6 Days Before…

6 DAYS BEFORE THE PASSOVER...

Jesus arrived in Bethany on Friday and stayed over the Sabbath (Saturday). This dinner took place Saturday evening before Palm Sunday. Jesus was in town for the Passover, which was 6 days away.

There was a party going on. Lazarus had been raised from the dead. Mary, Martha, Lazarus plus Jesus and his disciples were celebrating.

But for Mary, Jesus was the focus of her attention.

She took a pound of expensive ointment, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair.

Judas Iscariot asked, “Why was this ointment not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?”

The other disciples agreed with Judas.

He’s right. Why wasn’t it?

Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.”

He continued, “Why must you make this woman feel uncomfortable? She has done a beautiful thing for me. You have the poor with you always, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she was preparing it for burial.”

Did you hear what he said?

Mary was preparing his body for burial.

Mary understood what Jesus came to do.

Mary understood something that Jesus' disciples, who had followed him for 3 years, did not understand.

Jesus was going to die.