We now come to the closing scenes of our Lord’s life on earth. He had left Jerusalem, and sat down upon the mount of Olives where He told His disciples of the judgment of the latter days and of His coming as the Son of Man. Having finished all these sayings, He now recalls their attention and their thoughts to the solemn hour that was approaching — the hour of His sufferings and His cross.
“Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified.” This is what the passover would mean to Him. The chief priests, the elders and scribes — the great and wise of this world — had already decided on His death, but they said, “Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.” The people, who in vast numbers had enjoyed the effects of His power and goodness, might stir up a tumult if the authorities attempted to get rid of Jesus in a violent and unjust manner. However, man’s heart was thoroughly wicked, for when the time for Him to die actually came, the only tumult that was raised was the cry, “Crucify Him, crucify Him.”
We know that it was in the counsels of God that His beloved Son should die at this time as the true Lamb of God. The priests might take precautions to avoid having the deed carried out on that day, but God disposes of their plans and uses their very plots to accomplish His purpose. How wonderful, beyond all thought! that God should use the occasion of man’s awful wickedness at the cross, where they nailed His Son, to triumph over man’s sin and Satan’s power. He opened up the way whereby the glory of His grace could shine out to a lost guilty world. For “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:2020Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5:20)). The cross is the measure and the pledge of God’s love to man. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
The Lord’s Perceived Value
We now return to Bethany where the Lord with His disciples was found in the house of Simon the leper. “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.” We learn from John’s Gospel that this was Mary of Bethany, and that the box of ointment could have been sold for three hundred pence. How vast the difference between Mary’s estimate of Jesus and the value the chief priests and elders put upon Him! They bargained with Judas to sell Him to them for a mere thirty pieces of silver — the price of a slave was enough for the despised Lord of all.
The disciples recognize the cost of the ointment and even they consider it a waste to use it in such a manner. But the Lord vindicates Mary, and though she might not know what was to take place, nevertheless He credits her with anointing Him for His burial. They would have the poor always with them, but they would not always have Him, and what she had done would be told out in the gospel publicly.
Judas leaves this solemn scene and goes to the chief priests to whom he agrees to sell the Lord. He had been with His blessed Master for a long time and had witnessed His acts of power and grace, yet he was a false disciple. His heart had never been touched in any way by the Lord’s goodness. Instead it had become hardened. He is a solemn instance of how far one might be under the influence and power of the gospel, and yet become an apostate.
Further Meditation
1. What value was placed on the Lord?
2. How does Peter express the Lord’s value?
3. A wonderful discussion of Mary of Bethany can be found in Three Marys by E. Dennett.