“SelectedGospelSections”SpringSeries1Lesson10

“TheWomanwiththeOintment”Matthew26:6-13;Mark14:3-9;Luke7:36-50;John12:1-8.

Objective:TounderstandthemessageoftheGospelaccountsintheircontextwithineachworkindependentlyandthentocomparetheaccountstoeachothertoseekunderstandingofemphasisandfocus.Thegoalisthentoapplythismessagetoourtimeandcontextinordertounderstandthemessage’scallonourlives.Materials:TousetheGreek,Syriac,andotherancienttranslationsinordertohelpusunderstandthemessageoftheseGospels.Wewillalsoexaminethewritingsaboutthesepassagesinjournalarticles,commentariesandothersources.Procedures1. ToEirsttranslateeachtextfromGreekandthencompareittootherancienttranslations.2. Toidentifyissuesofimportancewithinthetextsandtoexplorepossiblemeaningsastheyappliedtothe

originalaudience.3. TotakethemeaningfortheoriginalaudienceoftheGospelsandtounderstandithowappliestoour

moderncontextandculturalsituation.4. ToexplorewaysthatthesetextcallthedisciplesofJesustolivetheirlivesasfaithfulfollowers.

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Matthew26:6-136NowwhenJesuswasinBethanyinthehouseofSimonthescabbyone,7awomancametoHimhavinganalabasterjarofverycostlyointmentandshepouredituponHisheadasHewassittingatthetable.8Butafterthedisciplessawittheywereangrysaying,“Whythiswaste?9Forthiscouldhavebeensoldformuchmoneyandthemoneygiventothepoor.”10ButJesus,afterbecomingawareofthissaidtothem,“Whydoyoucausetroubleforthewoman?Forshehasperformedagooddeeduntome.11Foralwaysyouhavethepoorwithyou,butmeyouwillnotalwayshave.12Forafterpouringthisointmentuponmybodyshehaspreparedmeforburial.13TrulyIsaytoyou,whereverthegood

Mark14:3-93AndwhileHewasinBethanyinthehouseofSimonthescabbyone,reclining,awomancametoHimhavinganalabasterjarofveryexpensiveointmentofoilofpurenard,shebrokethealabasterjarandpouredituponHishead.4Butsometherewereangry,andtooneanothertheysaid,“Whywasthisointmentwasted?5Forthisointmentcouldhavebeensoldformorethanthreehundreddenariiandthemoneygiventothepoor.”Andtheyrebukedher.6ButJesussaid,“Forgiveher,whydoyoutroubleher?Shehasperformedagooddeedforme.7Foryoualwayshavethepoorwithyouandwheneveryouwishyouwillbeabletodogood,but,youwillnotalwayshaveme.8Shehasdonewhatshecould;she

Luke7:36-5036NowoneofthePhariseesaskedaskedHimtoeatwithhim,andHeenteredintothehouseofthePhariseeandtookHisplace.37Andbeholdawomaninthecitywhowasasinner,alsohavinglearnedthatHewasinthehouseofthePhariseebroughtanalabasterjarofointment.38AndshestoodbehindHim,byHisfeet,weepingandshebegantobatheHisfeetwithhertearsandwiththehairofherheadwaswipingandkissingHisfeetandanointingthemwiththeointment.39AndafterthePhariseewhohadinvitedHimsawithesaidtohimself,“Ifthisonewasaprophet,HewouldknowwhatsortofwomanthisiswhoistouchingHim,thatsheisasinner.40AndJesusrepliedandsaidtohim,

John12:1-81SixdaysbeforePassoverJesuscameintoBethany,whereLazaruswas,whomJesushadraisedfromthedead.2TheygavetoHimadinner,andMarthaserved,andLazaruswasoneofthoserecliningatthetablewithHim.3ThenMariamtakingalitraofcostlypureNardointment,andsheanointedthefeetofJesusandwipedHisfeetwithherhair:andthehousewas\illedwiththesmelloftheointment.4ButJudastheIscariot,oneofHisdisciples,theoneabouttobetrayHim,said,5“Whywasthisointmentnotsoldforthreehundreddenariiandgiventothepoor.”6Nowhesaidthis,notbecausehecaredforthepoor,butbecausehewasathief

.

