Anointed For Burial - Mark 14:1-11

In Matthew and Mark the anointing with oil is described 2 days from the last supper, then John says those things happened 6 days apart.

V1-2... Trying to arrest Jesus by stealth = doing something deceitfully.

V3... Simon the(we assume former) leper. We won't know who he is. They all entertained each other around the table.

The woman is Mary. She was interrupting the men, unusual for the time. She pours a huge amount of expensive ointment on Jesus, snapping the neck off the decanter to let it flow. A pound of pure nard. Almost a year's salary! She may be rich, or it may be a family heirloom. It flows from his head down to his feet. She rubs it into his feet with her hair. A woman's hair is her glory! Feet are the dirtiest part. She was equating her best with Jesus' worst. She was saying she wasn't worthy! 

V4-5... Some were indignant at the waste. Other accounts say Judas was particularly upset, calling it wasteful when the poor could benefit from it! That was insincere. He would later betray Jesus.

2 Timothy 3... People will become lovers of self, and lovers of money. Judas had this vice. He was only thinking about how much money he could have made from a transaction involving the nard. 

Stay away from people like this! And don't be this kind of person yourself. Focused on what other people have, what you have. Money is one of the great snares. The love of it is the root of all evil. It's a misplaced passion. 

When you're angry at someone, the way to stop being angry is: pray for them! Likewise, if you have a problem with money, start giving it away! Be generous! The more we entertain to the Lord, the less it has a hold on us!

Judas is so angry he strikes a deal for Jesus' murder. 

V6... Mary has done a beautiful thing! An act of generosity, even worship. Hold nothing back from God! Only care what he thinks about you, not the world. 

There are no happy selfish people. 

Living for the Lord is a good life! You can never give too much to the King of kings, the Lord of lords!

Footnote... public manipulation 101: find the perfect victim to further your cause. In this case, the poor are supposedly suffering because of this woman's crazy act of worship. She's hurting the poor! Jesus says be quiet...

V7-8... You'll always have to poor. Yes, minister to the poor. But they'll always be there for you to help. Jesus is leaving soon! He's with them only for a little while.

V9... He tells them what she's done will always be told in memory of her! So is the disciples' own foolishness. 

V10... Judas betrays Jesus, telling the leaders where they can find him in the night. A calculated betrayal, resulting in a payout for Judas. 30 pieces of silver, or 120 denarii. He values Jesus the same as the leftover oil that feel on the floor. 

Be like Mary. Hold nothing back!

That's today's text. 

1 thought...

Verse 8! The best verse :-) She has done what she could! The Greek: "What she had, she did!" What better than to hear that from Jesus!

From those to whom much has been given, much is required. 

The widow giving her mite (Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4)... What she had, she gave. Give it all to God, and hold nothing back! Give back to Him what He's given you... to His glory! Pour it all out with nothing left over.

Closing...

Nard is only mentioned twice in the Old Testament. Song of Solomon... a woman and man are in love. The woman is the Church, the man is the Lord. 

We give to the Lord and serve Him because we love Jesus!

Mary anoints Jesus like this because He is worthy! Surrender all to Him.

Revelation shows there'll be a lot of singing in Heaven! Revelation 5:12... Worthy is the Lamb who was slain! 

Nard was heavy, thick, not much needed normally. It was enough to prepare Jesus body for burial. He probably smelled like it on the cross. It smelled of the love of the Church. And the was whipped and beaten and hung on the cross. 

We are to love Him with everything we have! And remember what he's done for us. 

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Here's what your kids were taught today:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qCgBTh5-uog63ZJ1oxWVGCZLEX8v4naF?usp=sharing