Mark 14:6-10
Mark 14:6 (KJB)
And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work
on me.
Jesus saw through the improper attitude of the disciples and immediately defends
her actions because they are associated with His upcoming death and burial,
something of which the disciples seemed to keep forgetting about. Her anointing
of the head of Jesus was a prophecy of His coming death and burial. She wanted
to show her gratitude to Jesus and therefore did not just pour out a few drops
but the entire contents. Jesus gave His entire self in His sacrifice and did not
withhold anything. Jesus asked them why are you troubling or annoying the woman?
Her action was a good work because of the prophetic value of it and that negated
the attitude of the disciples that she wasted the ointment. It was also a
representation of her pouring out her soul before the Lord, something the
disciples should have done instead of annoying the woman.
Mark 14:7 (KJB)
For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them
good: but me ye have not always.
The disciples seemed to have no concept about what was about to happen as they
were viewing this woman as just another event. Even though Jesus told them that
she was anointing His body for the burial, they still seemed oblivious as to
what was about to happen. Jesus tells them that the poor people will always be
there and they will have opportunity to help them any time they want. (Deu
15:11 KJV) For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command
thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and
to thy needy, in thy land. The events at hand were going to change the
world and the disciples did not understand this yet. Jesus told them also that
they would not have Him always, that is, the days will come after His
resurrection that He will ascend into Heaven and will no longer be with them
physically, although He will never leave them spiritually. (Heb 13:5 KJV)
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things
as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Mark 14:8 (KJB)
She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the
burying.
Jesus had valued the woman’s action immensely because it was an act of homage
plus it was in anticipation of His burial. It seemed many strangers understood
the coming days much better than those disciples who were with Him from the
beginning. It was the Jewish custom to wash and anoint the bodies of the dead
with spices and ointment. Caring for and burying the dead was a serious
religious duty in Israel. The women were unable to anoint the body of Jesus
because once He was laid in the tomb, the rock was placed over the door and they
could not go back the next day because it was the Sabbath and then Sunday He was
risen from the dead. So this was the only anointing His body received concerning
His burial.
Mark 14:9 (KJB)
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the
whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of
her.
Jesus had praised the deed that she did so much that He told everyone that
wherever the Gospel is preached in the entire world, her action of worship would
be written in the Holy Scriptures and would also be proclaimed when the Gospel
is preached or given in written form. And as you can see, the fact that we are
looking at her action means that the Lord fulfilled His word by having it
written in the Holy Scriptures. This would be done for a memorial of her and her
actions upon the Lord Jesus Christ. A good question that we need to ask
ourselves. Is there anything in our lives that we have done for the sake of
Christ, worthy to be told as a memorial of us? What will people remember you
for? Will it be your zeal to proclaim the true Gospel or will it be your
laziness and non-involvement? Which would you like to be remembered for by the
Lord?
Mark 14:10 (KJB)
And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray
him unto them.
The pouring out of the anointing oil and Judas watching all that silver denarii
just running to the ground may have been all the motivation he needed because he
then went unto the chief priests to begin the process of betraying Jesus. Judas
was not the only one who was involved in the betrayal because he had Satan as
his partner. (Luke 22:3 KJV) Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed
Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. Satan had entered into Judas
and compelled him to betray Jesus. The betrayal by Judas was also a fulfilled
prophecy from Psalm 55. (Psalms 55:12 KJV) For it was not an enemy that
reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that
did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: {13} But
it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. {14} We took
sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.