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newsisproclaimedinthewholeworld,whatshehasdonewillbetoldinremembranceofher.”

anointedmybodybeforehand,foritsburial.9TrulyIsaytoyou,whereverthegoodnewsisproclaimeduntothewholeworldwhatshehasdone,itwillbetoldinremembranceofher.

“Simon,Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou.”Hesaid,“SayitTeacher.”41Twodebtorsthereweretoacertainmoneylender;oneowed\ivehundreddenarii,buttheother\ifty.42Theydidnothavethemeanstopay,hecancelledbothdebts.Nowwhichofthemwilllovehimmore?43Simonansweredandsaid,“Isupposethattheonefromwhomthegreaterdebthecancelled.”AndHesaidtohim,“Youjudgerightly.”44Andturningtothewoman,HesaidtoSimon,“Doyouseethiswoman?Ienteredyourhouse,yougavenowaterformyfeet,butshebathedmyfeetwithhertearsandwipedthemwithherhair.45Yougavemenokiss,butshe,fromthetimesheentered,hasnotstoppedkissingmyfeet.46You

andwaskeeperofthemoneyboxandwasstealingwhatwasputinit.7ThereforeJesussaid,“Forgiveher,becauseshehaskeptitforthedayofmyburial.8Forthepooryouhavealwayswithyou,butmeyouwillnotalwayshave.”

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didnotanointmyheadwithoil,butsheanointedmyfeetwithointment.47Therefore,Isaytoyou,hersinshavebeenforgiven,whichweremany,becauseshelovedmuch.Buttheonewhomlittleisforgiven,loveslittle.”48ThenHesaidtoher,“Yoursinshavebeenforgiven.”49Andthoserecliningatthetablebegantosayinthemselves,“Whoisthiswhoforgivessins?”50AndHesaidtothewoman,“Yourtrusthassavedyou,gointopeace.”

AswecometotheseaccountsoftheanointingofJesus,asonemightexpectthereisagreatdealof

controversyregardingtherelationshipbetweenthesefouraccounts.Therehavebeentremendousefforts

madetoexplainthesimilarityandthedifferencesbetweentheseaccounts.Ithasbeensupposedbysome

thattherewasoneincidentbehindallfouroftheseaccountsthathasbeeninterpretedandusedindifferent

waysbythevariousGospelwriters.Coakleystronglyrejectsthisviewasdoanumberofothers.Insteadhe

proposesthatthereismorethanoneincidentthatisbeingreportedbytheGospelwriters. Itseemsquite1

obviousthattherearetwodifferentincidents,onethatisrecordedinMatthew,MarkandJohnanda

differentone,anearlierincident,recordedbyLuke.TheoneinLukeoccursaspartoftheGalileanministry

ofJesusandismuchearlierthantheotherone.AsIlookedatthemanyarticleswrittenaboutthese

accountsIhavebeendeeplydisappointedandfrustratedthattheprimaryfocusappearstoundertakea

searchforthemythicalEiguredescribedasthe“historicalJesus”byBultmannandmanyothersthatarein

factquitecriticalofthebiblicalstoriesintheformthatwehavethemnow.Iamsuretheremightbeatime

J.F.Coakley,“TheAnointingatBethanyandthePriorityofJohn,”JournalofBiblicalLiterature(1988)107:2,pp.241-256.GeorgeR.Beasley-Murray,1John,intheWordBiblicalCommentaryseries,Vol.36(Waco,TX:WordBooks,Publisher,1987),p.206.I.HowardMarshall,CommentaryonLuke,intheNewInternationalGreekTestamentCommentary(ExeterUK.:ThePaternosterPress,1978),pp.304-314.

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andaplaceforthisskepticism,butIthinkamoreproductiveuseofourtimewillbespentexploringthe

messagethatwasintendedtobeconveyedbytheseaccountsbytheGospelwriters.

CoakleyarguesthatthemostancientrecordofthisaccountistobefoundintheGospelofJohn, 2

whetheritisornot,franklyIdonotcare,butIamgoingtobeginwithitbecauseIwanttodosoandbecause

itisthelongestofthethreerecordingthesameincident.JohnrecordsJesusasenteringBethanysixdays

beforethePassoversettingthetimeofthisincidentmorespeciEicallyinthecontextoftheministryofJesus.

