Q. 14. p. 18. In the answer to this query, it seems to be assumed that the “ woman “ who anointed the “head” of our Savior as described by Matthew and Mark, is the same as Mary mentioned by John as anointing his feet. The following succession of references will, I think, show that the anointing described by John as done by Mary was performed on a previous occasion; and probably by another person than the person mentioned by Matthew and Mark.
John 12:11Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. (John 12:1), “Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany” &c. 3rd verse, “Then took Mary, &c. and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair.” 12Th verse, on the next day (the fifth before passover) Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem in triumph.
12Th verse, on the morrow (fourth day before passover) “as they came from Bethany he was hungry and came to the barren fig-tree.”
15th verse, Jesus cleansed the Temple, and 19th verse, went out (to Bethany) at even, 20th verse, “and in the morning (third day previous to the passover) they found the figtree withered, and going on to the Temple the Pharisees dispute with Jesus, (see Mark 11:2727And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, (Mark 11:27), to 12.) Then 13:1 records his going out of the Temple, and the rest gives His discourse on the Mount of Olives; immediately followed by the note of time 14:1, after two days was the feast of the passover, and the account of the feast in the house of Simon the leper and the anointing by the “ woman” who broke the alabaster box and poured the ointment on the head of Jesus, see verse 3, corresponding with Matthew 26:77There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. (Matthew 26:7). In neither Matthew nor Mark is anything said about the feet being either anointed or wiped, and the 13th verse in Matthew 26 and the 9th verse in Mark 14 agree together in recording the prophecy respecting the wide publicity to be given to the act of this “woman.” When Mary anointed the feet of Jesus, is it not more likely that (as Martha served) it was at the house of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus that the feast was then given?
H. S.
Note —We cannot say that we agree with the conclusion our correspondent has arrived at, but as this is a subject on which a good deal of difference of opinion has been expressed, perhaps soma other of our readers will reply to his remarks. Ed.
Q. 63, p. 53. It is said the saints who arose after the Lord’s resurrection appeared unto many. From this I would judge they did not live on earth again, but they appeared unto many just as the Lord Himself did.
J. H. B.