LOVE AND HATE (Mark 14:1-9)
INTRODUCTION:
Mark spends a good amount of time on Passion Week, which began on a Monday with the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. On Tuesday, Jesus cursed the fig tree on the way to Jerusalem and also cleansed the temple that day. The next day, Wednesday, as Jesus was teaching in the temple, He had several clashes with the religious leaders as the tried to trap Him in His words, Jesus left each group humiliated and silent. That same day He also told the parable of the wicked vine-growers, and the religious leaders knew that the parable was spoken against them. Jesus ended His time in the Temple by watching the people as they came and put their money into the Treasury, He then commended the widow who put two small copper coins, a very small amount, but it was all she had to live on. After this observation Jesus left the Temple, which was the last time He was in the Temple. The glory of God, the Messiah departed the temple. The rest of that Wednesday was spent on the Mount of Olives with Jesus teaching His disciples about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, giving them the sign of the end of the age, and the sign of the coming of the Son of Man in power and glory. Mark 14 begins on that same Wednesday of Passion Week, Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away. Mark records two events that took place to contrast for us the hatred of the religious leaders and the love and devotion of those who truly loved the Lord Jesus and knew that He was the Messiah. The second event is not where it should be chronologically but placed here by Mark to show us this contrast. I will speak of that more when we get to the second event. Let’s pray and then read our passage of Scripture.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles to Mark 14:1-9, our passage for this morning. Please, stand if you are able in honor of the reading of the Word of God, follow along as I read.
Mark 14:1-9,
“Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth and kill Him; for they were saying, ‘Not during the festival, otherwise there might be a riot of the people.’ While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. But some were indignantly remarking to one another, ‘Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.’ And they were scolding her. But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.’ ” (Mark 14:1–9, NASB95)[1]
DESPERATE HATE (Mark 14:1-2)
Mark begins chapter 14 by informing us that the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away, which indicates for us that it was still Wednesday. The Passover was celebrated each year on the fourteenth day of the Jewish month Nisan (late March or early April). This holiday commemorated the night in Egypt when the angel of death passed over the houses of the Israelites who had killed a lamb and had put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts and lintels. The Feast of Unleavened Bread began the next day and lasted a full week, from the fifteenth to the twenty-first of Nisan. It too commemorated Israel’s exodus from Egypt and was named for the flat bread they took with them in their hasty escape, not having time to add yeast and allow it to rise. Because these two celebrations were so closely intertwined, the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread eventually became interchangeable terms.
Being two days away from the Passover, Jesus knew in keeping with the Father’s perfect plan that the time had come for Him to die. In the parallel account in Matthew 26:2 Jesus told His disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion.” (Matthew 26:2, NASB95)[2] Jesus had repeatedly spoken of His death on a number of occasions, demonstrating that throughout His entire ministry He was operating according to a supernaturally ordained and controlled timetable, in order to fulfill His ultimate purpose for coming as He said in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45, NASB95)[3]
On the divine level, God the Father was sovereignly working to accomplish His redemptive purposes through the death of His Son. But this fact does not pardon the wicked actions of those who on the human level, organized and carried out the crucifixion of Jesus. The religious leaders were motivated by their own pride, envy, and stubborn unbelief, they had willfully rejected their Messiah and actively sought to kill Him. Now, after the devastating verbal exchanges with Him, they could hardly restrain themselves. Matthew tells us that the meeting of the chief priests and scribes took place in the courtyard of the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. Representing the elder statesmen of Israel’s religious elite, the chief priests and the scribes are mentioned together several times in the Gospels. The chief priests were primarily Sadducees. Their number included the high priest, the captain of the temple (who assisted the high priest) and other high-ranking priests. The scribes as mentioned before were mostly Pharisees, they were the experts in both the Old Testament law and rabbinic tradition. These two groups made up the apostate leadership of Israel.
While Jesus was speaking to His disciples about His glorious return on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, the chief priests and scribes were meeting together for one purpose, they “were seeking how to seize Him by stealth and kill Him.” They decided it should not be during the festival; they were concerned it might cause the people to riot because many believed He was a prophet. The hatred of the Sadducees and Pharisees was intense, and having been humiliated in the temple courtyard made this hatred desperate, they wanted to rid themselves of this man who always bested them in debates and who condemned their self-righteousness, who threatened their authority, power, and prestige. They hated Him and desperately wanted to see Him dead.
