Jesus Anointed at Bethany
Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:36-50, John 12:1-8
Six days before the Passover as Jesus, his disciples, Simon the leper, and Lazarus gather around for a meal there is a truth that hangs in the air. That very week Jesus would lay himself down as the Romans raised him up on the cross, only for him to be laid down in a tomb to be raised up from the dead.
In light of this reality, God stirred a woman (described as Mary in John 12) to a very specific act of worship. One that Jesus foretells in Mark will be remembered by everyone that hears his word, one that represents a wholehearted devotion to Jesus. I think it is easy at this point to cling to the details of this story for an understanding of worship. And while there is a lesson to be learned about the act of worship and what it means to give it, I don’t want us to miss what God is saying about himself in these passages.
Ultimately, in these passages, Jesus is being anointed, and the following encounter with the men seated at the table point to Jesus’ power and Lordship. The Greek meaning of “anoint” is made up of two words: chriō which means “to smear or rub oil”, and aleipho, which means “to anoint.” “To anoint'' means to set apart as sacred. As seen in the Old Testament, anointing is often seen as a ritual done to set apart a priest. As the woman poured out the expensive oil or perfume on Jesus' head, it is clear Jesus is revealing himself as the High Priest.
The expensive oil that the woman used to anoint Jesus would have had one of two purposes at the time: as part of a dowry or for burial preparations. The first purpose ties the perfume to the woman’s social standing, security, and entire future. In this way the woman is quite literally pouring out her future, dreams and security on Jesus’ head. This is a clear display of a heart that recognizes the credentials of Jesus to hold and be worthy of her future. The other purpose of the oil/perfume the woman used was for burial preparations. At this point, Jesus clearly spells out the truth that is to come, that he will soon lie dead in a tomb, having taken on all the sins of the world as he died a sinner's death as a holy and perfect man. Later, Jesus outright proclaims himself as Lord, which, while it came as a surprise to the Pharisees, should not come as a surprise to us because this passage clearly points to his power and holy nature.
As you meditate on Jesus’ display of power and Lordship, remember that it is not the woman’s actions themselves that mark the woman as righteous, but her heart of faith that desires to bring Glory to God. Jesus does not leave us to muster up spirituality or walk through life trying to please him with our actions alone. I pray the Lord stirs your heart to worship him out of the truth of his power and nature. If you are struggling to feel the weight of Jesus' love for us and His power, spend a moment in prayer admitting to God your desire to worship him, but your need for him to intercede.
