Mistaken Identities and Slanderous Statements Who anointed Jesus? Regarding Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, Simon the Leper and Simon the Pharisee.

Imagine for a moment if most of your friends had only a first name. Likely a few of them have the same first name, which would force you to use creative means of referencing them to others. Biblical names, such as John and Mary, are still extremely common. In New Testament times many names were equally widespread, shown from both extra-biblical sources and from Scriptures. Casual references to a particular name, compounded by a lack of last names, have sometimes brought about careless errors in associating the wrong individual to a particular happening in Scriptures. One such person is Mary... Mary Magdalene, that is. Luke 8:1-3 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. (NIV) If the only name given had been "Mary", this reference in Luke would have been so ambiguous that it would have been impossible to know which Mary was being referenced - the name was so common. It appears that it created a problem in everyday life as well, leading to assigning nicknames or descriptors to tell people apart. Luke clearly tells us that this Mary was called "Magdalene", a nickname which was simultaneously a reference to her hometown. Magdala was a town on the western side of the Sea of Galilee, north of Tiberius. (See number 1 on the map. The town was also known by the name Magadan. The name means tower, which is "migdela" in Aramaic).

So who was Mary, called Magdalene? Ask many church goers and they will tell you that she was the sinful woman, or prostitute, that anointed Jesus. They are wrong, but in the company of many others throughout history. The first written account espousing this view appears almost 1500 years ago... Gregory the Great (who lived from 541 to 604 A.D.) expressed all of the major errors, in one letter, that would color the church's view regarding Mary for the centuries to follow. Gregory became the bishop of Rome (Pope Gregory I) circa 595 A.D., an office that gave authority to what he would write and teach. Gregory was great in that he expressed it to be grave error that any Bishop of the church would exalt himself as being over all other bishops, even likening it to the prideful sin of Satan. He would have been grieved to see what befell the Roman church in the centuries which followed, as the popes, or bishops of Rome, did exactly that! Gregory wrote about one thousand works in his lifetime (840 being letters), so his views were widely spread. Perhaps he should have spent less time writing and more time studying Scriptures, as it was he who has been called "the inventor of the doctrine of Purgatory." It is not certain if he invented these spurious ideas concerning Mary Magdalene. To be fair he may have been teaching a view that had already become traditional. The following is the relevant excerpt from his letter to Gregoria (Lady of the Bed-chamber to Augusta)... I have received the longed for letters of your Sweetness, in which you have been at pains all through to accuse yourself of a multitude of sins: but I know that you fervently love the Almighty Lord, and I trust in His mercy that the sentence which was pronounced with regard to a certain holy woman proceeds from the month of the Truth with regard to you: Her sins, which are many, are forgiven her, for she loved much (Luke 7:47). And how they were forgiven is shewn also by what follows afterwards; that she sat at the Lord's feet, and heard the word from His mouth (Luke 10:39). For, being rapt in the contemplative, she had transcended the active life, which Martha her sister still pursued (Ib. 40). She also sought earnestly her buried Lord, and, stooping over the sepulchre, found not His body. But, even when the disciples went away, she remained standing before the door of the sepulchre, and whom she sought as dead, Him she was counted worthy to see alive, and announced to the disciples that He had risen again. And this was by the wonderful dispensation of the loving-kindness of God, that life should be announced by a woman's mouth, because by a woman's mouth had been the first taste of death in Paradise. And at another time also, with another Mary, she saw the Lord after His resurrection, and held His feet. Bring before your eyes, I pray you, what hands held whose feet. That woman who had been a sinner in the city, those hands which had been polluted with iniquity, touched the feet of Him who sits at the right hand of the Father above all the angels. (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2, Volume 12, Book 7, Epistle 25) Gregory, here, has confused the sinful woman of Luke 7 with the sister of Martha and also with Mary Magdalene. This trio of errors so confuses Scriptures that one must wonder how anyone who has professed to study Scriptures would not have discovered this from even a cursory examination. Even as shared names don't guarantee a common reference to one individual, shared circumstance do not necessarily mean that the writers are speaking about the same event. To ascertain that it is truly the same event, other indicators, including the timeline, location, participants, and key details all must match. Each account can add extra details, or leave out some details, but they can never contradict each other. For example, Scriptures speaks of Jesus feeding the multitudes on two different occasions. For the record; both occurrences as written by Matthew... Matthew 14:15-23 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." 16 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." 17 "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. 18 "Bring them here to me," he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. (NIV) Matthew 15:33-39 His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?" 