DEVOTED LOVE (Mark 14:3-6)
In verse three Mark switches from Jerusalem to an event in Bethany. John 12:1-8 is a parallel passage to this event though there are some significant differences. One of the differences is when this event occurred. John records in John 12:1 that this event took place six days before the Passover, that is, the beginning of the Passover Festival, which I already stated began on the 14th day of Nisan. This would mean that this event took place the previous Friday. Mark’s placement, because of the mention of two days in verse one, seems to suggest that the episode took place on Wednesday of Passion Week. But Mark does not come right out and say that. In light of this it seems reasonable to follow John’s chronology and to conclude that Mark used the event thematically to contrast the hate of the religious leaders and the devoted love of the woman in this event.
Mark records that while Jesus was in Bethany, on the southern slope of the Mount of Olives, He accepted an invitation to dinner in the home of a man known as “Simon the leper.” Who was this Simon? There have been lots of speculation, but most agree that Simon had been a leper and had been healed by Jesus. Jesus was the guest of honor, we are also told in John’s gospel that Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead was there, reclining at the table with Jesus and His disciples. John also informs us that Lazarus’ sister, Martha, was serving the meal.
Simon the leper had brought together the ingredients for a terrific evening. Jesus would be free from tension among people who loved Him. No doubt the meal went well, and the conversation was wonderful.
As they were reclining at the table, they witnessed a remarkable event that they would never forget. Mark says, “a woman” John gospel identifies the woman as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Mark writes, “there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.” (Mark 14:3b, NASB95)[4] John adds in 12:3, “Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (John 12:3, NASB95)[5]
What an amazing moment! Mary who loved to sit at the feet of Jesus, unexpectedly approached her reclining Lord, bearing a priceless alabaster vial of imported Indian perfume (very likely a family heirloom), she snapped the neck of the flask and poured a generous portion on Jesus’ head anointing Him, and then poured the rest of the contents on His feet—humbly, worshipfully wiping His feet with her hair. It was an intense fervent expression of devotion.
Due to the intensity of her devotional focus upon the Lord Jesus, she must have given no thought to what others would think of her action. She must have been mortified by the unexpected response of the disciples. Here again John gives us some further insight because he tells us that Judas Iscariot, the keeper of the money bag, and soon to be Jesus’ betrayer, originated the objection, which the others picked up.
Mark writes, “But some were indignantly remarking to one another, ‘Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.’ And they were scolding her.” (Mark 14:4–5, NASB95)[6] Judas, a man who knew the price of everything instantly calculated that the bottle could have been sold for nearly a year’s wages. There were people in need of food and clothing in Jerusalem at that very instant. As it was customary to give gifts on the evening of Passover to the poor, this would have made a remarkable gift. But now it was gone, sinfully wasted. All that was left was the beautiful aroma, so the disciples began to scold her. The Greek is much stronger than the English translation. The Greek indicates that they snorted their indignation like angry horses. How must have Mary felt? Humiliated and ashamed.
The disciples thought they knew the mind of Jesus, but they were badly mistaken, because Jesus then put Himself between Mary and her attackers, defending her with a heart-searching exposition ending with these words, “Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” (Mark 14:9, NASB95)[7] These words should speak encouragement to any heart that is submissive to the Lord. As we read our Lord’s defense of Mary’s action may we take the measure of our own hearts as well.
DEVOTION COMMENDED (Mark 14:7-9)
Jesus began by affirming that what Mary had done was beautiful. My Bible translates this as she has done a good deed, but the Greek word can mean intrinsically excellent or beautiful. Mark records, “But Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.’ ” (Mark 14:6, ESV)[8] Why did Jesus call it beautiful?
First, because Jesus was aware of Mary’s loving motive. Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians 13 that if we have the greatest gifts, if we sacrifice all, but do not have love, it comes to nothing. Love makes our gifts pleasing to God. Those things done from simple, real love for Jesus Christ become His treasure. In the same way, those things done without love are futile. Mary’s beautiful gift came from a heart of love.
The second reason it was beautiful is that it came from a spontaneous response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. John Calvin wrote, “…she was guided by the breath of the Spirit that in sure confidence she should do this duty to Christ.”[9] The Holy Spirit led her to do so for reasons she would only know in eternity, not the least of which was to be an example to the church. How often do we feel prompted to do something and we do not do it, and the chance is lost.
The third reason Mary’s act was so beautiful was that it was not dominated by practicality. It was simply done to and for Jesus with no thought of whether it was practical or sensible. When was the last time you did something simply to do it to and for Jesus.
