Conclusion of At Bethany, In The House Of Simon

However, another resident of Bethany invites Jesus and his companions for a meal Saturday evening. The man is Simon, a former leper, who earlier had perhaps been healed by Jesus. In keeping with her industrious character, Martha is ministering to the guests. But, typically, Mary is attentive to Jesus, this time in a way that stirs controversy.

Mary opens up an alabaster case, or small flask that holds about a pound of perfumed oil, "genuine nard. This is very precious. Indeed, its value is equivalent to about a year's wages! When Mary pours the oil on Jesus' head and on his feet and wipes his feet with her hair, the aromatic scent fills the whole house.

The disciples are angry and ask: "Why this waste?" Then Judas Iscariot says: "Why was it this perfumed oil was not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor people?" But Judas was not really concerned about the poor, for he has been stealing from the money box kept by the disciples.

Jesus comes to Mary's defense. "Let her alone," He commands. "Why do you try to make trouble for her? He did a fine deed toward me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to you can always do them good, but me you do not have always. She did what she could; she undertook before hand to put perfumed oil on my body in view of the burial. Truly I say to you, Wherever the good news is preached in all the world, what this woman did shall also be told as a remembrance of her."

Jesus has been in Bethany now more than 24 hours, and word of his presence had spread about. Therefore, many come to Simon's house to see Jesus, but they also come to see Lazarus, who is present too. So the chief priests take counsel to kill not only Jesus but Lazarus as well. This is because many people are putting faith in Jesus because of seeing alive the one whom he raised from the dead! Truly, how wicked these religious leaders are! John 11:55-12:11; Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; Acts 1:12.

Next time: Christ's Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991