Anointing at Bethany

Text: Mark 14:3-9.

Jesus entered the town of Bethany, and was encountered by a woman who poured costly oil on his head. Some people thought she had done a foolish thing; after all, the costly oil could have been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor. However, Jesus taught us a few lessons that we need to bear in mind.

1. She did a good work! This shows us that she had faith. James wrote, “…show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works (James 2:18).” God expects us to do good works also! Today His word prepares us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

2. They would always have the poor, but not always have Jesus, with them. Soon Jesus was going to return to His Father who sent Him (John 7:33). At other times, it is good to give to the poor (Matthew 19:21).

3. She did what she could! James wrote, “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to him, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (James 2:15-17).” Similarly, the poor widow put in the treasury all she had; Jesus commended her (Mark 12:41-44). Peter and John did not have silver and gold to help the lame man, but gave him the ability to walk again in the name of Christ (Acts 3:1-7).

4. Wherever the gospel is to be preached (in all the world), this woman’s action is a testimonial to her. Luke records the words of Jesus: “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:46-47).” Remember how she did this for His burial (Mark 14:8)? It was important!

Just as this woman’s action is a testimonial to her, our actions are a testimonial to us. What will others say about us? More importantly, what will God say as we appear before Him in the Day of Judgment?

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on…that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them (Revelation 14:13).”

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works (Revelation 20:12-13).”