Mary of Bethany

Anointed for Burial

Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.—John 12:7

Robert Seklemian*

Jesus was once again at supper in the familiar home in Bethany. Once again, loving and faithful Martha was serving alone. Where was Mary, the one who loved to sit at his feet and hear his word? Martha must have known where Mary was, that she had gone to get something very special, because this time Martha did not come to Jesus demanding that Mary help her with the work. Then, as Jesus and his disciples and Lazarus were at the table, Mary quietly entered the room.

Mary Anoints Jesus

Let us try to visualize the scene. It was the custom in those days to eat at a low table in a half-reclining position, with the feet drawn up, on mats or couches arranged around the table. Mary came up behind Jesus holding a beautiful alabaster box in her hands. She quickly broke the seal and poured the contents of very precious perfume, first upon Jesus’ head, then upon his feet. Kneeling down, she began to wipe Jesus’ feet with her hair. The whole house was filled with the delightful fragrance of the perfume. The account is found in Matthew chapter 26, Mark chapter 14, and John chapter 12. It was not a tiny vial of perfume that Mary poured upon Jesus. John says it was a whole pound of spikenard. Spikenard is an essence derived from a rare and aromatic root. It would take an enormous quantity of this root to yield a pound of essence. Perfume of spikenard was so costly in ancient times that it was reserved for use only by kings, princes and other nobility. It was prepared in a manner similar to attar of roses, which was another perfume made in ancient times. My encyclopedia says it took 100,000 roses to produce only 180 grains, or less than half an ounce of attar of roses. 100,000 roses, arranged side by side, would extend almost five miles and would weigh over three tons. Such a quantity of roses after laborious treatment and distillation would yield only half an ounce of perfume. Mary poured a whole pound of spikenard on Jesus. That’s why Matthew and Mark call it "very precious." John calls it "very costly."

Now we can better understand the reaction of the disciples to this act of Mary: "Then said one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for 300 pence and given to the poor? This was said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the bag, and bare what was put therein" (John 12:4-6).

Although Judas had an ulterior motive, the others were swayed by him and immediately agreed. Matthew says, "But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying: To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor." Mark reports, "Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than 300 pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her."

In those days a penny was a day’s wages for a man (Matthew 20:2). Ignoring the Sabbaths and other holy days when no work was done, 300 pence was a year’s wages at that time. How much is a year’s wages today? This alabaster box of perfume must have been either an heirloom that had been handed down in Mary’s family, or else the result of Mary’s own labors over a long period of time. It was apparently not purchased for the occasion because if it had, Judas would have deplored spending the money in the first place. Instead he suggested its sale for 300 pence. Judas, the thief, had probably known of its existence and had his eye on it for some time. He undoubtedly expected Mary would eventually sell it and donate the money for Jesus’ ministry. Then he would have it because Judas had charge of the treasury. The Diaglott says he "stole what things were deposited in it." He had apparently gone to the trouble of having the alabaster box appraised. How else could he quote an exact figure of 300 pence so readily? He was terribly disappointed when Mary poured out the perfume on Jesus.

We can see what a lavish act of love this represented on Mary’s part. She loved Jesus with her whole heart; nothing was too good for her beloved. She freely poured out to him her most precious possession and then, lest her act be construed as containing any element of pride or vanity, she knelt down and with her hair, her crowning glory, she humbly wiped his feet.

I think we can guess what was going through Jesus’ mind just before Mary did this beautiful thing. During the last few days, Jesus had been trying to tell his disciples that he was going to leave them—that he would go to Jerusalem, be delivered into the hands of the Jews, be tormented and crucified, and return to his Father in heaven. But they wouldn’t believe him. "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples how he must go into Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee" (Matthew 16:21,22).

They just didn’t understand. Had they understood and believed he would be with them just a few days longer, how different their attitude would be! How they would prize the last few hours of his presence! How lovingly and carefully would they listen to his last words. He had so much to tell them before his death. He yearned to tell them many things. But no. When he referred to his death, they thought he spoke in parables. "Be it far from thee, Lord," they said. They didn’t understand. There was no one on earth that understood. These must have been the thoughts of Jesus at the supper table there in Bethany that night. They were sad, lonely and disappointed thoughts. It was then that Mary came up behind him with her precious alabaster box of spikenard. So rare was this perfume that emperors and kings used it sparingly. But so full was Mary’s love that she lavished a whole pound on one anointing of Jesus; and, by so doing, proclaimed him to be above all the emperors and kings of the earth—to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords! How refreshing it was to the spirit of Jesus! What lift and buoyancy of spirit it gave him! He took it, as well he might, as a sign from heaven that all was well and would be well. Mary’s act was the act of an angel, ministering to him.

Then, suddenly, a clamor broke out all around. Carping, criticizing voices arose. "What a waste!" "Why was not this ointment sold and the money given to the poor?" "This woman has no regard for the poor!" "Lord, rebuke her! She has thrown away 300 pence!" It was the disciples of Jesus, incited by Judas. Instead of commending, they condemned. They spoke as though, by this tender act, Mary had been guilty of a great sin. Mary was hurt and humiliated. Tears came to her eyes and she bowed her head in shame. Jesus turned and laid his hand softly, with a blessing, on Mary’s head. Turning to his disciples he said:

"Why do you criticize her? Let her alone. She has done a wonderful thing for me. Without realizing it, she has poured this ointment on me before my death; but really to prepare my body for burial. The poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always. I have been telling you of my impending death, but me ye have not understood. She hath done what she could, and this is such a wonderful act of love, and devotion, that I want ALL ages and generations to know about it. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached, in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her."

Do you realize what this means, what a wide publication this implies? Jesus said, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world , for a witness unto all nations." (Matthew 24:14) That is how widely he wanted this incident related.

Thus, Jesus rebuked the attitude of the disciples, impressing on them that there are things far more important than money. They humbly took his rebuke and were ashamed—all, that is, except one. In the next verses after this narrative, we read: "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot went unto the chief priests, and said unto them: What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him, for thirty pieces of silver" (Matthew 26:14,15).

This event at Bethany had been the last straw for Judas. He had been following Jesus for his own personal enrichment, systematically stealing from the treasury of the group. Now Jesus was apparently encouraging his followers to dissipate their resources and the money would no longer fall into his hands. Jesus had plainly said he was going to die. Judas knew that the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees had offered a reward for anyone betraying Jesus into their hands. To the perverted and twisted mind of Judas, it was but a natural decision; he may as well have their money as anyone else.

Mary’s act of devotion with the alabaster box had touched Jesus’ heart as nothing else had done, so he commanded that it be brought to the remembrance of all to whom the gospel is preached. But there are other reasons too, for remembering and considering this episode. There are precious lessons to be learned and much encouragement to be derived from doing so. Let us now consider some of them.

Lessons from Mary’s Act

Whenever Mary was in the presence of Jesus, she forgot everything else except to listen to his words, to learn of him. When Martha protested that Mary was not helping her serve, Jesus implied that what Mary was doing was good and was also important. "Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her," he said (Luke 10:42). The lesson is that the Lord does not condemn those who, lacking the ability and opportunity for prominent service, simply sit at the feet of Jesus and hear his word. Neither should we be critical of such. It has been suggested that Martha was not concerned merely with her cooking, but also in the niceties of hospitality which in our Lord’s and Mary’s estimation were not important compared with the words Jesus had to say. This could be implied from what Jesus said to her: "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things" (Luke 10:41).

What did the very precious ointment or perfume, which Mary lavishly poured upon the head and feet of Jesus, signify? I think the primary significance is love, pure, fervent love. "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a man’s friend" (Proverbs 27:9). "A friend loveth at all times" (Proverbs 17:17). This is what Mary demonstrated.

In the highly figurative language of the Hebrews, the sensing of an aroma is used to denote the perception of a moral quality in another. Thus, God is said to "smell a sweet odor" from a sacrifice to signify he perceives with pleasure the good disposition which the offerer expressed by such an act of worship. (See Diaglott, page 656.)

David expresses a similar meaning: "Let my prayer be set before thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141:2).

