04062022 – The Anointing at Bethany
Just for the record:
John has a version of the story that is similar to Mark’s.
Remembering of course, that Mark was the first Gospel to be written…his is the original storyline.
Everybody else follows Mark in some form or another.
Both stories occur in the village of Bethany.
Both stories say that the value of the ointment, perfume or oil, is “three hundred denarii,” or “three hundred day’s wages,” or the sum total of an “annual wage.”
Yikes!
That’s a heap of moo-lah!
Both stories say that the woman’s pouring of the ointment was “preparing Jesus for burial.”
But the details in John’s story are also different than Mark.
John has his own unique spin.
In John’s version of the story, the characters of Mary, Martha and Lazarus are named.
Mary is the person who anoints Jesus’ feet (not his head as in the Gospel of Mark) with oil.
Judas, the keeper of the purse is called out as being “a thief” and is “apparently worried” about money that “could have been” given to the poor.
The details of the story in John are different but the basic storyline is the same as in Mark.
So, what happens is – a woman anointed Jesus’ body with oil and thereby prepared him for burial.
(Obviously, before the fact!)
The oil was enormously costly, “300 days wages,” or an “annual salary.”
The money should have been/ could have been given to the poor.
But it was not.
So, it sounds like Jesus and the twelve were in the habit of “giving alms to the poor.”
We do not know if that was the case, for sure, but it certainly sounds like it, or at least it is within the realm of possibility.
What has always struck me is Mary versus Judas.
Mary, the giver.
Mary the madcap giver.
Mary the one who gives extravagantly.
Mary who gives without costing the cost.
Mary is all about giving and giving freely.
While we do not know the exact reason for her gift…
The gospel writer John tends to lead us down the pathway of thankfulness.
Mary is thankful that her brother Lazarus was returned to her.
Her extravagance comes right from her thankful heart.
So, it is out of “her gratitude” that she gives.
I have always pictured the oil going willy nilly, haphazardly, randomly, erratically, helter-skelter in all directions, dripping down, and wildly spilling on the surrounding flooring.
And that, despite its cost and value.
So, over in one corner, we have Mary weighing in at 99 pounds soaking wet and in the opposing corner…
We have one Judas Iscariot weighing in at 165 pounds…
Judas worrying of course about every drop of spillage of the precious oils.
Only the gospel of John tells us that Judas was the group Treasurer, the Keeper of the common purse.
Only John’s gospel tells us that Judas was a thief.
Only John’s gospel tells us that Judas stole monies out of the group treasury.
Only John’s gospel indicates why Judas was upset with the free-flowing oils of anointing.
He wanted the money for himself. That money could have been put in his purse and used at his discretion.
So, in the one corner we have Mary and her lavishness…
And in the other corner, we have Judas and his stench of greed, and personal gain.
Mary loves, while Judas pilfers, snatches, purloins, loots, robs, and takes.
One gives freely and lavishly, lovingly, elaborately, carelessly, wastefully, and extravagantly…
While the other hordes selfishly, amasses, collects, stockpiles, gathers, accrues, and accumulates for his own purposes.
I think, we are supposed to see Mary and her action, over and against that of Judas and his actions. The old compare and contrast.
Two followers of Jesus.
Which one of the two, is most like YOU?
Amen.