34 "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish." 35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan. (NIV) While all four gospel writers recorded details of one of these events, only Matthew fully recorded both. Imagine for a moment what would have happened if Matthew had only recorded the second event, while all the others had recorded the first. Without a doubt, there would be people saying that they were in regards to the same happening, even though some details don't match up. The tendency is to focus on the major part of the event and ignore or downplay what seems to be the lesser. Additionally, in the world of much modern scholarship with its low view of Scriptures, it would be easy for many of them to claim that the lesser details where in error. But, in reality, Matthew makes very clear that Jesus actually feed two multitudes. While using a similar modus operandi, namely feeding the large crowds using a few loaves and fishes and having the leftovers collected in baskets, key details are different. In the first, five loaves and two fishes are used to feed 5000 men plus women and children with 12 baskets of leftovers (Matthew 14:19-21; Mark 6:41-44; Luke 9:14, 16-18; John 6:9-10, 13). In the second, seven loaves and an unknown number ("few") fishes where are used to feed 4000 men plus women and children with seven baskets of leftovers (Matthew 15:36-38). We are given extra confirmation that there were, in fact, two occurrences, not only by Matthew but even by Mark who hadn't recorded details of the second happening. Both of these writers, in a later setting, record Jesus referring back to these two similar events... Matthew 16:9-10 Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? (NIV) Mark 8:18-21 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" "Twelve," they replied. 20 "And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" They answered, "Seven." 21 He said to them, "Do you still not understand?" (NIV) Returning to the accounts of Jesus being anointed with perfume, an examination of each will show that Mary Magdalene was never in view. Context for the first instance is established in Luke 7:11, where it notes that Jesus went to a town called Nain which was a few miles south of Nazareth (having come from Capernaum), on the north side of the Sea of Galilee (Luke 7:1) -- see number 2 on the map. Following the event, we are told that Jesus continued traveling through towns and villages in the region (Luke 8:1), with Jesus still being around Galilee (Luke 8:22). All this makes it clear that the following event happened in Galilee and not at Bethany in Judea, as did the later events (with Mary, sister of Martha). Note also that the text points out that the woman in view here had lived her sinful life in this town. This would be a strange statement had the woman been from another town, as was Mary Magdalene. Luke 7:36-39, 43-48 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is - that she is a sinner." ... 43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." 48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (NIV) Why is it that many jump to the conclusion that a "sinful" woman has to be someone involved in the sin of adultery or prostitution? Aren't there multitudes of other sins she could have been party too? The Pharisees would have been quick to look down on anyone who didn't hold to the externals they did. From a strictly biblical perspective, the same Greek word used to describe her as a "sinner (Luke 7:39)" is also used to describe the people Jesus ate with (Matthew 9:10-13), the men who came to arrest Jesus (Mark 14:41-42), and the entire generation (Mark 8:38). While sexual sin may have been rampant (as it still is); it is certainly not the only sin that could be in view. It is probable that God had the details of which sins left out so that all could identify with her. In fact, that her "many sins" where forgiven should be a statement that all believers could likewise testify to. We too have MANY sins that have been forgiven, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. For the record, in regards to the first anointing of Jesus, these are a summary of facts derived from the passage and context of the text in Luke 7... Took place in a Galilean town Was at the home of Simon the Pharisee An unnamed woman came This woman had lived a sinful life She had an alabaster jar of perfume She wet Jesus' feet with tears She wiped Jesus' feet with her hair She poured perfume on Jesus' feet She kissed Jesus' feet Perhaps leading to some of the confusion regarding Mary Magdalene, the verses immediately following this passage do happen to mention her (i.e. Luke 8:1-3, cited earlier). After noting that Jesus was traveling from "one city and village to another" it clarifies that Jesus had more than the twelve disciples with him, having gained other close followers. Specifically, along with other women who were helping to support Jesus and the disciples, it speaks of Mary called Magdalene "from whom seven demons had gone out." While this could have legitimately defined her as formerly being a "sinful woman" it provides no tie to the earlier event. It appears that Luke provided a name in this later passage, specifically so that it would even further separate her from the preceding unnamed woman. In regards to Mary, there is no direct evidence that her demon possession led to prostitution or sexual sin either. Based on descriptions of demon possession found in Scriptures, versus modern popular speculations, it is more likely that her symptoms displayed themselves as a serious physical infirmity or mental disorder, extra-ordinary physical ability, a fascination with the dead, or perhaps in verbal opposition to God (see Matthew 9:32-33; Matthew 11:18; Matthew 7:14-15; Luke 4:33-35; Luke 7:33; Luke 8:27-29; Luke 9:39-42; Luke 11:14).

