The first days of the Lord’s passion week involved Conflict with religious authorities in the metropolis (11:1-13:37). The final days focused on the Cross (14:1-16:8). This was ever in the Lord’s thoughts; each step brought nearer the fulfilment of His work.
The Servant’s Cross (14:1-16:8)
All was taking place with a sense of anticipation. Chief priests and scribes plotted His death and employed Judas to arrange a suitable time and place. Mary of Bethany, in love and faith, anointed His body for burial. The disciples joined the Lord in a final Passover meal at which He revealed His knowledge of the betrayer. He instituted a special supper of remembrance. Walking with His disciples to Gethsemane, He predicted the smiting of the Shepherd, the stumbling of His disciples and His denial by Peter. In the garden, He committed Himself finally and fully to the accomplishment of the Father’s will.
Anticipation (14:1-41)
The section begins with a “sandwich” common to Mark. A Devoted Woman (vv3-9) stands in stark contrast to the Deceptive Religious Leaders (vv1-2) and the Disloyal Judas (vv10-11).
Deceptive Leaders (vv1-2)
The Lord had predicted that the “chief priests and scribes” would reject Him (8:31; 10:33). Their desire to destroy Him was motivated by the fear of men (11:18,27-33; 12:12). It is no surprise, then, that in their scheming to bring about His death, they “sought how they might take him by craft” and determined that this should not be “on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people” (14:1-2).1 The morality of their actions was of little concern to them. Being politically minded, their primary aim was to retain their favoured position in the minds of the people.
To destroy the Lord would remove any threat to their authority; this they determined to achieve. However, they wanted to remove Him without any trouble from His supporters.
Devoted Woman (vv3-9)
This woman, unnamed in Mark’s account, is undoubtedly Mary of Bethany (see John 12:1-8). Along with other women in the passion narratives, she shows true devotion to her Lord (15:40-41,47; 16:1-11). Her display of devotion took place in Bethany, where the Lord had enjoyed welcome respite during His final week (11:1,11-12).
As the Lord reclined to eat in the house of Simon the leper, Mary came behind Him holding an alabaster container. This was likely a long-necked flask used to preserve precious perfumes and oils. It contained “costly aromatic oil from pure nard” (v3 NET). The value of the ointment was estimated at 300 denarii, which equates to the annual salary of a labouring man. This was exceedingly costly perfume. Snapping the narrow neck of the flask, Mary poured the ointment upon Him, beginning at His head. John tells us that Mary also anointed His feet (Joh 12:3). In fact, she anointed His whole body (Mar 14:8).
Some, identified by Matthew as the Lord’s own disciples, “had indignation within themselves” (v4). They were greatly displeased, even angry, at what they perceived as the “waste of the ointment.” They regarded the pouring out of this precious ointment upon the Lord as an unnecessary extravagance. They suggested an alternative use: “It might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor” (v5). Such a suggestion may appear reasonable, but John traces its origin back to Judas, adding, “This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein” (Joh 12:6). The disciples, influenced by Judas, were out of line with their Lord’s thinking.
The Lord Jesus rebuked their protests: “Let her alone; why trouble ye her?” They must stop their scolding and cease their troubling. Why? Her action was commendable! “She hath wrought a good work on me” (Mar 14:6). Her act was intrinsically good. What they condemned as waste the Lord commended as worship.
But what about the challenge that she should have sold the perfume and given the proceeds to the poor? Any time they were moved with compassion to aid the poor they should do so. But this gave no just cause to attack this woman. She had seized a passing opportunity to express a heart of deep devotion to her Lord, and her action showed that she was more in line with the immediate need than were the disciples. “She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial” (v8 ESV).
A heart stirred by sincere devotion will not always appear reasonable. The poor widow who cast into the treasury “all that she had, even all her living” (12:44), earned the Lord’s commendation, while to our cold, calculating minds such an action may seem foolish. Similarly, Mary’s act of love in pouring out her preserved and precious ointment upon the Lord earned the Lord’s highest praise: “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her” (14:9).
Disloyal Disciple (vv10-11)
Judas’ treachery stands in stark contrast to Mary’s devotion. He was “one of the twelve,” a man of unique privilege and responsibility. Yet he “went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them” (v10). While Mary would become the great example of heart-felt devotion, Judas would become the very byword for betrayal.
The scheming leaders were delighted; Judas was an asset to be valued. And so, they “promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him” (v11).
Mary’s shining devotion placed against such a dark background should stir our hearts. Many Christian heroes and heroines have acted out of such deep love and strong faith, pouring out everything in devoted service to the Lord. Some have paid the ultimate price, spilling their blood as martyrs. We may not be called to die for Christ, but we are called to love Him as Mary did. Surely, He finds nothing more pleasing than a heart wholly devoted to Him.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for thee.2
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.
2 Frances Ridley Havergal (1836–1879)