OnemightassumethatthesceneisatthehouseofLazarus,butthisisnotwhatthetextactuallysays,itsays

thatJesuscametoBethanywhereLazarus“was”(ἦν-en).FromthistheNRSVandtheCEBextrapolatethat

thelocationofthemealisinthehomeofLazarus(thisisaninterpretationnotatranslation);whiletheNET

BiblesimplyseesthisasindicatingthatthelocationofthemealisinBethanywhereLazaruslived.Weare

introducedonceagaintoLazarus,whomJesushadraisedfromthedeadanditisimportantthatwenotethe

contextsurroundingthisaccount:in11:57 wearetoldthatthechiefpriestsandthePhariseeshadgiven3

J.F.Coakley,“TheAnointingatBethanyandthePriorityofJohn,”JournalofBiblicalLiterature(1988)107:2,pp.241-256.2

(NowthechiefpriestsandthePhariseeshadgivenordersthatanyonewhoknewwhereJesuswasshouldreportit,sothattheycouldarrest3him.).NET.

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orderstohaveJesusarrested.At12:10-11 welearnthattheirplotincludedmorethanjustplanstoarrest4

Jesus,buttheyalsoplannedtokillHim,becausemanyJewswerefollowingHimratherthanthem.

Followingthis,therewouldbethetriumphalentryfulEillingaprophecyfromZechariah9:9. Allofthis5

context,andespeciallytheaccountoftheanointingofJesusbyMariam(notMaryasinyourEnglishBibles),

willactasanextremelystarkcontrastoffaithasopposedtothefaithlessnessofJudas,Caiaphas,andthe

Pharisees. Hertrustwilldemonstratethestarkcontrastbetweenthelightandthedarkness,betweentrust6

andlackoftrustandbetweenarroganceandhumility.CertainlyJudaswillhavehadnumerousopportunities

tohearJesusspeak,toseeHimperformmiraculoussigns,andtheseedswereindeedplantedforhimtotrust

Jesus,tobelieve.HewillhaveeitherwitnessedtheraisingofLazarusfromthedead,orattheveryleastbeen

fullyawareofthis.Bycontrast,MarywillhavehadlessexposuretoJesusandyetheractionsreElectsan

intensetrustandperhapsevenadeeperunderstandingofthewordsofJesusthanisfoundamongthe

10SothechiefpriestsplannedtoputLazarustodeathaswell,11sinceitwasonaccountofhimthatmanyoftheJewsweredesertingandwere4believinginJesus.NRSV.

Rejoicegreatly,daughterofZion!Shout,daughterofJerusalem!Look!Yourkingiscomingtoyou:Heislegitimateandvictorious,humble5andridingonadonkey—onayoungdonkey,thefoalofafemaledonkey.NET.

GeorgeR.Beasley-Murray,John,p.208-209.6

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twelve.IfindeedshewasawarethatJesusisabouttodie,thenheractanticipatesthatinwaythatisnot

foundamongthetwelve,certainlynotinJudas,thePharisees,orCaiaphas,theHighPriest.

AtJohn20:30wearegiventhepurposestatementforJohnwritingHisGospelandforthisaccountof

theanointingofJesus. ThepurposeforJohnwritinghisaccountwassothatpeoplemightcometo“believe”7

to“trust”(πιστεύ[σ]ητε-pisteusete)thatJesusistheMessiah,theSonofGodandthatthroughthisbelief

theymighthavelifeinHisName.ThecallingofthisepisodeisareElectionofthiscalling.Mariamisan

exampleofonewho“trusts”Jesusinhumblefaith.Thisfaithstandsincontrasttotheschemingandmistrust

exhibitedbyJudas,bythePhariseesandbyCaiaphaswhostandsasthereligiousleaderoftheJewishpeople.

Thereisthecontrastofdeceit,scheming,selEishness,fearandarrogancetobefoundinthesepeopleas

opposedtothiswomanwhohumblesherselfinatenderactofdevotionandtrust.Thecontrastcouldnotbe

morestark.Caiaphasstoodinthelonglineofpriestswhogainedtheirpositionthroughbriberyandbecause

oftheconsentofforeignpowers,whoareidolatrous,faithlessGentiles.Thecollaborationwithevilofthese

EiguresstoodincontrasttothehumbletrustofMariam.Theirmotivesareplainlysetout,andtheyseekto

NowJesusdidmanyothersignsinthepresenceofhisdisciples,whicharenotwritteninthisbook.31Butthesearewrittensothatyoumay7cometobelievethatJesusistheMessiah,theSonofGod,andthatthroughbelievingyoumayhavelifeinhisname.NRSV.

