Rethinking Easter Week Part 1

Saturday - Day of Anointing (Matt 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-8)

I am wanting more out of my Holy Week worship, celebration and remembrance. Thus, I am writing a series (and looking for suggestions) on how to do better for next year’s Passion Week. Take some time to reflect with me and have a conversation on being more in tune with the essence and spirit of the Jesus’ path to the Resurrection.

In this article I will discuss:

• Why Holy Week should start a day earlier

• Two activities to incorporate into your family or church

• The background context for this activity

• The implications from the biblical passages regarding the Day of Anointing

  

Saturday - Day of Anointing

Matt 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-8

Participants: Disciples; Jesus; Judas Iscariot; Mary (of Bethany); Woman pouring Ointment

Setting: Bethany (on the Mt. of Olives); House of Simon the Leper

Important Things: Alabaster Flask; Alabaster jar; 300 Denarii; Hair; Head; House, Permanent dwelling, Building; Money box; Money; Myrrh perfume; Oil of nard

Topics and Themes: Anointing woman at Simon the leper’s house

People usually speak of Passion Week which includes Palm Sunday through Passion Sunday, Jesus’ Triumphal Entry to His Resurrection. Consider starting it with the Saturday prior because it is likely the chronological date for Mary’s anointing of Jesus. For Jesus Himself says, “Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her” Mt 26:13. The Book of John dates Mary’s anointing of Jesus in preparation for His burial, six days before the Passover. “It seems Matthew and Mark mention it on Tuesday as a flashback literary device,” says Dr. Jim Wicker.

Mary senses that she has to prepare Jesus for something tragic although she is not sure to the depths of what He will go through. She chooses to offer Jesus something of great value to her, costly perfume (nard). There are two perspectives: 1) She takes an expensive bottle of perfume (300 denarii) and wastes it on one man. 2) She prepares him for His death, burial, and the greatest trial of His life.

A denarius was a Roman silver coin, equivalent to a laborer’s daily wage. So, 300 denarii are almost a year’s worth of wages for the common laborer. What a humble submission in comparison to Jesus giving up His life. Yet, this act of love was positively received by Jesus whom attached her kind sacrifice to the permanency of the gospel story itself.

Her noble, sacrificial, submissive, act of love will be told wherever the gospel is proclaimed!

When the disciples were indignant about Mary’s act, Jesus rebukes them, “She has done what she could” Mk 14:8. In the insurmountable task of trying to offer a gift to Jesus, Mary has ‘done a noble thing’ for Jesus (Mk 14:6). It is reminder to us that Jesus meets us where we are physically, financially, emotionally, spiritually, etc. We must do what we can with what we have. That is not an excuse for laziness or poor self-management. Mary did what she could, a noble gift, in freedom and love.

What is costly to us that we can offer Jesus?

Many of us give out of our abundance or our leftovers instead of offering a noble gift. Whatever you offer the Lord in general, particularly to Holy Week, let us give our best. Whatever ‘noble gift’ means for you, give that from a place of freedom and love.

Celebrating the Day of Anointing: