Eld Lee Kong Sing

Mary and the Alabaster Box of Ointment -- Serve God While You May (John 12:1-8)

The account of Mary anointing the Lord Jesus Christ with precious ointment is recorded for us by Mark, Matthew and John. According to the record of John, it occurred six days prior to the Passover (John 12:1). Not long before this time, Christ had raised Lazarus from the dead. We read in John 11:45 that many Jews who were present at the grave of Lazarus witnessed the miracle and came to believe in Christ. In John 12:9 we read that many Jews continued to come to see for themselves that Lazarus was truly risen from the dead. These were the pilgrim Jews who were on their way to Jerusalem to keep the Passover and Bethany was along the way (John 11:55). The news of the resurrection of Lazarus had spread and the commotion came to the ears of the Jewish authorities and not long after which, the Sanhedrin Council convened and conspired to kill Jesus (John 11:47-53). Because Lazarus was the subject of the resurrection and was instrumental in leading many Jews to believe in Christ (John 12:11), the council also conspired to kill Lazarus (John 12:10). An order was issued to report on the whereabouts of Christ (John 11:57) so that He could be arrested. Judas would eventually answer this order. Because of this, Christ no longer walked openly among the Jews but stayed in Ephraim, a city near the wilderness (John 11:54). When the time came, Christ left Ephraim and made His way to Jerusalem to be crucified. Along the way to Jerusalem, Christ stopped at Bethany to pay a final visit to the family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus whom He loved. This was where the account for our consideration occurred.

Consistent with the tradition of that day, an occasion for rejoicing was celebrated with a meal and such was the case of Christ’s visit who had earlier raised Lazarus from the dead, the dear brother of Martha and Mary. The dinner was hosted by Simon the leper at his home (Matt 26:6) and Martha served (John 12:2). Although the air must have been abuzz with joy and excitement, the celebration would have nonetheless been muted and cautious because the Sanhedrin Council was at that time searching for Christ to arrest Him and those seen with Christ and had not report Him would be arrested as well.

Consistent with the tradition of that day, the women folk did not eat at the same table as the men. Hence we read that Lazarus sat with Christ and the disciples while Martha served. In the meantime, nothing is said about Mary until, silently and unannounced, Mary stepped forward with an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, broke it and poured the ointment over the head of Jesus as He was eating. John recorded that Mary also anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair and that the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. (John 12:3). The breaking of the box of ointment would have meant that any remnant ointment could no longer be stored and that all would have to be used.

We read in John’s account that the ointment had the weight of one pound. A Roman pound is about 326g or 326ml. Most perfumes available in shopping malls today commonly sell at 100ml. Depending on the quality and concentration of the perfume, it can easily last up to a year or longer of normal use. Ointment of Spikenard consists of nard oil that is extracted from the root and spike of the nard plant that grows only 10,000 feet and above in the Himalayan Mountains of India. To harvest the plant would require one to scale the heights to do so and it takes large amounts of the plant to extract only a small amount of oil. The final result of this extraction process is a very concentrated strong essential oil and perfume the efficacy of which is testified by the account of John that the odour filled the house of Simon which was likely to be sizable given the background of Simon. According to Judas Iscariot in John 12:4, 5; the ointment was worth three hundred pence or denarii, which was about a year’s wage of an average worker of that day. To provide further perspective, Judas who voiced the complaint, himself betrayed Christ for 30 pieces of silver which amounted to a mere 120 denarii. In the eyes of Judas, Christ was not worth half the amount of the ointment and that the poor were more deserving of that expense than Christ. Judas had no true love for Christ. We read in Matthew and Mark that Judas was not the only one who responded negatively. In Matthew 26:8 we read that the disciples were in indignation. They were angry and exclaimed “to what purpose is this waste?” In other words, the disciples were saying that the ointment was wasted on Christ. How tragic!

Christ’s response revealed the meekness of Christ and also helps us to understand the intention behind Mary’s actions. Christ did not chide the disciples for placing so low a value on their Lord and Saviour. Christ did not defend Himself, instead He defended Mary against their criticisms and said in John 12:7 “Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.” Christ revealed that Mary had intended to anoint Christ with oil in preparation for His crucifixion and burial. The truth of the soon death of Christ was understood by humble Mary but not the disciples at that point in time. A truth that Christ taught several times to the disciples over three years of uninterrupted fellowship and yet they could not grasp it while Mary in her simplicity, lowliness and faith, understood.

