1 Preparing Jesus for Burial

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Saturday, evening Bethany

Preparing Jesus for Burial

Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.

—John 12:3

Love can make you do crazy things. I’ve come across many anecdotes of people doing really foolish, even dangerous, things, in the name of love—like a husband and wife who were so in love that they had plastic surgery so that they would look exactly alike! Each of us have our own tales to tell, of how we did things we thought we would never do because of love. As Bob Dylan, award winning singer-songwriter and 2016 Nobel Prize Literature laureate, astutely observed, “You can’t be wise and be in love at the same time.”

But why not? Dylan’s observation may be perceptive but there are exceptions. As a younger man, I was madly in love. I did a crazy thing—I married my best friend, Lay Keng. It was one of the best, and wisest, decisions I ever made!

Similarly, loving Jesus led Mary of Bethany to do the right and most needful thing that anyone could do for Him.

Setting Events in Motion

Now a man named Lazarus was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. —John 11:1

During the last few months of His ministry, Jesus ministered to the people in and about the region of Perea (John 10:40–11:54). This was an area north of the Dead Sea, on the east side of the Jordan River. Besides teaching the multitudes, He also healed many, including a woman who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years (Luke 13:10–13) and two blind men (Matthew 20:29–34). Luke also tells of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus the tax-collector (Luke 19:1–9).

Jesus was in the town of Bethabara (also known as Bethany on the other side of the Jordan) when He received news that His good friend, Lazarus, was sick. After a deliberate delay of four days, during which time Lazarus died, Jesus came to Bethany in Judea3 and raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1–44).

News of the great miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead spread like wildfire. This resurrection miracle set in motion the sinister plot by the Sanhedrin to murder Jesus, for “from that day on they plotted to take his life” (v.53). So, Jesus left Bethany and withdrew to Ephraim (v.54), a village about 24 km north of Jerusalem, far enough away from the Sanhedrin for temporary safety until the time of the Father’s appointed hour.

As the time of the Passover drew close, the Jews were getting ready to celebrate the Passover and many made their way to Jerusalem. According to Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, some three million pilgrims would come into Jerusalem to worship in the temple.4 Many were looking forward to seeing Jesus, the great miracle worker. However, the Pharisees had issued a warrant to arrest Him (vv.55–57), and Jesus became a wanted man. If He showed himself in public, He risked being arrested.

Jesus’ Return to Bethany

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. —John 12:1–2

After His encounter with Zacchaeus in Jericho (Luke 19:1–9), Jesus set out and arrived at Bethany before sunset on Friday,

six days before the Passover (John 12:1). Bethany, 3 km from Jerusalem, was the home of Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus (11:18).

Jesus observed the Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), and on Saturday evening, a supper was given in His honour.5 John does not tell us where this dinner was hosted. But Matthew and Mark say this dinner was held in the home of a man called Simon the Leper (Matthew 26:6; Mark 14:3). The three siblings—Mary, Martha, and Lazarus—were related to Simon the Leper somehow, but the exact nature of their relationships is not clear. Some scholars suggest Simon was Martha’s husband, since Martha was the serving host.

Simon the Leper

Leprosy at that time was an infectious and deadly disease (2 Kings 5:7, Luke 4:27). Lepers were isolated from their families and communities to live outside the city gates (Leviticus 13:45–46). Lepers lived a miserable existence and died a lonely death. Scholars say Jesus had healed Simon of his leprosy, but he retained the nickname “the Leper” to remind him of this miracle.

This was a dangerous time for anyone to be seen with Jesus. The religious leaders had ordered for Jesus to be arrested. Anyone with

information on His whereabouts was expected to report it. We can safely assume that anyone associated with Jesus would be collateral damage, because later, the chief priests “made plans to kill Lazarus as well” (John 12:10).

Why would Simon invite Jesus, a wanted man, into his home? Why would this family take such a foolish risk?

It was love—for Jesus. Jesus had impacted their lives dramatically. Simon was healed of leprosy. Lazarus was brought back to life. Out of deep gratitude and love, this family wanted to honour the one who had impacted their lives. Even if it risked their lives, everyone gathered in that home counted the cost and were prepared to pay the price to show their love and devotion to Jesus. He was that valuable and precious to them.

Mary’s Crazy Act of Love

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of

Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. —Mark 14:3

Simon opened his home to Jesus. Lazarus reclined at the table to have fellowship with Jesus. And Martha served Jesus with her best meal. It is here that the Gospel writers turn their attention to Mary.

Mary took about a half a litre of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. —John 12:3

Mary’s extravagant action evoked strong negative responses from those who were at the dinner. They rebuked her harshly, “Why this waste of perfume?” (Mark 14:4). Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Jesus, was one of those who criticized Mary. He said, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages” (John 12:5).

