Antonio Mcgowan
Mary of Bethany offered Jesus an extravagant gift of perfume, worth a year's wages, during a banquet. This act of surrender and worship was a display of her love and appreciation for Jesus. The perfume, known as spikenard or nard, was an uncommon and expensive ointment, typically reserved for kings and dignitaries. Mary's offering has been interpreted in various ways, with some seeing it as a wasteful act, while others view it as a beautiful expression of devotion. This story, found in the Bible, highlights the contrast between Mary's extravagant surrender and Judas Iscariot's criticism, providing a lesson on generosity, faith, and the nature of discipleship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the perfume | Spikenard, Nard |
| Cost | 300 denarii, a year's wage |
| Weight | 1 pound |
| Container | Alabaster jar |
| Recipient | Jesus |
| Occasion | Dinner banquet |
| Location | Bethany |
| Host | Simon the Leper, Lazarus |
| Other people present | Martha, Judas Iscariot, disciples |
| Reaction | Accusations of wastefulness, defended by Jesus |
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What You'll Learn
Mary's gift was a valuable act of worship
Mary's gift of perfume to Jesus was an act of worship that demonstrated her deep love and appreciation for him. This was an extravagant and valuable gift, worth a year's wages, and Mary's worshipful act was one of surrender and sacrifice.
The perfume was not just any perfume, but spikenard or nard, an expensive and rare perfume from India. It was so costly because of the lengthy process required to make it and the high cost of transporting it from India. It was typically reserved for kings and dignitaries, and only the very wealthy could afford it.
Mary's act of worship was also in the manner in which she gave the gift. She anointed Jesus' feet with the perfume, an act of humility and service. She then wiped his feet with her hair, an act that would have been considered taboo in that culture. Mary's actions were a physical representation of her love and devotion to Jesus.
The value of the gift was not just in its monetary worth, but also in the heart behind it. Mary gave Jesus the best she had to offer, and her worship was extravagant and costly. She did not hold back, and her worship was a beautiful offering to Jesus. This gift revealed Mary's priorities and showed that Jesus was her highest priority.
Jesus himself defended Mary's actions, recognising the value of her worshipful gift. He understood the heart behind the gift and saw that it was an act of surrender and devotion. Mary's worship was a fragrant offering, a sweet aroma that filled the house. Her gift was a precious act of worship, honouring and valuing Jesus.
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Spikenard was an uncommon, expensive perfume
Spikenard, also known as nard, nardin, and muskroot, is a class of aromatic amber-coloured essential oil. It is derived from the Nardostachys jatamansi, a flowering plant in the honeysuckle family that grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India. Spikenard has been used for centuries as a perfume, traditional medicine, and in religious ceremonies.
Spikenard was considered an uncommon and expensive perfume due to the lengthy and costly process of extraction and production. The juices were squeezed out of the grass and dried into a hard, lard-like substance. Turning this substance into perfume was time-consuming and expensive. In addition, the cost of transporting spikenard from India to other parts of the world contributed to its high price.
The Bible mentions that Mary anointed Jesus' feet with a pound of pure nard, an expensive perfume. This act symbolised her deep love and appreciation for Jesus, as she offered the best gift she had. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house, and it was considered an enormous amount to use for anointing feet.
Spikenard was so expensive that it was typically reserved as gifts for royalty and nobility. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, estimated the value of Mary's spikenard to be worth three hundred denarii, which was equivalent to someone's annual salary or several tens of thousands of dollars in today's terms.
In conclusion, spikenard was an uncommon and expensive perfume due to the complex extraction process, high production costs, and the significant expense of transporting it from its native region of India. Its use by Mary in the Bible demonstrates its rarity and value, making it a precious gift worthy of kings and nobility.
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The perfume was worth a year's wages
Mary of Bethany's story is one of the most extravagant displays of surrender in all of scripture. Mary's gift to Jesus was a very expensive bottle of perfume, worth a year's wages. In today's terms, the perfume would be valued at approximately $40,000 to $50,000.
The perfume, known as spikenard or nard, was an uncommon and costly perfume extracted from grasses that grew in India. The process of extracting the juices from the grass and drying them into a hard, lard-like substance was lengthy and expensive. On top of that, the cost of transporting the perfume from India to other parts of the world contributed to its high price.
Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with this precious perfume was a profound expression of her love and devotion. She wiped his feet with her hair, filling the house with its sweet fragrance. This gesture, usually reserved for kings and dignitaries, was seen as a wasteful act by some, including Judas Iscariot, who questioned why the perfume had not been sold to benefit the poor.
However, Jesus defended Mary's actions, recognising the sacrifice behind her gift. He understood that Mary had offered the most valuable thing she possessed, demonstrating her surrender and worship. The extravagance of her offering touched Jesus deeply, and he honoured her for it.
The story of Mary's offering serves as a reminder that our relationship with God is what He values most. It also highlights the importance of laying aside worldly opinions and surrendering fully to Jesus, even in the face of judgement or misunderstanding.
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Judas questioned Mary's use of the perfume
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, questioned Mary's use of the perfume, which was worth approximately a year's income. He asked why the perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor. However, his concern for the poor was not genuine, as he was a thief who carried the money bag and often stole from it.
Judas' objection to Mary's use of the perfume highlights a contrast between the two individuals. Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with the expensive perfume demonstrates her generosity and worship, while Judas' focus is on his own gain. This is further emphasised by the fact that Judas was the one who would later betray Jesus.
Mary's gift of the perfume was an extravagant and bold act, similar to Jesus' own giving. By anointing Jesus' feet, she recognised and accepted what he had been saying about his impending trial and death. The perfume, made of pure nard, was an extremely valuable gift. It was so expensive that most people could not afford it and had to buy cheap imitations.
The Bible describes the scene in John 12:3-5, stating that Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, a very costly perfume, and anointed Jesus' feet. The house was filled with the odour of the ointment, and Judas questioned why it had not been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus replied, "Leave her alone! She has kept this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me."
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Jesus defended Mary's actions
Mary's gift of perfume to Jesus was an act of deep love and devotion. The perfume, made from spikenard, was extremely expensive and reserved for kings and dignitaries. Mary's actions were therefore seen as wasteful by some, including Judas Iscariot, who questioned why the perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor.
Mary's sacrifice was also seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus' own sacrifice. The fragrance of her perfume lingered as He awaited His accusers, and later, His blood, sweat, and tears intermingled with its faint aroma. Mary's gift symbolised the honour and love she had for Jesus, and Jesus defended her actions, understanding the depth of her devotion.
In addition to defending Mary's actions, Jesus also entrusted her care to His apostle, John, demonstrating His care and concern for her. This act of entrustment further highlights the value Jesus placed on Mary's devotion and obedience, as well as His desire to ensure her well-being.
Through her gift of perfume, Mary demonstrated her wholehearted love and surrender to Christ, and Jesus' defence of her actions affirmed the depth of her sacrifice and obedience.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mary offered a bottle of perfume to Jesus.
Mary offered Jesus the perfume to demonstrate her love and appreciation for him.
The perfume was worth 300 denarii, a year's wages, or approximately $40,000-$50,000 in today's terms.
Jesus was deeply moved by Mary's gift and defended her actions, saying: "Leave her alone! She has kept this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me."
