Here we have the anointing of Jesus by Mary with the precious ointment at the feast Simon the leper prepared for Jesus. Keep in mind that in a few days from this event Jesus died on the Roman cross outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem. Simon had evidently been cured of leprosy by Christ and in appreciation of Jesus he had prepared a feast for him. The ointment Mary used is estimated to have been worth at least $300. This would have been the wages of a working man in Palestine for a whole year. John 12:1-9 shows that the woman was Mary, that she anointed his feet and then wiped them with her hair. Also the leader of the objectors was Judas who seemingly had no trouble arousing the indignation of the other disciples at this event, saying that it was a waste to do this. Jesus said, "Why trouble ye the woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon me." (Vs. 10). Also he said, "Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her." (Vs 13). The attitude and action of Mary is a good example of our attitude and action when on the first day of the week we partake of the Supper of the Lord. 1. Mary was honoring Christ. The gift was a great gift signifying how precious the Savior was to her and to all men. It is with honor to Christ for the greatest gift of all which he made for us that we partake of the bread representing his body and the fruit of the vine representing his blood. Hebrews 10 points out that the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins. Christ came and "though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:8, 9). This man "by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14). Without this no one could be saved. Therefore we should respect his authority and appreciate his intercessions for us before Almighty God. He said for us to partake of the supper in remembrance of Him so let's do it with Honor to whom honor is due, and that would be the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Mary was showing the love she had for Christ as she anointed him with the precious ointment. We show the love we have for Christ by every Sunday gathering with the saints around the table and humbly partaking of the emblems of the Lord's Supper. Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15). Jesus had taught at the home of Mary and Martha and Mary sat at his feet absorbing his precious words. Her deep love for the Lord was because he had raised her brother Lazarus from the dead. He was a friend of this family. He also was and is the savior of the world. The only thing she could do for him was to anoint his feet with the precious ointment as a gift of love. The Lord told us to partake of the supper and when we do so we are showing our love for what the Lord has done for us and is doing for us from day to day. 3. Mary was expressing gratitude for Jesus by this anointing. We show our gratitude for salvation through the blood of Jesus as we partake of the Supper. We show our gratitude for Jesus as our mediator as we partake of the Supper. We show our gratitude for his church which is his body as we partake of the Supper. "For the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 10:16, 17). 4. Mary showed her faith in Jesus as Messiah and the Efficacy of his death upon the cross by anointing Him. Jesus said, "For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial." (Matthew 26:12). 5. Mary was showing her sympathy for the Lord's coming betrayal, suffering and humiliation of his trial and death on the cross. We show our sympathy for the Lord in his sufferings as we partake of the Supper of the Lord. We are actually showing to the whole world his death and our faith in His coming again. "For as often as ye eat of this bread, and drink of this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." (1 Corinthians 11:26). The Lord's Supper is of extreme importance and we should be giving great emphasis to it. Paul looked upon it as important enough to tarry 7 days at Troas until the first day of the week so he could gather with the disciples there as they came together to break the bread (Acts 20:6,7). "And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavend bread, and came unto them toTroas in five days; where we abode seven days. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight." From this we learn that the Lord's Supper was a regular part of the worship on the first day of the week. Every week has a first day. So every week the disciples in the local churches came together to partake of the Lord's Supper.
Let's be careful not to make an empty form out of it. "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 11 :27). Partake with honor to Christ, showing love for Christ, expressing gratitude for Christ, confessing faith in Christ, and sympathizing with Christ's suffering. C.D.
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