The Anointing of Jesus

The anointing of Jesus probably took place on the day just before his entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and can be found in all of the gospels.  Matthew and Mark have the anointing in the same village Bethany but at Simon the lepers home and Luke has it set somewhere in Galilee at Simon the Pharisee’s home. Which confuses things a little, and makes it virtually impossible to work out whether these accounts are telling different versions of the same event, or similar versions of different events.  For only in John is the person’s identity revealed.

For this sermon I am going to focus on the version from John’s gospel.

Jesus is in Bethany at the home of Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha. Jesus is reclining at table with Lazarus, when Mary goes and gets a jar of very expensive perfume, this is mentioned in Mark’s version of events. Now this perfume we are told was very valuable, it had probably been in the family from generation to generation, the way people keep gold.  It was probably financial security for the family and according to the text it was worth a years wages. Nevertheless Mary broke the alabaster jar according to Mark and poured it all out on Jesus’ feet and then wiped them with her hair. This was possibly the greatest demonstration of love and respect anyone could have given to another person. A point to remember here is that Mary intended to use all of the perfume as she broke the jar into several pieces. In Christ’s mind what Mary did was extremely important.  She gave to him something of great value.  May be this perfume was all the savings she had. This is the same reaction Jesus wants from each of us here today.  He doesn’t want just a tithe, 10% of what we have, he wants us to offer all we have to him.

We are told that the whole of the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

As long as the perfume was kept sealed there was no fragrance. The perfume was benefitting no one, but once the liquid perfume was poured out on Jesus, then its fragrance filled the house.

God has actually given each one of us a jar of perfume, that is, he has given each one of us gifts and skills and possessions. If we keep these gifts to ourselves, they do not benefit anyone. In the end, they do not benefit us, because we cannot take them with us when we die. Only and only when we pour out all of our gifts, skills and possessions at Christ’s feet can he take them and use them for God’s glory and for the benefit of others.

We are like jars, only when we are broken can the spirit within us flow out.  Only when our selfishness and pride is broken can we truly glorify God in our lives.

But there is always someone to throw a spanner in the works. Several of those present rebuked Mary for wasting such an expensive perfume. One of those was Judas Iscariot, the betrayer. Why was this perfume not sold for 300 denarii, and the money given to the poor. This response was of course motivated by greed. It is common knowledge that Judas had a bad habit of dipping into the common funds. Judas was more interested in making a financial gain than in the reality of Gods power being displayed. We must learn from this story never to criticise the expressions and acts of love shown by others.  This morning the disciples were quick to criticise Mary.

Some of those who were present genuinely thought that the ointment be sold and the money given to those in need. But Jesus answered them, “you can help the poor at any time, as there will always be poor people who will need help. But I will only be with you for a short time”. To love Jesus is our highest duty, it is in fact the greatest commandment. To love the poor, including our neighbour is our second duty.

Jesus states that she did what she could to prepare me for my burial. Now except for executed criminals, the Jews always anointed a corpse with ointment. But Jesus knew that he would be executed as a criminal and therefore his body would not be properly anointed. Mary had anointed Jesus beforehand. Mary herself did not realise what she had done, but Jesus knew.

Jesus is the sort of person who demands a response, I think you will agree with me. Especially when you read the gospel according to St John, you just can’t ignore him.

I am the gate to the sheep fold, who ever enters by me will be saved. I am the resurrection and the life, those who believe in me will never die.  I am the way, and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.

It doesn’t take much wisdom to see that the response of Mary is the preferred response to Jesus. She probably gave up everything to show her love for Jesus.  It can be costly being a disciple and follower of Jesus. But if you think about it what Jesus offers far outweighs any cost of following him. To come before God the Father without fear, with our sins removed, wiped clean and to live for ever in his presence, far outweighs anything we might choose to give up for him.

So can we be like Mary?  And like those in the crowd who chose to follow their King to the end. So can we respond to God’s love for us in Christ Jesus by giving him everything we have, our praise, our worldly goods and our lives. As Romans chapter 12 says, let us present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. So from today onwards can we offer our lives as a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable to God. I really hope that we can.

Blessings Rev’d Ian.