VERY COSTLY

 

Saturday, April 12, 2025

 

VERY COSTLY

 

John 12:1-6

12 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

 

          Bethany, “house of figs,” is a where Jesus’ close friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary lived. He would often stay with them and they provided both fellowship and hospitality. It is from Bethany that Jesus made His triumphal entry. Many important events took place here but none so memorable as the anointing by Mary.

 

          Spikenard is a very costly oil mentioned in the New Testament. A pound of Spikenard oil is valued at more than 300 denarii, which is equivalent to over $13.08 or $13,080 at today's value.

 

          Judas was offended by the waste of thirteen thousand dollars. He knew the value of the spikenard, but he didn’t know the true value of Jesus. Later, he would sell Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, about $487.80 US.

 

Zech 9:9

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

 

Jesus, Thou art worthy of all blessing and honor and glory. Certainly, more than Judas’ 30 pieces of silver and even greater than Mary’s pound of spikenard because you come bringing salvation. AMEN