Jesus has a lot of strange things in His treasury: widows’ pennies, cups of water, broken alabaster vials. Does He have anything of yours? Do you feel the desire to do something beautiful for God? Then do it.
Next, in verse 7 Jesus defended Mary’s action because it placed Jesus before anything else. Jesus says, “For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me.” (Mark 14:7, NASB95)[10] We must understand that Jesus was not arguing against caring for the poor or against social involvement. The Scriptures celebrate the believers’ service to the poor and needy. Matthew 10:42 says, “And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42, NASB95)[11] James wrote, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27, NASB95)[12] It is impossible to be true disciples without serving others. Jesus is not diminishing our obligation to care for the poor. In saying, “…whenever you wish you can do good to them,” Jesus is implying ongoing responsibility to help the poor.
Our Lord’s commendation to Mary for putting Him above all else, properly understood, condemned an either/or approach to spirituality. Christians are to worship God and minister to others. The ideal is a lavish, contemplative devotional life in which we love Christ so much that we pour ourselves out for others. One without the other falls far short of the dynamic that Christ wants for us.
Jesus has defended Mary’s anointing of Him as beautiful because it put Christ first, and it was total. Jesus said in verse 8, “She has done what she could.” (Mark 14:8a, NASB95)[13] And indeed she did! She gave all! Mary was not a person of means. But she gave Jesus the most she could give. She did it with lavish abandon. Jesus would never have said, “She gave what she could” if she had measured out the perfume in grudging drops—Here’s a drop for your head, and here's two drops for your feet!
Complete sacrifice is the only adequate expression for a life that has been redeemed by God. That is what Paul meant from our Scripture reading this morning, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1, NASB95)[14] We must ask ourselves: “Is my devotion to Christ costing me anything?” Is there ever any deprivation? Any inconvenience? Jesus said that Mary had done what she could. How about us?
There is something else in this phrase: she did what she could being the person she was, according to her personality, her disposition. Mary followed her heart. Snap went the bottle next, out poured the fortune, down came her hair. We have no problems dreaming up doing big things for God. But getting it from the heart to the lips, or from the heart to the hands, from the heart to the bank account, from the heart to the needy—that is another matter. The fragrance that is so honoring to Him, and refreshing to others does not come from giving half our heart, or half our wallet, or half our talents, or half of our ambition. What devotion—She has done what she could. God wants us to give everything with all that we are!
Lastly, Jesus praised the insightfulness of Mary’s worship. Jesus said, “…she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.” (Mark 14:8b, NASB95)[15] Though Jesus had repeatedly spoken plainly of His death, the disciples characteristically passed it off. The concept of a suffering Messiah did not meet their understanding of who the Messiah would be, nor did it meet their desires. But Mary, who loved to sit at His feet, yielded to His teaching and accepted what was coming. She realized that when tragedy came she would not be able to do anything, so she did while she could. This explains the passion of her devotion.
Jewish women considered their hair their glory, and Mary letting it down and drying Jesus’ feet with it meant that all her humanity, all her glory was devoted to Him in worship. One can never know what the ultimate significance of his or her devotion and service may be. The widow with the two small cooper coins never dreamed that someone saw her offering, let alone that it would be memorialized for more than 2000 years. Those who fed the hungry never knew they were feeding Christ. Mary had not the slightest idea that more would be done for the poor with her “wasted” perfume then ten million times three hundred denarii could ever do. The fragrance may have dissipated into the night air, but the deed continues to smell sweet and will forever.
Jesus said in closing, “Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” (Mark 14:9, NASB95)[16] We are doing that right now.
CONCLUSION:
Mary’s story is part of the Gospel, part of the good news, because she was a demonstration of what happens in a life touched by the Savior of love and then trusting in that Savior. What does Mary’s magnificent example tell us Jesus wants from us? He wants something beautiful. Beautiful because of its motivation, a couple of tiny copper coins, a broken empty vial. Beautiful because it comes spontaneously from our hearts at the prompting of the Holy Spirit and is done solely for our Savior’s glory. He wants us to put Him before everything else, even the poor. He wants us to do what we can. He wants every last drop. Everything. He wants us to have the courage to follow our hearts as we do what we can. He wants our devotion to be informed by a deep understanding of who He is. Such devotion will be memorialized by Him. We must desire nothing else!
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[8]The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2016. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[9]Calvin, John, A Harmony of the Gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke and the Epistles of James and Jude, vol. 3, trans. A.W. Morrison. Grand Rapids, MI : Eerdmans, 1975, p.122.
[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[12]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[13]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[14]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[15]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[16]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.