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Six days before the Passover Jesus left Ephraim, east of the Jordan and went back to Bethany. The Passover dated back to the time when the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, 1275 BC. It celebrated the last of 10 plagues that God had brought upon Egypt to get Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go. The Angel of death passed over Egypt and every first born son was killed accept in the homes where the "blood of a lamb" was spread on the doorpost. This was the most important of the three major feasts. It was mandatory for all male Jews over 13 years old. Because of this, it drew huge crowds into Jerusalem. The crowds would cause the Roman Governor Pilate, to leave Caesarea, where he normally stayed, and go to Jerusalem and take with him a large contingent of Roman soldiers to prevent any disorders. The feast, at the time of Christ, lasted 8 days.
So six days before the Passover, Jesus and His Disciples went to Bethany. We see unfolding what Jesus had spoken of three times previously to His Disciples. This visit into hostile territory showed that His time was at hand, that He had chosen the time, that He freely offered Himself and that His life was not taken from Him.
He returned to the home of Mary and Martha. A supper was prepared and who else but Martha, served it. After supper, Mary took a pound of costly ointment and poured it upon the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. Foot washing was the sign of a good host. People walked in those days, everywhere they went and they only wore sandals if they wore anything. This ointment originated from Egypt. It was functional as well as cosmetic. The base was olive oil but the fragrance was whatever the pocketbook would allow. Shepherds used ointment to sooth injuries to the sheep and didn't cost very much but Mary's ointment was estimated by Judas, who was knowledgeable about anything that cost money, cost about 300 denarius, 300 working days pay, about 24,000 dollars. It was very costly and the whole house was filled with its fragrance.
We have recorded in Matthew 26 a similar story and there is much disagreement as to whether they are the same or different events. The time is different and the location is different.
Notice that Martha was at it again. Jesus had before reproved Martha about being troubled with much serving but this evidently didn't stop her but this time she served and managed to stay close to Jesus, within hearing of Him. Mary probably had brought the ointment for her own use but the death of her brother had changed her priorities. Mary used the ointment on the feet of Jesus as a token of her love and devotion. It was a generous love. It was a sacrificing love. It was a believing love.
Notice who it is that objects. Judas, one of the Disciples, the one who was to betray Him. The one who had the "money box", the one who was a thief. Notice the question that Judas asks. "Why wasn't this ointment sold and the money given to the poor?" John makes it clear that Judas did not care about the poor, his only concern was about money, which brings up the question, why did Jesus select Judas to be the treasurer of the group? Wouldn't it have been better not to have placed Judas in such a tempting position? Those with strong inclinations to sin are often placed in strong opportunities to sin.
Notice how Jesus answered Judas. "Leave her alone." Pardon her, if it is an extravagance, it is done in love. It would appear that Mary had purchased this for the anointing of the body of Jesus at His death but the death of her brother had caused her to change her priorities. "If you have a friend worth loving, love him, why should good things be done or said when they are dead?" Then Jesus added for Judas's sake, "The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me." Matthew Henry believes that this is ordered by Providence. The good that may be done any time must give way to that which can only be done now.
Well, word soon gets around that Jesus is back in Bethany and many Jews came from Jerusalem to see Jesus and many still came out of curiosity to see Lazarus, the man who had been brought back to life. Tradition has it that after the death of Jesus, Lazarus had to leave Bethany for fear of his life. As long as Lazarus lived, he was a walking example of the power of the man they had crucified. Eventually, he was killed also. Verse 11 says the Chief Priests planned to kill Lazarus also because he was responsible for many Jews believing in Jesus.
This event in the life of Christ has brought us up to the Friday before Palm Sunday and the last week in the life of Christ. One/third of the whole Gospel record covers the next 40 some days.
This concludes the acts and teachings associated with the various journeys of Jesus.
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