The fervent, sincere prayer of the heart is to God a sweet savor. This is confirmed in Revelation which speaks of "golden vials, full of odors [or perfume], which are the prayers of saints" (Revelation 5:8).

Mary first poured the perfume upon the head of Jesus. Our love and adoration is primarily to our head, Christ Jesus, the head of the body of Christ. Our sacrifices which rise as a sweet odor before God are acceptable because of him. Our prayers are heard, because they are made in his name.

Then Mary poured the perfume upon the feet of Jesus. This refers to the "feet members" of the body of Christ mentioned by Isaiah: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him, that bringeth good tidings; that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Isaiah 52:7).

These are the ones who today are preaching "good tidings," good news, happy news; not the news of pointless slaughter nor universal second death. These are they who "publish peace" and "bring good tidings of good." They tell of a time of trouble, but emphasize the enduring peace to follow, the good tidings of God’s kingdom on earth. These are they who "publish salvation," the pure, unadulterated doctrine of a ransom for all, together with the blessing of all mankind. These are they who "say unto Zion, Thy God reigneth," who see and preach the presence of Christ, the great king. These are our brethren, those of "like precious faith," fellow-members of the Body of Christ. Just as Mary poured the very costly perfume upon the feet of Jesus, we should love and serve our brethren lavishly with the same love and service we render our head because of this principle: "As ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40).

John says in his account that after Mary anointed the feet of Jesus she wiped his feet with her hair. What was the result? You may be sure that this caused her hair to be thoroughly perfumed. Blessings given bring blessings in return. This is a law of God.

"There is he that scattereth, and yet increaseth. . . . The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself" (Proverbs 11:24,25). "He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given, will he pay him again" (Proverbs 19:17).

Can you imagine lending to the Lord? This means if you do a service to one who cannot repay you, and you do it without any hope or expectation of repayment, the Lord considers it as lending to him! He will open the windows of heaven to such pouring out spiritual blessings in return. There is even some evidence that the Lord often makes it up to them in temporal matters as well.

It is written of this act of Mary: "And the house was filled with the odor of the ointment." The house of God is his Church, and the costly sacrifices of the Mary-like members bring sweet and savory blessings upon all God’s household. For example, there are ecclesias and individuals who produce truth literature such as reprints, volumes, booklets, tracts; others put on radio and television programs, here and abroad, and make audio tapes; others perform other services. Like Mary’s spikenard permeating the house with a delightful fragrance, these efforts permeate the House of God far and wide. There is no competition in the Lord’s service: "Go ye also into the vineyard," the Lord said.

Devotion to God Is Not a Waste

"What a waste!" they said when Mary’s sacrifice was poured out. "What a waste!" our worldly relatives and friends say when we consecrate our all to God: our time, our talents, our energies, our resources, everything. Ah, but as Jesus said, "The poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always." There will always be the poor heathen, and other unbelievers, until the kingdom has done its work. But the body of Christ will not always be here. "Me ye have not always," Jesus said. "The last members of my church will soon be glorified. So lavish your love and service upon these while you have the opportunity."

Some of the disciples were critical of Mary’s generous act and some of the Lord’s people today react the same way. They tell the humble Marys of today: "Do not break the seal of your alabaster box. Do not give too generously of your time, talents and means to the friends. You will only impoverish yourself. You will ruin your health. Hold back." But Jesus said: "Let her alone! She hath wrought a good work upon me." Just as Jesus deeply loved Mary of Bethany, you may be sure he loves the Marys of today as well. Regarding Mary of Bethany Bro. Russell says:

"Not only was the Lord willing that the matter should be told for a memorial of Mary, but we may safely conclude that in the everlasting future, Mary will be ranked very high among the faithful followers of the Lord. She may not be one with the apostles, upon the twelve thrones of Israel, but we may be sure that she will have some grand, some honorable place, near to the one she loved, and for whom she showed her devotion."—Reprints, page 3878.

I think he is absolutely right.

* Excerpted from "Ointment Very Precious" in Dicourses by Robert S. Seklemian (Chicago Bible Students, 1998) pp. 172-175.