THE PREPARATION, THE ANOINTING AND THE BETRAYAL OF JESUS #53
Jesus continues to teach His disciples and prepare them for His death. His public ministry has ended, and He now enters into His suffering. They knew the date and time for the Passover. However, they did not know that He would be betrayed and crucified. Even though He had told them repeatedly, they had no room in their preconceived concept for the death and resurrection of their Messiah King.
The Passover began in Egypt when the blood of a lamb was put over the door, and the Lord passed over all who applied the blood. Those Jews and Egyptians who did not put the blood above the door were judged by the angel of death. The firstborn of every family died.
The Jews celebrated the Passover on the 14th day of the month of Nisin or abib, which is the month of April, and was the beginning of the new year for Israel. “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.” Exodus 12:2. Thousands would be in Jerusalem for this celebration. Jewish leaders were determined to kill Jesus, but they were hesitant because of the celebration and the number of people present.
In the interim, Jesus was in the home of Simon, who had been healed of leprosy. An unnamed woman came in and anointed the head of Jesus with an expensive anointment. This is the second anointing in the week preceding His death. The difference in the two events is evident. The first was in the house of Lazarus six days before the Passover (Jn. 12:1-8). This event was in the house of Simon the leper two days before the Passover (Mt. 26:7-13; Mk. 14:3-9). The ointment was contained in an alabaster box, which was of marble. These containers were of various shapes and sizes.
There is little doubt who spearheaded the indignation amount the disciples. Judas was the one who gave the appearance of caring for the poor. This is always the war cry of religious and political leaders. Our Lord rebuked them, and said she was anointing His body for His burial. This does not mean that she understood that He was to be crucified. This is the application He gave to her act.
The meaning of the following statement is not easy to understand. “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.” It was not mentioned in the early Act period when the gospel of the Kingdom was being preached. Nothing is said in the Pauline epistles of this. This may be fulfilled in the Tribulation, or the Millennium. The true meaning will be known in time.
One wonders how Judas could be blinded by thirty pieces of silver after spending three years with Jesus. Perhaps Judas picked up on Jesus speaking of death, and began to doubt that He was the Messiah, if he ever believed it. We should never underestimate the power of deception residing in the Devil. He is a liar and the great deceiver. Judas had a free will, and he choose money over the Savior. The price he paid was a trip to hell.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.