LECTURE LXIV. OINTMENT POURED UPON THE HEAD OF JESUS. MATT. xxvi. 1-13. 1. And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these Mark xiv. sayings, he said unto his disciples, 1-9. Luke xxii. 2. Ye know that after two days is the feast of the pass- 1, 2. over, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. 3. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4. And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. 5. But they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there be an uproar among the people. "The common people heard him gladly:" the common people were benefited by his works of mercy and pity; the common people had no private interest to make them dread his growing influence, neither had their vices in the same degree provoked his severe reproofs. Therefore, as in the case of John the Baptist, Herod feared the people, because all counted John for a prophet,— so now the chief priests and elders in apprehending Jesus, saw reason to avoid the uproar of the people. And thus, by the operation of various unseen motives, the "determinate counsel of God received its execution. John xii. 2-27. 6. Now when Jesus was in Bethany,1 in the house of Simon the leper, 7. There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. St. John tells us, that this was Mary, sister of Martha and of Lazarus. She had always shown peculiar attachment to our Lord, and to his instructions: she had "sat at his feet, and heard his word." And this had been lately increased by the wonderful restoration of her brother to life. So she seized the opportunity of testifying her reverence and love in a manner which proved its overflowing fulness. According to the custom of that age and country, she could have given no higher token of her respect, than by pouring out upon his head this "ointment of spikenard, very precious." To our habits, the action appears extraordinary but it was well understood by those who witnessed it. Perfumed oil, or ointment, was poured upon the head of kings and priests, and other distinguished persons, at sumptuous feasts, as well as on solemn occasions, and hence became the common emblem of gladness, wealth, and plenty. Where David (in Psalm xxiii.) is recounting the mercies of God, he says, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest mine head with oil; and my cup 'At this period, he visited Jerusalem in the day time: and in the evening returned to lodge at the neighbouring village of Bethany. 2 John xi. 2. shall be full." When the blessings of unity and concord are to be extolled, they are compared to the precious ointment which was poured upon the head of Aaron. And And among the ways in which cheerfulness is to be shown, and the ostentation of repentance to be avoided, our Lord himself had said, "Thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, that thou appear not unto men to fast. Mary, therefore, in making this use of the alabaster box of very precious ointment which she had in her possession, did the greatest thing in her power to display her attachment and admiration of our Lord. She had reason. She was persuaded that he was the Christ, the beloved Son of God, the Saviour of the world. Therefore, no sign of respect could possibly be too great for him. But, further, she had particular and personal obligations to him. He had exercised his power as Son of God, as Saviour, in restoring her dearest relation. And beyond all, she had chosen the good part: and she knew within herself, that he had led her to choose it, and enabled her to keep it. Were there no other proofs of the excellence of religion and piety, it is sufficiently declared by the gratitude which the pious and good feel towards those who have been instruments of spiritual improvement to them. Whilst the affections are still entangled with things below, and sinful objects, or worldly objects, have the chief hold upon the mind; all exhortation, and warning, and instruction, is indignantly rejected. Men refuse to hear the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely. But whenever the Spirit of God has effected a change in this respect, then no expressions of thankfulness, and no return of kindness, seem sufficient to satisfy the feelings of the heart towards any who have contributed to produce it. When the ways of wisdom are experienced to be ways of peace pleasantness, those become dearest to our thoughts and feelings, who have been the means of turning our feet into such pleasant paths. and Conduct, however, which is both well meant and well directed, does not always meet with its due acknowledgment. This action of Mary's, like many other actions, might be taken in two ways; might be applauded as a sign of love, or might be blamed for its extravagance. And there is not universally that charity which hopeth all things. 8. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 9. For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 10. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon me. 11. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 12. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 13. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Our Lord well knew, that in two days from the hour in which he was speaking, his body would be taken down from the cross, and laid in the tomb And he well knew that his apostles then would never grudge or complain of any respect that could be shown to his memory. Mary, unknowing herself, had anticipated the embalming of his body. She had done it for his burial. 3 This he prophetically declared. And he also prophetically declared, that though many of the things which he himself both did and said, have not been recorded, this good work should be recorded, and told for a memorial of her who wrought it. So it has proved: and wherever it is told as a memorial, it assures us of this, that God will behold with approbation the things which are done in a desire to show him honour; and is more likely to excuse zeal than coldness. Whatever is designed for the service of God, and intended to promote his glory, let it be well considered, lest it mar the cause which we desire to serve. But with this due caution, the effect of love towards God, should resemble the effect of love towards a fellow-creature; where no one is afraid of betraying too much ardour, but all the apprehension is, lest their expressions or their services should fail in doing justice to their feelings. There was nothing in what Mary did, but what might have been done on the justest principles of prudence. This alabaster box of very precious ointment was reserved for some occasion of extraordinary hospitality or festivity for a marriage-feast, or a guest of unusual dignity. Where could it be better used, than to honour one who was to her more than guest, or friend, or 3 See John. xx. 30. |