Earlier we learned that when Jesus visited Martha's home, Martha served, Mary sacrificed, Lazarus sat, Judas stole, and Jesus saved. Today we will see how Mary sacrificed when she gave her life's savings in one lifetime by anointing the Lord Jesus with costly spikenard worth 300 pence. Notice that the above two pictures show two different Marys (the first picture is Mary the sister of Lazarus and the second picture is Mary Magdalene) who both got blessed forevermore when they anointed Jesus with spikenard for His burial.
First, John 12:3 speaks about Mary (the sister of Lazarus) and says Then took Mary (the sister of Lazarus) 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. After Judas said Why was not this ointment sold for 300 pence, and given to the poor, Jesus replied at John 12:7 Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
Second, Mark 14:3 speaks about Mary Magdalene anointing Jesus with spikenard at Simon's house and says And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on His head. Jesus said at Mark 14:8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she has done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
Jesus also said at Matthew 26:12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. At the cross of Calvary, the sweet smelling spikenard's odour remained and was greater than the foul odour of vinegar mingled with the poisonous gall (hemlock plant) drink that Jesus tasted but did not drink, preserving Jesus' body from decay for burial and is a witness about Jesus' resurrection from the dead with eternal life.
Spikenard was used to anoint the body of the deceased to delay decomposition and mask the odour of decay during the period between death and burial. The spikenard was a witness that Jesus' body would not decay. Instead Jesus' body would become glorified, resurrected, and be preserved forever with eternal life. Like Jesus, saved saints bodies won't ever decay, will become glorified, and will be preserved with eternal life. Romans 8:11 says But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. 2 Corinthians 4:14 says Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. Jesus said at John 6:40 And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
As a side note, it's remarkable that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 69:21 that says They gave me also gall (a poisonous hemlock plant) for my meat; and in my thirst they gave vinegar to drink. Matthew 27:34 says They gave Him (Jesus) vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, He would not drink. In other words no man could kill Jesus. Jesus said at John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
People have said Brother Bob how do you know that the unnamed woman at Simon's house that anointed Jesus with spikenard was Mary Magdalene? In response I tell people to read Luke's account of this story at Luke 7:36 to the end of the chapter. Then notice at Luke 8:2 we see that after Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus with spikenard at Simon's house, Mary Magdalene was healed of evil spirits and infirmities and followed Jesus. Luke 8:1 says And it came to pass afterward, that He (Jesus) went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him. And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils (the bible tells us that Mary Magdalene was the woman healed at Simon's house that followed Jesus). And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto Him of their substance.
Next notice in the picture above that we see Mary Magdalene's alabaster box of costly spikenard worth 300 pence along with the 30 pieces of silver Judas Iscariot received to betray our Lord Jesus. Note that the spikenard worth 300 pennyworth was very costly and was twice the value of the 30 pieces of silver. Biblical scholars have stated that 300 pennyworth of spikenard is worth 40 dollars today and Judas' 30 pieces of silver is only worth 20 dollars today. History records that when Jesus walked the earth, people saved spikenard for their own burial. Mary and Mary Magdalene were both blessed to use their own costly spikenard burial savings to anoint Jesus. Both Mary and Mary Magdalene truly sacrificed because the spikenard they used to anoint Jesus was twice the value of what the thief Judas received for betraying Jesus.
Get Saved, Repent, Decide To Stop Sinning,
Confess That Jesus Is God, And Believe The Gospel,
That Jesus Died On The Cross For You, Was Buried, And Rose Again
Like Mary And Mary Magdalene Value Jesus More Than Anything On This Earth
For my final thought today, notice in the above picture that Jacob is wrestling with the Lord Jesus or a Theophany visible manifestation of God. The bible says that Jacob had power over the angel. But if we look at the Hebrew translation of Hosea 12:3-4 we will see that where it says Jacob had power over the angel, the correct Hebrew translation is that Jacob had power over a Theophany or visible manifestation of God who is the Lord Jesus. Also at Genesis 32:30 Jacob called the place where he wrestled the God man Jesus Peniel because he saw God (Jesus) face to face.
Hosea 12:3 says He (Jacob) took his brother (Esau) by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel (called a Theophany or visible manifestation of the Lord Jesus), and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto Him: he found Him in Bethel, and there He spake with us; Even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is His memorial.
Genesis 32:24 says And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man (the Lord Jesus) with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against Him, He touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with Him. And He said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And He said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked Him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And He blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel (the Hebrew definition of Peniel is facing God who is Jesus): for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
Another place that we see a Theophany angel appearing is at Exodus 23:20 that says Behold, I send an Angel (defined again in Hebrew to be a Theophany Angel or visible manifestation of God who is Jesus) before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. The Lord Jesus was the Theophany visible manifestation of God that went before Moses and the children of Israel to defeat the enemy Amorities, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, Jebusites and all the mosquito bites. Exodus 23:23 says For mine Angel (The Theophany Lord Jesus) shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
A third place that we see a Theophany angel appearing is when the Lord Jesus appeared to Paul on the Alexandrian ship. Acts 27:22 says And now I (Paul) exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God (who was a Theophany angel or visible manifestation of God who was Jesus), whose I am, and whom I serve (note that Paul said I serve the Lord Jesus), Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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