Mar 14:3-5 | KingComments | STEP | Opposite the cold hatred of the religious leaders against the Lord radiates here the warmth of a woman’s affection for Him. Opposite the many haters stands this one person. She admires Him not only for His works and goodness, but also for the work He is going to do. It is Mary. Her name is not mentioned here because it’s not about who does it; it’s about what she does. What she does happens in the home of Simon with the addition “the leper”. This he is no longer, otherwise he couldn’t dwell there, but it’s a reminder of what he was. The memory of what we were makes us thankful for Who the Lord is and what He has done. The Lord loves to be with thankful people. This is also the atmosphere in which the anointing can take place as a sign of worship. The woman breaks the vial. It does not need to be used for anything else after this act. By breaking it, the contents can flow over His head unhindered. The vial shouldn’t get the attention, but the nard. Our life is like that vial. The more our life is broken for Him, the more He gets from our life the honor that is due to Him. Admiration should not be for a human being, but only for Him.

‏ Mark 14:3-5

Anointing by Mary

Opposite the cold hatred of the religious leaders against the Lord radiates here the warmth of a woman’s affection for Him. Opposite the many haters stands this one person. She admires Him not only for His works and goodness, but also for the work He is going to do. It is Mary. Her name is not mentioned here because it’s not about who does it; it’s about what she does.

What she does happens in the home of Simon with the addition “the leper”. This he is no longer, otherwise he couldn’t dwell there, but it’s a reminder of what he was. The memory of what we were makes us thankful for Who the Lord is and what He has done. The Lord loves to be with thankful people. This is also the atmosphere in which the anointing can take place as a sign of worship.

The woman breaks the vial. It does not need to be used for anything else after this act. By breaking it, the contents can flow over His head unhindered. The vial shouldn’t get the attention, but the nard. Our life is like that vial. The more our life is broken for Him, the more He gets from our life the honor that is due to Him. Admiration should not be for a human being, but only for Him.

Reactions to the Anointing

The reaction of some of His disciples is disappointing. Here it appears that not only Judas blames the woman. Judas reacts out of greed for money. That doesn’t have to be the case with the other disciples. With them it may be more the insensitivity to what occupies the Lord. They understand nothing of Mary’s deed. They think what she is doing is just a waste of money that in their opinion could have been spent so much better. In this way they show that He is not precious in their eyes. What is done to Him is never a waste. He deserves the best we have.

Supposedly, they also have a noble motive with which they believe they can substantiate their indignation about her deed. It would have been better given to the poor. We can apply that to today. A lot of time and money is spent on all kinds of social work, but if the Lord Jesus is not given the honor, the work is for the glorification of man himself.

We hear no defense from the woman. The Lord stands up for her. He asks His disciples why they are bothering her. What’s the real reason? They should think about that. He says of the woman that she did a good deed to Him. She has come to do so because she has chosen the good part: sitting at His feet (Lk 10:39 ; 42). Nor has she done anything for Him, but to Him. Doing good to the poor is also a good work, but only if it is done at His command and in fellowship with Him. The poor will always be there, but He will go away from them, back to heaven.

The Lord gives her the compliment that only He can give. When He says that she has done what she could, it is with the perfect knowledge of all her efforts to come to this deed. That includes not only saving for this fortune, but also performing the deed. The incomprehension that this gives her makes her act even more impressive. What is misinterpreted by Judas, and the other disciples, is clothed by the Lord’s testimony with the light of Divine understanding. What a world of difference of judgment! Misunderstood by men, recognized by the Lord, that is the part of those who, through true love for Him, accomplish deeds which mean a waste of energy and resources for carnal Christians.

The woman, perhaps the only one, has sensed that the Lord will die. He has told the disciples several times, but they have never understood its reality and it has not marked their actions. This woman is unique to Him. He has not found such sympathy with anyone else. She has anointed Him beforehand for the burial. Others will also want to anoint Him when He is buried. Although that is also a good deed, they will come too late for it to be done.

The act of Mary will always be inextricably linked to the gospel that is preached. In other words, the salvation of sinners must result in God being worshiped. The Father seeks worshipers (Jn 4:23). Christ’s work is to ensure that the Father will also find these worshipers, as Mary was. What deeds do we do which are worthy to be proclaimed to the world in connection with the Lord Jesus and have the effect that the Father is worshiped?