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servethemselvesandtheyactoutoffearoflosingwhattheyhaveratherthanintrustandhumility.By

contrast,Mariamcaresnothingforappearances,forprotocol,forpropriety,nordoessheactoutoffear,but

sheactsoutoflove,devotion,trustandhumility.

Oneofthethingsthatcriticsofthisaccountoftenciteasevidencetodiscountitsveracityisthatthe

washingoffeetandanointingwithoiljustwasnotsomethingthatwasdoneintheancientworld.Thefactis

thatthereareanumberofaccountsthatinsomesenseprovideparallelstowhatisfoundintheGospels:

(1) Homer,Odyssey19.503-7:“Theoldwomanwentforththroughthehalltobringwaterforthefeet,forall

theEirstwasspilled.Andwhenshehadwashedhim,andanointedhimrichlywithoil,Odysseusagain

drewhischairnearertotheEire…. 8

(2) Aristophanes,Wasps606-9:“WhenIgethomewithmypay—ho,ho!they’realloverme.Becauseofthe

money,yousee.Firstmydaughtercomestogivemeawashandrub(ἀλείφω-aleiphothisisthesame

wordthatisusedofMariam’sanointingofthefeetofJesus)myfeetwithoil,andit’sdearpapathisand

dearpapathatandsheleansovertogivemeakiss—andEishoutthosethreeobolswithhertongue! 9

EnglishtranslationbyA.T.Murray(LoebClassicalLibrary;vol2,1960),p.265.8

EnglishtranslationbyD.Barrett(Harmondsworth:Penguin,1964),p.59.9

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(3) Athenaeus,Deipnosophists12.553:“TherewasthecustomatAthens,amongpersonswholivedinluxury,

ofanointingeventhefeetwithperfume.”Thereareotheraccountssimilartothisonetoointhiswork. 10

(4) Pliny,NaturalHistory13.22:“Wehaveseenpeopleputscentonthesolesoftheirfeet,apracticesaidto

havebeentaughttotheemperorNerobyMarcusOtho;pray,howcoulditbenoticedorgiveanypleasure

fromthatpartofthebody?” 11

(5) Petronius,Satyricon70:“Iamashamedtotellyouwhatfollowed:indeEianceofallconvention,some

long-hairedboysbroughtointmentinasilverbasin,andanointedourfeetaswelay,afterwindinglittle

garlandsroundourfeetandankles.” 12

(6) Curtius,HistoryofAlexander8.9.27:DescribingthemagniEicentcustomsofthekingsofIndia:“Whenhis

sandalsaretakenoff,hisfeetarebathedinperfumes.” 13

EnglishtranslationbyC.B.Gulick(LoebClassicalLibrary;vol.5,1963),p.513.10

EnglishtranslationbyH.Rackham(LoebClassicalLibrary;vol.4,1960),p.111.11

EnglishtranslationbyM.Heseltine(LoebClassicalLibrary;1961),p.135.12

EnglishtranslationbyJ.C.Rolfe(LoebClassicalLibrary;vol.2,1962),p.309.13

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(7) Tosefta,Shabbat3:16B-E:OntheSabbath,“Oneshouldnotputoilonhisfootwhileitisintheshoe.And

oneshouldnotputoilonhisfootwhileitisinthesandal.Butonemayputoilonhisfootandthenputit

intotheshoe.Heputsoilonhisfootandputsitintothesandal.” 14

(8) SipreonDeuteronomy33:24:Amanagreestosupplyawholecitywithoil,buthedoesnotatEirstgive

theagenttheimpressionofbeingamerchantonsuchascale.However:“Assoonashereachedhis

house,hecalledtohismaidservantandsaidtoher,‘Comeandwashourfeet.’SheEilledabowlwithoil

andwashedtheirfeet,tofulEillwhatiswritten,‘Andheshalldiphisfootinoil.’” Afterdinnerhe15

dispensestherequiredamountofoilandmore. 16

Itshouldbeobviousthattheseinstancesdonotinanywayindicatethattheanointingofthefeet,such

asisfoundintheGospelaccounts,isaneverydayoccurrenceinJesusday,inPalestine.Theseaccounts

pointoutquitethecontrary,thatsuchalavishexpressionwasindeedarareandextravagantgesture,but

notonethatwascompletelyunprecedented. Indeed,suchapracticestandsincontrasttotheallthat17

