For This Cause

“And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster jar of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor. But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” (Matthew 26:6-13)

We are really thankful to have met a very nice man yesterday, who came to our rescue and helped us out of a jam we were in. (By "chance" we locked our keys in our car). And in the course of this 'chance meeting' the three of us had a wonderful opportunity to have a thirty minute conversation together about Jesus—Who He was, and why He came to earth.

Our new friend said that he 'wouldn't believe' (that Jesus is the only way to Heaven) "until he heard from Mary" — (as in Mary who had anointed Jesus with a very costly, fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair and her tears). I thought this was a very interesting objection from our new friend, to Jesus' exclusive claim: "I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me." (See John 14:6)

We know from John chapter 12 that the woman with the very costly jar of fragrant oil, who broke it and anointed the head and feet of Jesus was Mary; the sister of Martha and Lazarus.

“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denari and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” (John 12:1-8) 

Why would Mary do this? 

A pound of spikenard was said to be worth about one year's salary in those days. "Very costly." Most likely, this pound of fragrant oil had cost Mary everything she had. To the Disciples who were without understanding at the time, this seemed like a great waste of resources. The oil could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Although, Judas Iscariot, who seemed the most concerned about this "waste" and who would eventually betray Jesus, was not concerned at all with the poor, but only desired to sell the costly oil so he could skim off the money bag which he carried, and line his own greedy pockets.

But Mary had given all she had, to anoint Jesus for "His burial", as He said in verse 7. So why include this act of selfless love and worship by Mary here in Scripture?

Jesus said:

"For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. " (Matthew 26:12)

The point of this is clear, and Jesus pointed this out; "She did it for My burial." But He also put it in the following context:

"Wherever the gospel is preached."

What is the "gospel?" 

First, gospel means "Good News."  So, what is this good news? And why do I need it? The Apostle Paul clearly lays out the gospel message in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4...

“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received,  in which also you stand, by which also you are saved,  if you hold fast the word which I preached to you,  unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Paul also gives the clear purpose of the Gospel in Romans chapter 5, subtitled,

"Christ in Our Place."

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:8-11)

And I simply cannot leave out this passage from Paul on our need to be reconciled to God through Christ:

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

So, why was Mary's act of anointing Jesus for His "burial" so significant? And is also to be spoken of in memory of her wherever the Gospel is preached?  

It's because Jesus died, was buried, and rose again for our sins. 

Without His death, burial and resurrection; for us there would be no going to Heaven. There would be no reconciliation with God. No hope of forgiveness of our sins. No removal of the guilt and shame we feel because we know by our God-given conscience that we have all done wrong. We have all fallen short of God's perfection.

Mankind needs a Savior. And Jesus is the only One who can save, as He said in John 14:6.

"I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me."

Mary was not saved because of her "good work" of anointing Jesus. She was saved because she believed in Him; that He was the Savior, the Holy One—the only one—who could, and who would die for the sins of fallen man. 

It was for this cause that Jesus—the King of kings—came into the world:

“Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:37)

If man was good enough on his own merit, simply trying to live his life as a good person, Jesus, the Son of God, would not have had to come down and die for our sins. He would not have had to endure brutal torture and ridicule, suffering pain and shame at the hands of evil men.

But we are not "good", as Jesus said:

“No one is good but One, that is, God.” (Matthew 19:17)

We are saved by God's grace alone, and never by what we think are our good works.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) 

These two condemned thieves being crucified with Jesus were found guilty of their crimes and the penalty was death. Spiritually, these two thieves represent all of mankind before a Holy God. 

One thief mocked Jesus, and cursed Him. 

But the other thief acknowledged and confessed his guilt before Jesus, and turned and addressed Him as "Lord" and said:

“And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:40-42)

And to the one condemned thief who was repentant before God and confessed his guilt, Jesus said:

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

(For the full story on the two thieves, please check out this article):  http://marriage-miracles.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-tale-of-two-thieves.html

When you contemplate who Jesus is, and what He came to teach, consider why He came and died on that Cross. He would not have come and died a horrific death for "good people" who have no need of saving. 

For this cause, Jesus died for sinners like me, and you. 

It's because we all need saving...

We all need Jesus.

For a very thorough article on what the Gospel is, please check out this great website:  

http://www.harvest.org/knowgod/new-believer/foundations-for-living/gospel.html

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.