Nard is an aromatic oil from a plant root grown only in the Indian Himalayas. During Jesus’ time, this was a rare imported perfume. This explains its costliness—300 denarii, which was a year’s wages of a common labourer.6 Pure nard or spikenard, the most exotic and expensive perfume in the Bible,7 is a highly-prized fragrance that a bride will wear on her wedding day (Song of Solomon 1:12 NKJV). Scholars believe that Mary gave her most precious possession—her personal dowry—to Jesus.

Judas argued that this perfume could have been put to better use. He was being practical. And I would count myself among the many who would certainly support Judas’ altruistic intention to help the poor. Why waste it on just one person?

But, does love have a price tag? To Judas, Mary’s act of love was worth a year’s wages. To Mary, her love for Jesus was not to be measured with material wealth! How about us—do we place a price tag on our acts of love?

Upon Judas’ censure of Mary, Jesus spoke up to defend Mary’s actions and to remind them again of His impending death.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” —John 12:7–8

There will always be poor people in our midst who need our help. Jesus did not say that we need not help the poor. We are to help them anytime we can (Deuteronomy 15:7–8, 24:19–21). But Mary’s anointment of Jesus with the expensive perfume was a matter of timeliness. It had to be done at that very moment. Once the dinner was over, Mary would have lost the opportunity to do so.

It was also a matter of necessity. If we fast forward to the moment of Jesus’ death on Good Friday (Mark 15:42–46), we are told that because of the Sabbath, Jesus’ body was hastily prepared for burial. It was only on the morning after the Sabbath that a group of women went to the tomb “to anoint Jesus’ body” (16:1).

The women never got to anoint Jesus’ body because by that time, Jesus had already risen. But back here at the dinner in Simon’s house, six days before Jesus’ death, Mary anointed Jesus’ body with expensive oil “to prepare for [his] burial” (14:8).

Jesus had repeatedly told His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem to suffer and to die.8 The disciples didn’t believe Him and Peter was sure that “this shall never happen” (Matthew 16:22). But Mary of Bethany had been sitting “at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said” (Luke 10:39). She believed Jesus about His dying in Jerusalem. And six days before Passover, Mary sensed that this could well be Jesus’ last week on earth. Knowing that this was the right thing to do at this right time, Mary did what she could. She gave her very best, her most precious and priceless possession in a show of her devotion to the Lord. This was Mary’s funeral gift to Jesus.

Consider this scenario: Someone you deeply love is dying. Doctors sombrely warn this could well be his or her last week of life. You are on the clock. Surely, you would want to do something memorable and meaningful for your loved one. What would you do?

The Price of Loving Jesus

Mary understood the destiny of Jesus and she lovingly ministered to Jesus in His last week here on earth. What sensitivity of heart! What faith! What devotion! What love!

Jesus commended her heart of faith and her act of love:

“[Mary] did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” —Mark 14:8–9

Amazing! You and I are fulfilling prophecy right at this moment. We are remembering and discussing what Mary did.

It is not presumptuous for me to say that many of us are paying the price for loving Jesus. We give our time, resources, giftedness and energies to serve the Lord in church. We give our tithes and offerings. For every dollar we give to the Lord is a dollar less to spend on ourselves. Some of us have experienced opposition and persecution from family members or friends. There is a price to pay for loving and following Jesus.

So yes, we do love Jesus! But is there a limit to our love? Mary gave up her alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, a very precious and personal possession, as a gift to Jesus. She saw an opportune time to do something significant—something out of the ordinary— out of love for Him. Are our eyes open for these opportunities? What is your alabaster jar that you can give to Jesus?

1. For more information on Holy Week, see https://www.britannica.com/topic/Holy-Week and http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07435a.htm

2. Alternative rendering of John 13:1 NLT, “John 13:1,” BibleGateway, accessed September 30, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A1&version=NLT

3. There are two towns with the same name at the time of Jesus. The first Bethany, located on the east of the Jordan River, is distinctively described as the “Bethany on the other side of Jordan”, and is clearly identified as the Bethany “where John the Baptist was baptizing” (John 1:28; 10:40). This Bethany is known also as Bethabara (see 1:28 NKJV). The second Bethany, located on the west of the Jordan River, is in the province of Judea, on the slopes of Mount of Olives, 3 km from Jerusalem. This is the town where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. It is also the home of Mary and Martha (11:1,18).

4. Josephus, The Jewish Wars, Book II, Chapter 14, Section 3; Book VI, Chapter 9, Section 3 https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/war-2.html https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/war-6.html

5. For a detailed discussion, see: (1) William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to John, vol. 2, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 170–173. (2) D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W. B. Eerdmans, 1991), 427. (3) See https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/macarthur_john/bible-introductions/john-intro. cfm

6. A labourer’s full day’s wage is a denarius.

7. Notes on Mark 14:3, NIV Zondervan Study Bible, D. A. Carson, Zondervan, 2019, (Olive Tree Bible Software).

8. See Matthew 16:21; 17:22–23; 20:17–19.