Today we cover the “scandalous” incident of Jesus’ anointing just before his final Passover meal. The story ends with Judas’ reaction to a few hard sayings of Jesus.

• Mary anoints Jesus with an extravagant gesture. This hints at our first hard saying: “You can’t serve God and money.” Mark 14:1-3
• The response of some of the disciples exposes their ignorance – or unwillingness to accept – the true identity of Jesus. This uncovers a second hard saying of Jesus: “I am God.” Mark 14:4-7
• Jesus responds by revealing the true meaning of this double anointing. It was about his burial, and ultimately about his third hard saying: “I am the only way to heaven.” Mark 14:8-9
• This is the turning point for Judas. The hard teachings of Jesus had finally pushed him over the edge. Mark 14:10-11

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Back to our study of Mark! Open up your Bibles to Mark 14:1-11. Today we cover the “scandalous” incident of Jesus’ anointing just before his final Passover meal. Spoiler alert: The story ends with Judas’ reaction to a few hard sayings of Jesus.

But first… Last year we covered the first 13 chapters. This year we’re finishing the book (16 chapters in all) as we head toward Easter. Let’s review:

(1) The Gospel of Mark is the shortest gospel, probably written around 55 AD. It’s an “action” gospel, with vivid descriptions and fewer teachings than the other gospels.

(2) Mark wrote this account to show the world who Jesus is and what he has done. The central theme of Mark is outlined in the first verse of the book. Mark 1:1 (NLT) This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

(3) We’ve seen Jesus perform miracles, reveal mysteries, and go toe-to-toe with the religious establishment. We left off in Mark 13, where Jesus finished his Olivet discourse and his discussion of the End Times. Here’s the last verse we covered: Mark 13:37 (NLT) “I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!” He never gave an answer to the timing of the End, but he did give insight into how we should live in light of it. 

Q. Are you ready for Jesus to come back? (See Biblical Eschatology series for more on this)

• This isn’t unrelated to what we’ll be talking about today…

Trans: Today we turn to chapter 14. We’ll cover the first 11 verses. And here’s the question we’ll be exploring along the way:

Q. How do you handle the hard sayings of Jesus?

• “You can’t serve God and money.” - Jesus view on finances (practical)
• “I am God.” - Jesus’ view on his divinity (theological)
• “I am the only way to heaven.” - Jesus’ view on salvation (practical and theological)

Let’s get to the text:

Mark 14:1-2 (NLT) It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

Explaining the Passover: In Jesus' day, the Passover festival was a significant and sacred event for the Jewish people, commemorating their liberation from slavery in Egypt. The Passover festival is rooted in the biblical account of the Exodus, where God spared the Israelites from the tenth plague by passing over the houses marked with the blood of a lamb. Key elements of the Passover celebration in Jesus' time included:

A. Sacrificial Lamb: The centerpiece of the Passover celebration was the sacrificial lamb. Families would select a lamb without blemish, sacrifice it, and then roast it. The blood of the lamb was applied to the doorposts of their homes, symbolizing God's protection.

B. Unleavened Bread: During Passover, Jews were required to eat unleavened bread, known as matzah or the "bread of affliction." This tradition symbolized the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, as there was no time for their bread to rise.

C. Wine: Four cups of wine were traditionally consumed during the Passover meal, each with a specific significance. The cups represented different aspects of the Exodus story and God's promises. (We’ll get into this next week.)

(Pillar New Testament Commentary) Jerusalem was the only place where Passover could be celebrated and the festival drew huge crowds, greatly increasing not only the population of the city but also the threat of a Jewish uprising.

Back to the text:

Mark 14:3 (NLT) Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.

Characters: John’s version of this story (John 12) identifies the woman: Mary, Lazarus’ sister. It’s likely, then, that Simon is their father. He was a leper! (Did Jesus heal him earlier?)

Interruption: (Pillar New Testament Commentary) As a rule, it was a breach of etiquette for Jewish male fellowship to be interrupted by women unless they were serving food. Mark has often reminded us, however, that societal and even Jewish values are not necessarily to be equated with Jesus' values. In this instance, the woman's intrusion is commended as a demonstration of faith.

Extravagance: The perfume jar was likely a family heirloom. She smashed it – spending it all on the head of Jesus. Unbelievable sign of extravagance, even possibly wastefulness. 

This hints at our first hard saying: “You can’t serve God and money.”

Q. How extravagant are you toward Jesus?

Back to the text:

Mark 14:4-5 (NLT) Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.

First, a note on the text: Once again, Mark spares us the names. John doesn’t: 

• John 12:4-6 (NLT) But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. 
• But Mark says “some at the table” were indignant. Who else? Other disciples?

Mark 14:6-7 (NLT) But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me.”

This hints at our second hard saying of Jesus: “I am God.” 

• If they knew Jesus’ true identity, they would never say such a thing
• These disciples have been on a journey with Jesus; he’s been revealing himself through teachings, miracles, even showing authority over nature itself
• Have you been on that journey?

Back to the text:

Mark 14:8-9 (NLT) “She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

Let me show you how this hints at our third hard saying of Jesus: “I am the only way to heaven.” 

Double Anointing: Two major precedents for anointing: coronation and burial. This accomplishes both, though the woman surely didn’t know it! Maybe the biggest shock: a woman anointed him!? Also note: there would be no other anointed of the buried Jesus, because he arose! (See Mark 16:1)

(New Bible Commentary) Every king in Judah was anointed before his coronation, and this was to be his anointing, not by a prophet but by a woman. But it was more, for it was a symbolic preparation of his body for burial….

Close:

One last section for today:

Mark 14:10-11 (NLT) Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

This is the turning point for Judas. The hard teachings of Jesus had finally pushed him over the edge.

• “You can’t serve God and money.”
• Maybe the extravagance – and Jesus’ response. Legalistic? Justified his betrayal?
• Maybe Judas was offended by Jesus calling him out?
• “I am God.”
• Judas still didn’t understand his true identity
• “I am the only way to heaven.”
• What? By dying? Not Judas’ picture of Messiah. Not what Judas signed up for
• Judas thought he understood things better than Jesus!?

Back to Chapter 1 

Mark 1:15 (NLT) “The time promised by God has come at last!” Jesus announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Repent = Turn from your way, your opinion. Stop pushing back. Submit to Jesus. Even when it’s hard to accept what he’s saying.