JacobNeusner,trans.TheTosefta,VolI(PeabodyMA:HendricksonPublishers,2002),p.36914

L.Finkelstein,editor,SiphrezuDeuteronomium(Breslau:StefanMünz,1939)p.421.15

J.F.Coakley,“TheAnointingatBethanyandthePriorityofJohn,”JournalofBiblicalLiterature(1988)107:2,pp.241-256.16

J.F.Coakley,“TheAnointingatBethanyandthePriorityofJohn,”JournalofBiblicalLiterature(1988)107:2,pp.241-256.17

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wasordinaryandtothatwhichnotatallextraordinary,whichwasthedubiousactionsoftheotherthree

actorsinthisdrama,inJohn’sGospel.TherewasnothinguniqueorrareaboutthefactthatJudaswould

betrayJesus.TherewasnothingrareabouttheplottingandfearexpressedbythePharisees.Therewas

nothingextraordinaryabouttheplotting,corruptionandinjusticeexhibitedbyCaiaphas.Theseactions

wereanordinaryandcommonpartoflifeinEirstcenturyPalestineastheyareofourmodernworld.In

this,theaccountoftheGospelwritersrepresentssomethingalltofamiliarandcommontothemintheir

dayandotusinourmodernera.Betrayal,injustice,corruption,mistrustwerealltoocommoninthat

eraandstillarefartoocommoninours.ThecalloftheGospelisforustobedifferent,tobelikeMariam,

humble,trustingofJesus,adoringofHim,andfaithfultoHimandHisteachings.

InthemidstofthisaccountbyJohnthereisalsoacallingtocareforthepoorasaperpetualmarkof

thepeopleofGod.JudaspretendstohaveconcernforthepoorallthewhileheisbetrayingJesusforhis

ownpurposes.IhaveheardmanytrytomakeexcusesforwhyJudasbetrayedJesus,butJohnoffersno

quarterdescribinghimusingtheterm“thief”(κλέπτης-kleptes)andtheterm“tosteal”(βαστάζω-

bastadzo).Thecontrastisstarkandpoignant.OnefollowerchoosestoblesstheLordwithan

extravagantandpreciousgifttheotheronlyseekssteal.JohnhasalreadysetoutthiscontrastinJohn

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10:10whenJesussaid,“Thethiefcomesonlytostealandkillanddestroy.Icamethattheymay

havelife,andhaveitabundantly.” Couldtherebeanymoreaptdescriptionofthosewhohadarrayed18

themselvesagainstJesusandwouldfulEilltheirschemesagainstHiminbetrayal,lying,andultimatelyin

seekinghisdeath(Judas,thePhariseesandCaiaphas).

JesusrebukesthosewhorebukeMariam(thedisciples)forheractofextravaganceinMatthew,while

inMarkwearejusttoldthatitwassomewhowerethere,whereasthefocusinJohnisupontheone

personJudas.MatthewandMarkdoaddtheprophecythatwhatwasdonebythisblessedwomanwould

beproclaimedwherevertheGospelwasproclaimed.InthemidstofJohn’saccountthereareeverinthe

airwhispersofresurrectionasweareremindedoftheraisingofLazarusfromthedead.Thishopeis

waftedintheairandshouldinspirehopeandwonderinthediscipleswhenJesusiscruciEiedasthey

contemplatewhoHeisandwhatHedidwhileHewasalive.Itappearsthatthiswasbroughttothe

forefrontoftheirmindsattheresurrection,astheyrememberedtheseeventsandastheynowlivedin

thehopeofthepromisesofJesus,becausethentheywouldcometounderstandwhatwasbeforethem

NRSV.18

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allthetime,butobscuredbytheirfears,bytheirhardnessofheart,andbytheirtrustinthewrong

peopleandthewrongthings.

