Mark 14:5

Mark 14:5 is part of a significant event known as the anointing of Jesus at Bethany, occurring just before His passion. This verse captures the disciples' reaction to a woman's extravagant act of pouring costly spikenard ointment on Jesus' head (and feet, according to parallel accounts).

Context of Mark 14:5

The scene unfolds in the house of Simon the leper in Bethany. A woman, later identified as Mary of Bethany in John 12:3, performs an act of profound devotion. She breaks an alabaster box of very precious spikenard and pours it on Jesus. This verse highlights the immediate objection from some of those present, who calculated the immense monetary value of the ointment. "Three hundred pence" (Greek: denarii) represented a substantial sum, equivalent to a year's wages for a common laborer, emphasizing the great expense of her offering. Their primary concern was that the money could have been sold and "given to the poor," a seemingly righteous indignation, though John's Gospel reveals Judas Iscariot's ulterior motive behind this complaint.

Key Themes and Messages

• Value and Devotion: The verse contrasts the disciples' focus on monetary value with the woman's act of sacrificial love and worship. It raises the question of what truly holds value in God's eyes—material possessions or heartfelt devotion to Christ.
• Misunderstanding of True Worship: The disciples, perhaps genuinely concerned for the poor or, in Judas's case, driven by greed, failed to grasp the prophetic significance and profound spiritual depth of the woman's act. Her anointing was a preparation for Jesus' burial, a unique moment of worship before His crucifixion.
• Hypocrisy vs. Sincerity: While the complaint about the poor seems noble, Jesus' defense of the woman (in subsequent verses) reveals that their murmuring stemmed from a flawed perspective, possibly mixed with hypocrisy or a lack of spiritual discernment regarding the timing and purpose of her deed.
• Care for the Poor: The statement acknowledges the biblical principle of caring for the needy, a theme Jesus often taught (e.g., Matthew 25:40). However, in this specific instance, it was used to criticize an act of worship directed solely at Christ. Jesus later clarifies, "For ye have the poor with you always, and whatsoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always."

Linguistic Insights

The term "pence" translates the Greek word denarion (plural: denaria), a Roman silver coin that was a typical day's wage for a laborer. The mention of "more than three hundred pence" vividly illustrates the immense cost of the spikenard, highlighting the depth of the woman's sacrifice. The word "murmured" (Greek: egongyzon) indicates a grumbling or muttering, a sign of deep displeasure and discontent, often used in the Septuagint to describe Israel's complaints against God in the wilderness.

Practical Application

Mark 14:5 challenges us to examine our own priorities and motives in our acts of service and worship. Do we prioritize what is materially "sensible" over acts of pure, sacrificial devotion to Christ? This verse reminds us that true worship can sometimes appear wasteful or illogical from a purely worldly perspective. It encourages us to:

• Prioritize Christ: Recognize that some acts of devotion to Jesus transcend practical calculations and are expressions of profound love and honor.
• Examine Motives: Be wary of criticizing others' acts of worship, especially when our own motives might be impure or lack spiritual understanding.
• Understand Divine Timing: Appreciate that there are specific moments and ways God calls us to respond to Him, which may not always align with conventional wisdom.

Ultimately, this verse sets the stage for Jesus' defense of the woman, affirming the immense value of her worship over the disciples' worldly calculations, and underscoring the unique significance of His impending death and resurrection.