What Old Testament connections can be made to Mary's anointing of Jesus? The Scene in Bethany “Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (John 12:3) Echoes of the Tabernacle Anointing Oil • Exodus 30:22-25—God directs Moses to blend “myrrh, fragrant cinnamon, fragrant cane, cassia, and olive oil” into “a sacred anointing oil.” • Purpose: to set apart everything it touches as holy (vv. 26-29). • Connection: Mary’s nard mirrors this consecrating act, declaring Jesus the true Holy One and the living Tabernacle (John 1:14). Anointing of Priests and Kings • Aaron—Exodus 29:7; Psalm 133:2: oil poured on the head of the high priest, running down to the robe. • David—1 Samuel 16:13: “Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him… and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward.” • Messianic fulfillment—Psalm 45:6-7; Isaiah 61:1: the coming King is anointed with “the oil of joy.” • Connection: Mary treats Jesus as both Priest and King, anticipating His royal entry in the next chapter (John 12:12-15). Aroma of Sacrifice and Worship • Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17: burnt offerings rise as “a pleasing aroma to the LORD.” • Ephesians 5:2 (applying the theme): Christ “gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering.” • Connection: The fragrance filling the house signals the pleasing sacrifice Jesus is about to offer at the cross. Burial Spices Foretold • 2 Chronicles 16:14: King Asa is buried “on a bier covered with various kinds of spices blended into a perfume.” • John 12:7: Jesus says Mary has kept the perfume “for the day of My burial.” • Isaiah 53:9: the Servant’s grave is “with a rich man.” Mary’s costly gift anticipates Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb (John 19:38-40). Song of Solomon and Bridal Devotion • Songs 1:12: “While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.” • Songs 4:10-14 lists nard, myrrh, and spices flowing from the bride. • Connection: Mary’s act expresses covenant love for the Bridegroom (John 3:29), foreshadowing the Church’s devotion. Overflowing Cup Imagery • Psalm 23:5: “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” • Connection: The generous amount of nard (a full pound) pictures the abundance of grace Jesus gives (John 1:16). Prophetic Contrast: Faith vs. Greed • Zechariah 11:12-13: thirty pieces of silver weighed out for the Shepherd—contemptuous payment later mirrored by Judas. • John 12:4-6 sets Judas’s protest against Mary’s lavish faith, fulfilling the prophet’s pattern of rejection. Key Takeaways • Mary’s anointing gathers multiple Old Testament threads—priestly consecration, royal inauguration, sacrificial fragrance, bridal love, and burial preparation—into one prophetic action. • Every detail underscores Jesus as the promised Messiah who will die, rise, and reign, the One to whom every prior anointing pointed. |
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