The next event where Jesus was anointed with perfume came later, just before Jesus was crucified. A few lines before recounting this story, John introduces another Mary... John 11:1-4 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." (NIV) This Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, lived in Bethany which was located close to Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives, in Judea (see number 3 on the map). Her act of worship, while being similar to the earlier account in Galilee, was a completely separate one. John 12:1-12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. 12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. (NIV) It is not unlikely that Mary of Bethany had heard what the unnamed woman in Galilee had earlier done. Duplicating an act of worship in no way minimizes the second act, if it comes from the heart. Consider that believers have been praying, singing, celebrating the Lord's Supper, etc., as acts of worship, in the same way, for centuries. In similar and contrasting point form to our summary of the first occurrence, these are key events of John 12... Took place in a Judean town Appears to be at the home of Mary, Martha & Lazarus Participant identified as Mary, sister of Martha & Lazarus No detail is given to Mary's earlier life She had a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume It does not say that she wet Jesus' feet with tears She poured perfume on Jesus' feet She wiped Jesus' feet with her hair It does not say that she kissed Jesus' feet Other than this being an anointing of Jesus with perfume by a person named Mary, virtually all the other details don't match. The detail of her using her hair to wipe Jesus feet is also superficially similar. Closer examination shows that the first used her hair to wipe her tears before pouring the perfume, the second pouring the perfume and then using her hair to wipe the perfume. In point two, of this occurrence with Mary of Bethany, I said that it appears to take place in the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. While the text does not specifically identify the home where the dinner was given in Jesus' honor, the fact Martha was serving coincides with an early event in their home and is more probable than her serving in another home, especially a larger or more prominent one where there may be servants. The earlier event... Luke 10:38-42 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (NIV) Again, it appears from this earlier occurrence that Mary, Martha and Lazarus had a humble home, lacking in servants, requiring the attention of Martha, and in her opinion Mary. In case you are wondering why I am arguing the point, it has bearing on the third and final occurrence of anointing specified in Scriptures. Many hold this final account to be in regards to Mary of Bethany as well. While I refer to it as a final account, it could be legitimately called "accounts" plural, but they unquestionably refer to the exact same occurrence though recorded by two seperate gospel writers. Matthew 26:1-13 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 "As you know, the Passover is two days away - and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. 5 "But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people." 6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (NIV) Mark 14:1-9 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 "But not during the Feast," they said, "or the people may riot." 3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. 6 "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (NIV) The accounts of Matthew 26 and Mark 14 jointly share these key elements... Took place in a Judean town Stated to be at the home of Simon the Leper Participant was an unidentified woman No detail is given as to the woman's earlier life She had an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, identified as pure nard There are no tears (She broke the alabaster jar as) she poured the perfume on Jesus' head The perfume was on Jesus' head (and perhaps upper body, see Mark 14:8, Matthew 26:12) It does not say that she wiped with her hair or kissed Jesus' feet Other than happening in the same town as an earlier occurrence and being done by a woman using perfume from an alabaster container, there are hosts of major differences. Some, trying to somehow reconcile this account to that of Mary (sister of Martha), for some reason assuming they have to be the same occurrence, have said that the dinner referenced in the earlier account (John 12:2) was being held at Simon the Leper's house. While not impossible, it is highly improbable. Mary (sister of Martha) would have been serving in another's home, something that would have been highly unusual as the act of providing the meal was considered a part of the homeowner's hospitality. Additionally the stated time frame of the two accounts has to be considered. In John 12:1 we're specifically told that Jesus arrived in Bethany six days before the Passover. In Middle Eastern culture a dinner prepared and offered in honor of a guest would not have been held over for a few days, rather it would have been prepared immediately. Since Matthew and Mark clearly state that the meal at Simon the Leper's was two days before the Passover, it is reasonable to assume that this was a later dinner invitation to the home of someone other than where he was staying (i.e. the home Mary, Martha, and Lazarus). For those who would mistake the events of Luke chapter seven, the first anointing of Jesus, with this last account, don't miss the difference between the home owners. The earliest occurrence was in the home of Simon of Galilee, who was a Pharisee (Luke 7:36), this final one taking place in the home of Simon of Judea, called Simon the Leper (Matthew 26:6). Certainly, he would not have still been a leper at this time, as the Law banned all social contact with