Holy Wednesday: Jesus and Mary of Bethany

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Opening Prayer: Lord, we continue our journey reflecting on the events of your last week. Help us to focus with thanksgiving on the many opportunities given to be transformed by your power, mercy, and love. Amen.

Reading:  Matthew 26:6–13 ESV

Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Mark 14:3-6 New International Version (NIV)

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some, of those present, were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 

Message: Many traditions memorialize the Wednesday of Holy Week. Some recognize Judas’ meeting with the Sanhedrin. Others honor the Wednesday of Holy Week as the day Mary anointed Jesus. It is this tradition on which I choose to focus today. It is a fascinating story, especially in this time of a worldwide pandemic. Three points are of interest to us this Holy Wednesday. The first is Jesus’ lack of social distancing in the face of a contagion. The second point of interest is the use of Spikenard, and the third point is the practice of anointing.

Jesus and Social Distancing: Jesus is in the house of a leper. What! Weren’t lepers considered unclean? Yes, they were. Leprosy was considered highly contagious requiring constant contact with, like COVID-19, droplets from the nose and mouth of someone who is untreated. Jesus is at the home of a leper and not just standing at the door; he is having a meal. Jesus and the disciples are in the home of an infected man. While this practice along would be enough for a sermon, it is only one part of the story that I want to focus on, so we will move on. 

The use of Spikenard: The Book of John identifies the oil used by Mary as pure nard. Spikenard comes from plants found in Nepal, China, and India. Easily imported from Egypt, this oil was offered on the specialized incense altar in the first and second temples in Jerusalem. Simon’s household most likely had Spikenard because it was a popular treatment for leprosy. 

The practice of anointing:  The practice of anointing was very common as a ritual and as an act of hospitality. You may remember how Samuel anointed David King by pouring oil over his head (1Sam. 16). Priests and prophets were also anointed with oil. Anointing a guest at dinner was not uncommon. What was uncommon was the quality of the oil and the extravagance of its usage. Instead of a drop or two, she poured the bottle’s contents over Jesus’ head (Mt. and Mk.). John is the only Gospel in which, instead of his head, the anointing is of Jesus’ feet. 

The gathered household and guests are shocked not that Jesus is anointed, not at the fact that a woman is performing the anointing. They are shocked by Mary’s extravagance. A costly container broken and a costly, imported oil, all given to freely Jesus. Mary’s extravagance reminds me of the scripture that encourages us to outdo one another in doing good (Rom. 12:10). It is also reminiscent of the parable of the widow who gave all she had (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4).

This Holy Wednesday, we might ask ourselves two things.

In what ways am I present to those considered untouchable?

What costly thing can I offer to honor Jesus as a guest in my household? 

Closing Prayer:  “All to Jesus, I surrender, All to Him I freely give. I will ever love and serve him in his presence daily live. I surrender all. I surrender all. All to thee my blessed Savoir, I surrender all. Amen.