Like the Passover lamb, he dies so that others may live. 

In light of the cross, the anointing of Jesus by Mary in Bethany takes on profound symbolic significance. Judas, who already has avarice in his heart and is declared a thief, misses the point entirely. He criticizes Mary, his hostess, for her passionately extravagant devotion. Judas thinks he comes out looking pious and godly in his concern for the poor while Mary looks wasteful and sinful. But Jesus knows their hearts. He defends Mary.  

Mary’s extravagant act of pouring a bottle of nard worth a year’s wages on Jesus takes him one step closer to the cross and his destiny with death. There would be no time on Friday afternoon before the sun set and the Sabbath began to anoint Jesus’ body properly before putting it in the tomb. So God moves her to anoint him now. I always wonder if the smell of the nard could still be detected as Jesus hung on the cross. 

Socially, a woman in Mary’s position would never let her hair down or wipe someone’s feet in public. That was the work of a slave. And yet this is where we tend to find Mary in the gospel accounts—at the feet of Jesus, the place where all true service of him begins. It demonstrates humility in dying to self that we may live for him. It is the place discipleship starts—at his feet, listening to his words, God’s Word. 

Jesus’ journey to the cross to offer himself for sinners, brings a newfound, deep devotion for those who realize we can do nothing to earn God’s favor. The only thing we bring is our sin and our need. Prepared by Mary for death, Jesus will take our sin and put it to death, before rising again. 

Can you smell the sweet fragrance of forgiveness purchased for you at a cost infinitely greater than a year’s wages? Spend some time at the feet of Jesus.