Luke’saccountisinadifferentsettingaltogether,beingsetintheGalileanministryofJesus,theearly

partofHisministry.HereweEindJesustheguestinthehouseofoneofthePharisees,onewhois

unnamedandanonymous,whosenamehasmeltedintothemistsoftimesandfallenintoobscurity.His

actsandhisattitudewouldbepreservedasawarningtothoseofuswhowouldfollow.Itwouldserveas

achallengeoftheattitudeandtheheartthatwearenottohave.Peoplethatareself-righteous,and

believetheyaregoodandnotasbadasothers,andthereforetheyallowtheirhopetorestintheir

goodnessratherthaninthegoodnessofJesus.Thiswoman,describedasa“sinner”(ἁμαρτωλός-

hamartolos)standsbehindJesus“weeping”andthenshebeginstobatheHisfeetinhertears,thenshe

anointsthemwithointmentandwipesHisfeetwithherhair.SheissomovedbythepresenceofJesus

thatsherespondswithanextravagantactofloveandcontrition.

BycontrastthePhariseehadnotevengivenwhatshouldhavebeencommoncourtesy,akissof

greeting,waterforHisfeet,nordidhehonorJesusbyanointingHisheadwithoil.OnceagainweEinda

starkcontrastbeingdisplayedbytheGospelwriter(Luke).Jesushighlightsthiscontrastbythetellingof

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aparablewhichcontrastsonewhohasbeenforgivenfortheirsmalldebtandsomeoneforgivenwitha

largedebt.Theseimagesstandforthetwoactorsinourstory,one,thePharisee,whoseeshimselfas

righteousandthereforeisrepresentedbytheonewiththesmalldebt.Heseesnogreatneedfor

forgivenessasheseeshimselfasbetterthanthosewhohavemuchgreaterdebt,muchgreatersin.He

expectsmuchfromGod,butheexpectstoearnitthroughhisownactions,throughhisrighteousness,

thusdemonstratinghisloveforhimselfratherthanhisloveforGod.

Thewoman,bycontrastisrepresentedbythecharacterthathasagreatdebtandsheknowsthisand

doesnotexpecttobeabletorepaythisdebtandyetinspiteofitallsheexpresses“love”inthemidstof

herbrokennessandhumility.Sheseekstohonortheonesheknowsistrulyrighteous,theonewhotruly

representsGod.InherhumilitysheexpressesherloveandtheloveofGodisexpressedinthewordsof

JesusasHeforgiveshersins.Hedoesnotforgiveherbecausesheisworthy,orbecauseshehaspaidher

debt:thatcouldneverhappenandsheknewthat,andyetinherbrokennesstheheartofGodpouredout

mercyintheformofforgiveness,asagiftoflove.Godlovedboth,butthelovewasrebuffedbythe

Phariseethroughhisattitudeandhisactions.At7:50weEindJesusgivingthewomanthesewords:

“Yourtrusthassavedyou,gointopeace.”Thesewordsarenotjustforthiswoman,theyareforall

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peopleandtheyissuethechallenge,willwetrustourselves,orwillwetrustinJesus?Simplewordsto

say,buthardtolive.WecontinuallydefaultbacktotrustingourselvesandnottrustinginGod.Weare

calledtohumbleourselvesandtotrustinJesus,torecognizeourgreatdebt,andtotrustHisgreatlove

andtoloveHimmuchratherthanlittle.Thisisthemessageofthesefouraccountsasrecordedbythe

Gospelwriters.Thisisthecallingthattheystillbringtoustoday.

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Synopsis ThefocusofsomanyscholarsisuponthestorybehindtheaccountsfoundintheGospels.Thiscanat

timesprovehelpful,butitmustneverbeattheexpenseofthemessageintendedbytheGospelwritersto

challengeourheartsandoursouls.IntheGospelaccountsitismostlikelythatwhatweEindinthem

representstwodifferentinstancesofJesushavingHisfeetanointedbyawoman.Oneisnearthebeginning

oftheministryofJesuswhileinGalilee(Luke),whiletheotherisnearthetimeofHiscruciEixionandburial

(John,Matthew,andMark).Inbothoftheseaccountsthereisacontrastmadebetweenotheractorsinthe

Gospelaccounts.

JohncontrastsMariamandherfaithandhumilityagainstthatofJudas,thePhariseesandCaiaphas.In

theoneinstanceweEindMariamhumble,adoring,andtrustingofJesus.IntheanotherinstanceweEind

Judasasdistrustful,deceitfulandasabetrayeroftrust.WiththePhariseesweseethemclaimingtobe

righteousandnobleandyetinrealitytheiractionsandtheirplansbetraytherealityoftheirdarkhearts.

