Rightfully Exalting Mary

It is well known that Catholics overemphasize and even give undue worship to Mary, the mother of Jesus. While Mary, Jesus’ earthly mother is to be admired for her servitude, but she needs to be honored only as much as God honors her, not more. But there is another Mary the Scriptures do specifically tell us to honor, we are told by Jesus that what she has done is to accompany the gospel message.

It was Martha and Mary’s brother Lazarus who was resurrected. Both sisters implored him at first for not getting there quick enough to keep him from dying. But when Jesus is face to face with Martha He asked her John 11:23-27 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Certainly Jesus saying to them (Jn.12:25) I am the resurrection and the life and both of them seeing it in action with their own brother impacted both of them.   

This Mary anointed Jesus,  Mk.14:3.-4 Lk.7:37 Mt.26:5 v.13 this will be proclaimed as part of the gospel. What does he mean? That in this he was anointed to be buried (by man and anointed to be raised by God.

300 denari- 1 denari was days pay – it would be worth $400 in our day-- John 12:4-5 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denari and given to the poor?”

  Judas feigned care for the poor and had protested about the oil being poured on Jesus before His crucifixion, not because he cared for the poor but because he was thief, he loved money. Obviously he influenced the others to complain.

Vv.6-9 Judas was quick to judge someone’s motives, she was doing it for the Lord – Jesus accepts her action and rebukes them.  She had done a good work, she gave all she had--you can do good for the poor any time I will not be with you long.

8. she has anointed me for my burial. This does not fulfill any Scripture exactly but is a type of Old Testament. Song 1:12 While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.

They anointed a person for burial. Ex. 20:23; ps. 45:7 everything in the Old Testament tabernacle was anointed, Jesus is the tabernacle (the ark, altar of incense- all the tabernacle is a type and shadow of him, being the substance Ex.4:9 and the priests).

9. Jesus speaking of this woman Mark 14:8-9 “She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Is this story told, is she included? Why?

She is memorialized without being named. Many think this was Mary Magdalen, but it was not. In fact this woman is given a place of prominence that even Jesus mother is not.

We do know. She understood what Jesus was teaching, what was going to take place.

John 12:7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.” There are only two other men who understood what was to happen and they were not of the 12, (they were not alive on earth Moses and Elijah.) Luke 9:30-31 “And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” They knew because they were prophets but she was an ordinary follower.

There was another time the Lord had oil poured on him. (Luke 7:36-50)  at a Pharisees house v.37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,

She began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. This Pharisee called her “a sinner.” Simon – the lepers house- could it be the same house and the same person?

V. 42   “And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”47”Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 48 And He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins? “Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

John 11:1-2  Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Jn.12:1-8 we find it was Mary Lazarus’ sister - Her name is not mentioned by Mark, as he had not given any previous account of Lazarus or of the family.

Jesus being at the house of Simon the leper, who happens to be Judas Iscariots father according to the account in Jn.12.

So Mary anointed him with oil and He forgave her sins. At Bethany- at the house of Simon the leper.

In this account she poured it on his head (v.3), the box had to be broken. What’s he trying to tell us? That she gave all she had, spared no expense. 

To have coffins prepared was part of their tradition for their funerals, while they are yet alive; and so Christ accepted this.  She understood and anointed him while the other women will not have time to and went to the tomb later.

 In Psalm 133, we see the typology. The anointing oil is poured over Aaron the high priest’s head, and goes down over his beard and garment. The costliest of ingredients was poured on the head of priests and kings. The anointing oil flowed down from the head to beard then onto his garments (the robes of salvation-Isaiah 61:10) but it did not touch his flesh but the robe. Christ is the head over His body, the church. He is to be anointed for his death and burial as well as his resurrection. 

Exod 29:18 “And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Exod 29:41 “And the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; and you shall offer with it the grain offering and the drink offering, as in the morning, for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

 (also Lev.1:9,13,17)  Lev 2:1 “'When anyone offers a grain offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it. 'He shall bring it to Aaron's sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.”

True faith puts honor upon a crucified, as well as a glorified Jesus. This woman esteemed Christ worthy of all honor by giving her best sacrifice in a costly perfume for his death - it would be a sweet-smelling sacrifice unto God, as the savior.

John 12:3 And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” The fragrance filled the room when she anointed him who is alive for his death, after Jesus rose, His fragrance fills the whole world by those who bring his message of love, hope reconciliation. Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

Jesus honored women just as he honored men. Jesus sovereignly picked the woman whose brother was raised by the Lord is the one who anointed him for his death. This becomes a permanent memorial, not as a tombstone but a living one.  Her good name is more precious than the ointment. It represents us all, in that, those that honor Christ he will honor. We are to remember her and her sacrificial giving along with the gospel.