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The name Christ means the anointed. In another place, we read that God gave Jesus the anointing in measureless flow. How significant is then the anointing of Mary to Jesus that He had to rebuke Judas for Mary’s sake? We shall spend this series observing why a negligible input like that could mean so much to Jesus.

Judas the Judge and his Justification

Without a counsellor, without an advocate, Judas falsely took up the course of the poor. He advocated for the poor and judged Mary. In His opinion, Mary was a waster due to the fragrance’s worth. It was too much to be given to Jesus alone. He’s not worthy of Christ because he could deny himself to overcome the love of money. He also felt nothing expensive was worthy of Christ.

He also assumed on Jesus’s behalf, since Jesus lived a simple life, that such a jar of oil would have been profitably sold. He further belittled Jesus. Judas was the advocate and the judge. He found fault in Mary and pronounced her a waster; he found a spot in Jesus for being extravagant while the poor were suffering.

The mixed Audience

In this one count charge of extravagance, the court’s audience comprised people differing in opinion about the status quo. They were either for, neutral towards, or against Mary and, by extension, Jesus. Some were infuriated but kept it to themselves, choosing not to speak. Let’s leave them to their indifference; they may decide fully later. The “for” and “against” has more bearing on us.

Those “against”

In 2 Corinthians 2:15, Paul said we are the fragrance of Christ oozing death to those who must die and diffusing life to those who would live. No doubt there will be Judases who feel Christ is not qualified for a sacrifice of life. No doubt the half-hearted, half greed-fattened hypocrites will raise eyebrows. They will opine how dedication to Christ-like godliness is a waste of time, energy and other valuable resources. They may not come in full force degrading criticism. They may just offer reasonable alternatives for reasonable sacrifices. They may even cite compelling examples of a place where my life could be invested. O that the one who is in us that is greater than who is in the world speak for us. O that the replies for those against us may be inspired by God.

Those “for”

There will be those to whom we are a sweet fragrance. Those to whom we are a positive challenge and an encouragement. These are the blessed of the Lord, with whom we can have fellowship because they know the scent of Jesus’ life. They are rest-assured in their consciences that we belong to Christ. They are our fellow brethren in the suffering of Christ. Oh, they know the power of Christ’s resurrection because they have been resurrected with Christ. They see the omen of Christ because they emit sweet-smelling savour to Christ. They know the humble sacrifice to God is best made by a living sacrifice. Living while his cross offers him disappointment and heartbreak. “Alive” translates to pathing with loved ones, dreams, and ambition when taking up the cross. They cherish all such fragrances wherever seen and are the quickest to encourage continual expression.

This “for” audience was already defined while introducing those in attendance worth mentioning. We read, “Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead…and Martha was serving,…Mary then took a…” The pleasant audience comprised a resurrected Lazarus, an Anointed Jesus, a serving Martha, a sacrificial Mary, and an observant group of disciples. It takes a resurrected Lazarus to know the value of the life in the Christ Jesus; a hospitable serving Martha to see the value of sacrifices of time in devotion to Christ; a dedicated Mary to realise the eternal worth of Christ. Martha had disturbed Mary in a time past, but not this time. They all now know Christ’s value.

It is important to note that these are just a minority compared to the large crowd that gathered around, and sadly, against Jesus (see Jn 12:9). Those who know the true worth of Christ are scarce; needless to some disciples may be indifferent about Him. It took a reclining Lazarus, a serving Martha, and a humble Jesus to allow Mary to offer her well-prepared sacrifice. Although the fragrance overtook Martha’s savour of food being cooked, she would not be perturbed. Because she knew that as no pearl is negligible in forging a pricey crown, so would Jesus not forget any sacrifice rendered in His honour. The “for” clan know their individual spaces. No jealousy nor strife can be found among them because they know Christ esteems them all favourably – little or bogus sacrifices.

It was easier for Mary to offer her sacrifice to Christ amid the men of honour, not without the intervention of Judas nor the lukewarm indifference exhibited by the onlookers. Are you finding it hard to pour out your devotion to Christ as you would love to? Find a group of believers with whom you can have fellowship. With them, you would be challenged and provoked to do good works for your Master. Although no doubt Judases will raise eyebrows, the pleasantness expressed on the face of your fellows will spur you into an unrepentant sacrificial rendition.

Jesus, the justifier

Judas was preaching secretive charity to Jesus as an iteration of the sermon on the mount. There, Jesus said the best way to give is for the right hand to be charitable without the knowledge of the left. Mary should have given him secretly while he goes to sell it and distribute it to the poor privately. The highest order of secrecy would be to steal a portion for himself.

Indeed, the charity of Mary was very public. It was relatively loud and pronounced. So loud was her pure intention too. She wouldn’t be blamed for the mode of worship because she was not in this sermon.

The accuser, Satan, does no better. Like him, Judas knew the doctrine. He knew the laws of Jesus. He was so brilliant that he could remember the sermon on the mount that was not recorded through any media save his memory. But see our powerful advocate. He said, Let her alone,” summarily sounding like, “I, the Lord, rebuke you!” “Let her be.”

The motive of both stagged against one another. Mary was doctrinally ignorant 😒 but had a pure motive - worship. Judas was doctrinally sound but had an untoward motive - theft. Is the drive correct? But the means misaligned by your level of knowledge? Go ahead and lay it down; all the incompleteness, God will fill. Or, the best of it, God will extract, rebuking the accuser. He will blame the accuser who intends to exploit some loopholes in your condemnation and God’s rejection of your sincere sacrifice.

And not saying, “Let her alone,” alone, Jesus also said she did it in preparation for His death. While Judas will needlessly occasion the death of Jesus, Mary was eager to preserve a dead body that would fulfil its resurrection promises. So, Jesus did not let that go without commending Mary for this act. What lesson does this hold for us? It tells us that Jesus belittles those who belittle Him, for as Samuel wrote, “The Lord honours those who honour Him. and those who despise Him, He will lightly esteem. To make Judas see how glorious Jesus is, Jesus said to him that the sacrifice was being offered in honour of His death. It would have been glorious to have said, “in honour of My resurrection.” Alas, Judas would not have the honour of seeing the resurrected Jesus. Most of the glory he would see was His death. There was no need to converse on such an essential issue with Judas.

The devotion in your heart that leads to your selfless giving, God sees it. He has no business detailing it to the devil. It is sacred to Him. The heart is where the sacrifice is first resented and received. And as far as the heart is right, Jesus will, in honour, of what you have done, berate the enemy with what you have done that he can never rise nor go beyond. Jesus did not see Judas knowing Him in person beyond his death. So, Jesus said, “She did this for my death.”