Just as Mary knew that Christ will soon die, it can be surmised that Mary must have also understood that Christ would also rise from the dead. Mary who earlier witnessed Christ raising Lazarus from the dead, also learnt what Christ taught that He is the Resurrection and the Life.(John 11:25, 26). Mary must have understood that death had no power over Christ and that although Christ will soon go to the cross, He will also rise again. It is likely that Mary had this profound understanding and faith well ahead of the disciples. Therefore, Mary, hearing that Christ had returned to Bethany and the dinner hosted by Simon, determined in her heart to give to Christ that which was very precious to her, the ointment of spikenard, carried with her to the house of Simon, prepared to anoint Christ with it. This was the last opportunity for her to do something for her beloved Saviour.

Mark and Matthew recorded that the ointment was poured upon the head on Christ while John included an additional detail in that Mary also anointed the feet of Christ with oil and wiped His feet with her hair. Hence, in addition to anointing Christ, Mary also went on to wash the feet of Christ, the duty of the lowest slave of the household, not with water and cloth, but with precious ointment and with her hair. Why did Mary use her hair to wipe the feet of Christ? 1 Corinthians 11:15 teaches us that the long hair of a woman is her glory. The hair of a woman is something very precious to her. Something she takes much care to ensure its health and beauty. Something that is the pride and joy of every woman. Mary gave to Christ not only her prized possession of ointment but also that of her precious and beautiful hair, to be used and to be soiled for the Master’s use, so that His feet may be cleaned.

There is no record of what was in the heart of Mary when she anointed Jesus. We can only make deductions based on what is recorded. We know that Christ was very precious to Mary, certainly more precious than all that she held dear to herself; the precious ointment and her hair. We also know that Mary understood that Christ was about to die which explains the anointing with oil. This fact was confirmed by what Christ said in John 12:7. Having sat at the feet of Jesus and learned of Him (Luke 10:39) it is very likely that Mary must have also understood the purpose of Christ’s death which was to save her from her sins. In addition, having earlier learnt the lesson that Christ is the Resurrection and the Life and having witnessed the resurrection of her brother Lazarus, she must have also understood that the resurrection of Christ would follow His death and that the resurrection would mean that God had accepted the sacrificial and redemptive work of Christ for man and had triumphed over the power of death. With all this, Mary would have come to the conclusion regarding the great value of what she had been given; the gift of salvation in the Person of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Like the man in the parable of the Buried Treasure (Matt 13:44) who stumbles on treasure hid in the field, realising it’s great worth, goes off and willingly sells all that he had so as to possess that land and the treasure buried in it. Or like the merchant man in the parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matt 13:45, 46) who discovers the one pearl of great price, sold all he had just to possess that one pearl. Christ had given Mary a gift of great price, the kingdom of God. Christ had done so much for Mary, what can Mary do for Christ? So Mary, knowing that her precious Saviour had come probably for the last time, seized the last opportunity she had to serve Him before it was no longer possible.

Dear brethren, how do you value the Lord Jesus Christ? What value do you place on what Christ has accomplished for us? The disciples felt that the worth of the ointment was better spent on the poor than on Christ. Judas Iscariot valued Christ at a mere thirty shekels of silver. What is Christ’s worth to you?

Mary served Christ recognising that she will not be able to do so much longer. What about ourselves? Will we always have opportunities to serve Christ? Is there such a thing as an endless supply of opportunities? And if God gives us the opportunity, can we postpone it? Will there come a time when we will be more ready? Will we ever be ready? If the Lord tarries, many of us will grow old and faint. Our bodies and mind will fail us and our frailty will limit what we can do for the Lord. Opportunities to serve Christ with our strength will not always be available. Service is truly a privilege.

Christ has done so much for us, He has given us a new life, one of blessing, of joy and peace that the world can never give. He has guided us through each day and provided for our every need both seen and unseen, never allowing anything to escape His sovereign and loving hand, always watching over us. He has freed us from the power of sin, given us power over sin, that we can live righteous and holy lives and if we fail, He is always faithful to forgive when we seek His forgiveness. Finally, He has given us eternal life, to live with Him in heaven in glory, to fellowship, serve and worship Him forever, in heaven’s beauty and splendour.

Are we not grateful?

The hymn writer Frances Havergal has put words to this sentiment beautifully.

1.  I gave My life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou might’st ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead;
I gave, I gave My life for thee-
What hast thou giv’n for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee-
What hast thou giv’n for Me?

2.  My Father’s house of light,
My glory circled throne
I left, for earthly night,
For wand’rings sad and lone;
I left, l left it all for thee-
Hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, l left it all for thee-
Hast thou left aught for Me?

3.  I suffered much for thee,
More than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitt’rest agony,
To rescue thee from hell;
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee-
What hast thou borne for Me?
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee-
What hast thou borne for Me?

4.  And I have brought to thee,
Down from my home above,
Salvation full and free,
My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee-
What hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee-
What hast thou brought to Me?

May we recognise the true worth of Christ and how we cannot but love Him and live a life of gratitude in faithful service according to His will for the rest of our lives and while the Lord tarries. May we serve Him while we may.