Mark 14:1-11 – Jesus is anointed at Bethany
- Jesus is Anointed
- He was not arrested because over the religious holiday the people in the city went from the usual 50,000 to several thousands. It was awash with people and especially pilgrims. The religious leaders would not have wanted to air their dirty linen before so many who possibly admired them from a distance.
- Some general notes on anointing - Oil was not simply used to signify the Holy Spirit but was used for medicine – as I realize that I think of how we are told to get the elders to pour oil on the sick.
- We have perhaps over simplified the meaning of this rather than over spiritualized it. The act of pouring oil was symbolic not just of the Holy Spirit but also of partnership – they would pour ointment on a person and to me at least this speaks of partnership. Partnership of us doing our bit believing that God will do His.
- Perfumes were used for
- Embalming
- Aphrodisiacs
- Medicine
- Hygiene and bathing.
- They were used to anoint Kings.
- They were also were used to send a message. There was a sacred formula of perfumes only used on the priests – it gave them as special aroma that would people would smell when they met or were around the priests of God.
- These perfumes sunk into the skin – they were highly potent and did not easily wash of – they only came off after time.
- Jesus was anointed and everyone he met during the next few days; the people He taught to the people who crucified Him, would have smelt that message.
- He is King,
- He is Holy,
- He is Clean,
- He is precious,
- He will die!
- We are now to be that aroma!
- I am to smell like someone prepared to die.
- Do I?
- Or do I smell like someone planning to be around a long time and heavily invested in this world?
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