those who were leprous. It is highly probable that Jesus had earlier healed him of this uncleanness. While it is possible that John's chronology could be reconciled to that of Matthew and Mark by claiming that John's time frame only stated His entrance into Bethany, placing the dinner subsequently a few days later, there remain other key details that are not reconcilable. The greatest of these is where the perfume was poured. The nameless woman of Matthew and Mark is clearly stated to have poured her perfume onto Jesus' head, as he reclined at the table (Matthew 26:7). John is very clear (John 12:3) that Mary (sister of Martha) clearly poured it on Jesus' feet (as had the sinful Galilean woman in the first account. Luke 7:38). Some, grasping at straws, try and claim that this could be merged by having her pour it on his head with the perfume running down to his feet. While believable in our culture, since a person's feet sat below them when resting in a chair, this is unbelievable in theirs. They were reclined at the table when the anointing took place, meaning that Jesus' feet would not even receive an indirect splatter. At best his shoulders may have inadvertently received some of what was poured onto his head, with any that dripped falling to the couch below (onto which he was reclining). Without a doubt, this is an occurrence completely separate than the earlier two. In fact, Mark 14:3 points out another difference, that this last unnamed woman broke her alabaster container. While not clear that it was intentional, he obviously felt it an important detail and it's certainly one that is not in view in both earlier accounts. Lastly, since the focus was on Jesus' head, there is no accounting of wiping Jesus' feet with hair (or wetting them with tears) as His feet were not the center of attention of this woman. Matthew and Mark certainly would have known Mary (sister of Martha) by name, since their home was a frequent stopping place for Jesus and the disciples. It stretches credulity that they would omit such a key detail after recording that this last woman's anointing would be forever proclaimed "in memory of her" (Matthew 16:13; Mark 14:9). Having determined that Jesus was anointed on three separate occasions, two happening in close chronological and geographic proximity to each other, it provokes the question of "why?". It could be easily answered that sometimes things repeat themselves throughout life, as many of us have experienced. But, I would hold to the greater ideal that everything Jesus did and experienced was for a specific reason. Our sovereign God had nothing happening by chance in regards to His Son. We know for certain that there is an expressed reason for why they were recorded in Scriptures... John 20:30-31 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (NIV) Consider again, for a moment, the response of those present at each anointing. Luke 7:39-50 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is - that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. 41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." 48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (NIV) John 12:4-8 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." Matthew 26:8-13 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." In order of occurrence, this is a quick summary of the lessons being taught... Jesus had the power to forgive sins. Even the sins of the worst sinner could be forgiven. It was the self-righteous Pharisee who took offence. Jesus, who humbled himself from His heavenly glory to come to earth, is still due all honor and glory. Jesus additionally was telling them that he was about to die, though they did not understand this until after his resurrection. Specifically Jesus was showing Judas that his kingdom was about spiritual things and not wealth (as is the focus of most earthly rulers). It was Judas who took offence. Jesus was teaching all the disciples the exact same thing as point#2, since they had not understood it when it was focused on Judas. All the disciples had now taken offence. Perhaps it was having witnessed this for the third time that provoked their misplaced indignation. ("That's three times we've seen this perfume get wasted!") Certainly God used all of these events to teach his disciples; even as He uses repetition throughout His word and often in the discipline we experience (Hebrews 12:7-11) to teach us. The day after the final anointing, following Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the widespread praise and adoration given there, John makes this telling notation... John 12:16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. (NIV) What about Mary Magdalene, who never anointed Jesus? This godly (forgiven and believing) woman who followed Jesus was witness to all the events which would follow. She saw Jesus crucified, she saw Jesus buried (with a postmortem anointing by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, see John 19:38-40), but greatest of all she saw the resurrected Lord! Matthew 27:54-56 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" 55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons. (NIV)

Matthew 27:59-61 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. (NIV) Matthew 28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. (NIV) Luke 24:9-11 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. (NIV) Oh! By the way, Mary Magdalene had planned on anointing Jesus but never got to do it. The very reason she was headed to the tomb on Sunday morning was to anoint Jesus' body with the spices she (and others) had purchased following the special Sabbath. With out a doubt, Mary was overjoyed that she never got her chance! Mark 16:1-3 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. (NIV)

Written by Brent MacDonald of Lion Tracks Ministries. (c) 2007 Duplication permitted as long as the source is cited.