Why is Mary's anointing of Jesus significant in understanding His mission? The Setting in John 11:2 “Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was the same one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair.” (John 11:2) • John identifies Mary before the anointing scene (John 12), signaling that her act is so central to Jesus’ mission it must be kept in view while we read the resurrection of Lazarus and the coming Passion week. • The mention links resurrection (Lazarus) and death (Jesus’ burial preparation), framing the entire narrative in the hope-filled yet sacrificial mission of Christ. Prophetic Anointing: Pointing Straight to the Cross • Jesus interprets Mary’s act: “Leave her alone… She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.” (John 12:7) • Parallel texts — Matthew 26:12, Mark 14:8 — echo the same emphasis: the anointing prefigures His imminent death. • In Scripture, anointing often consecrates priests (Exodus 29:7), kings (1 Samuel 16:13), and sacrifices (Exodus 30:25-29). By accepting the anointing, Jesus unites all three offices: He is High Priest, King, and the spotless Sacrifice. • Isaiah 61:1 promised an Anointed One (“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me…”). Mary’s perfume becomes a visible, fragrant testimony that Jesus is that promised Messiah. Affirming Jesus as the Royal Messiah • The term “Christ” means “Anointed One.” Mary’s lavish act proclaims His kingship just days before His triumphal entry (John 12:12-15; Zechariah 9:9). • Psalm 45:7 foretells: “God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of joy above Your companions.” The literal fragrance that fills the house (John 12:3) announces heaven’s approval of the true King. Foreshadowing His Burial and Resurrection • Jewish burial customs used spices and perfumes (John 19:39-40). Mary’s advance anointing underscores that His death is not accidental; it is foreknown and willingly embraced. • Linking John 11 (Lazarus raised) with John 12 (Jesus prepared for burial) shows Jesus will conquer death for Himself and others. Lazarus’ resurrection previews the empty tomb. An Example of Costly Devotion • The perfume was “about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard” (John 12:3). Mark 14:5 values it at more than three hundred denarii—about a year’s wages. • Mary’s sacrifice mirrors Christ’s own: priceless, wholehearted, public. • Her posture—at His feet, wiping with her hair—pictures humility and worship. It invites believers to respond to Jesus’ self-giving love with undivided devotion (Romans 12:1). Contrasting Responses: Fragrance or Offense • Judas calls it waste (John 12:4-6), revealing a heart that loves money more than Messiah. • 2 Corinthians 2:15-16: “For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ… to the one we are an odor of death, to the other a fragrance of life.” Mary’s perfume becomes a living parable: the same scent that honors Jesus repels unbelief. • Her act triggers Judas’ betrayal timeline (Matthew 26:14-16), proving that wholehearted worship and hardened rebellion often stand side by side when Christ is revealed. The Aroma of the Gospel Today • Just as “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” (John 12:3), Christ’s self-offering now fills the world with redemption’s aroma. • Hebrews 9:14: “How much more will the blood of Christ… cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God!” • Believers carry that fragrance through loving obedience, costly generosity, and bold proclamation, echoing Mary’s testimony that Jesus is the crucified and risen Lord. Summary Mary’s anointing of Jesus illuminates His mission by: 1. Publicly confirming Him as the promised, royal Anointed One. 2. Prophetically preparing His body for the sacrificial death He willingly embraces. 3. Linking death and resurrection, showing victory over the grave. 4. Modeling the wholehearted devotion His redeeming love deserves. 5. Exposing hearts, dividing those drawn to the “sweet aroma” of salvation from those who reject it. In one fragrant moment, Mary proclaims the heart of the Gospel: the King will die, yet through His death He will bring abundant, resurrection life. |
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