Theyschemetokillanotherhumanbeingbecauseoftheirfearsandtheirdesiretoretainthestatusquo

ratherthantoliveintoabetterrealitywheretheymaynotoccupysuchexaltedpositions.WithCaiaphasthe

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highpriest,heforgoesjusticeandinsteadpursueshisownagendaofpreservinghispowerandauthorityat

theexpenseofaninnocentman’slife.

Thecallingofalltheseaccountsisthecallingtohumility,trustinGod,andtherecognitionofthetruth

ofwhoandwhatweare,andhowthatdiffersfromourtruecallingfromGod.Wearecalledtorestinthe

loveandgraceofGodandtotrustHimforallthosethingsthatareinrealitybeyondourcontrol.Whatwe

cancontroliswhowewilltrust,andJesuscallsustotrustHim.

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Questions1. Whydoyouthinkonepersonlovesanotherperson?

2. Howarehumilityandloveconnected?

3. Howdoesarrogancedestroyrelationship?

4. Howdoesarrogancedeceiveandblindaperson?

5. Whataresomewaysthatyouseeindicationsofdarknessexistinginourworldtoday?

6. WhydoyouthinkawomaniscastastheherooftheseaccountsintheGospels?Whatmessagearewetogainfromthis?

7. Whydoyouthinkasinnerhasmorehumilitythanonewhoseekstolivearighteouslife?

8. Howwouldyoudescribehumility?

9. Howwouldyoudescribearrogance?

10. Whydoyouthinkpeopleschemeandmanipulateothers?

11. Howwouldapersonrecognizethattheyaremanipulatingothers?

12. Whatsafeguardsusfrommanipulatingothers?

13. Howdoyouknowthatyouareforgiven?

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14. WhydoyouthinkJesusseekstohonorthewomanwhoanointedHisfeetbytheproclamationofherdeedswherevertheGospelisproclaimed?

15. Whataresomewaysthatyouhaveseenthegreatloveofonepersonexpressedforanotherperson?

16. HowwouldyoujudgewhetherapersonisaprophetofGod,ornot,today(Luke7:39)?

17. WhatisthegreatestlessonthatyouseebeingtaughtinthesepassagesofScripture?

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ToTakeHomeWhatisImportanttoknow? Itisimportanttoknowthatnomatterhowwemightcompareourselveswithotherhumanbeingsandthinkofourselvesasrighteous,therealityisverydifferent.Wecanneversaveourselvesbydoingenoughtoearnoursalvation.ItisonlythroughthemercyofGodthatwehavehope.Godlovesusandpursuesus,butourarroganceandfearblindsustothisreality.OnlytruehumilitycanhaveanychanceofallowingustoseethetruthandtorespondappropriatelytoGodandtooneanother.Whataresomethingsthatcauseyoutobeafraid?WhereisGodinthesewords? GodisinthesewordsteachingusthewayofHisheartandcallingustoreElectHisnatureinours;oneofhumilityandtenderness.TheworldcontinuallycallsusawayfromtrustingGodandchallengesustotrustinwealth,power,governments,andinthatwhichisEleeting.Godcallsusto“trust”inHim.WhataresomewaysthatyouliveyourlifereElectingthecallingofGod?WhatdoesanyofthismeanforhowIlivemylife? GodcallsHischildrentoreElectHisnatureandHispriorities.Thisclasheswiththosethataresetbytheworldanditspriorities.Fearoftendrivesustodothingsandtopursuethingsthatarebasedinourfears.SooftenthesefearsareperceivedratherthanrealandourimaginationsempowerthemsothattheydominateourhorizonsandobscurethecallingofourcreatorandourLord.WhataresomethingsthatyouseektodoinordertokeepyourlifegroundedinGod’srealityratherthanlivingalifedominatedbyyourfears?WhatisthewordofGodcallingustodo? ThewordofGodiscallingustotrustHim,toputasideourfears,toputasideourconcerns,ourschemesandourplansandtopursueHiscallingtobeHisimage-bearer,Hisagentofloveandforgiveness,alightinthedarkness.ThecallingofGodcallsustohumbleourselves,shedourblindnessinthathumilityanddieforoneanotherasHedidforus,trustinginHimtoraiseusupasHedidJesus.HowcanyoureElectthelifeofJesusmorefullyinyourownlifetomorrow?

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