The act of the woman who anointed the Savior's head with precious fragrant oil meets with disapproval rather than support from His disciples. Jesus, however, points out to them that she has done something good and right by preparing His body for burial: He knew that...
The act of the woman who anointed the Savior's head with precious fragrant oil meets with disapproval rather than support from His disciples. Jesus, however, points out to them that she has done something good and right by preparing His body for burial: He knew that His earthly journey was nearing its end, something the apostles could never quite bring themselves to believe. Meanwhile, a plot against Him is already being formed, and Judas is already ready to commit his betrayal. The disciples know none of this, but their ignorance is not the only issue. There is also a particular kind of religious utilitarianism, which may manifest itself as legalism, moralism, or simply a kind of 'religiosity of good works.' Jesus Himself sums up the situation and the logic of the disciples' conduct in one simple remark: you will always have the poor with you, He tells them, but you will not always have Me.
These words offer a simple, brief, and remarkably comprehensive assessment of religious utilitarianism as a spiritual phenomenon. What was Christ to the apostles then, at the moment the Evangelist describes? A teacher? Undoubtedly. The Messiah? Of course: none of them doubted His messiahship. Yet the disciples were far more concerned with what they should do and how to do it than with the relationships that bound them to their Teacher.
What matters most in Christianity? The right answer is Christ Himself, and today we all know that answer, at least in theory. The apostles could not yet know it in theory: in their day there were no catechisms, no right answers to the right questions about Christian life.
Meanwhile, religious consciousness in itself inclines a person toward a utilitarian, practical outlook. Religion, if everything connected with living revelation is removed from it, is in fact a fairly pragmatic affair: its aim is to establish interaction with higher powers that is useful to human beings—no more and no less. The benefits envisaged are quite practical: good harvests, many children, military and commercial success. Or, on a higher level, good morals and good laws on which a good society can be built, so that life in it will be good. Or finally, on a still higher level, a convenient and practical set of tools for securing a good life not only in this world but also in the next, whether through religious duties or 'good works.'
Thus Christianity, too, in the course of its history, has often first turned into a religion and then into a religion of practical deeds. Selling the oil and giving the money to the poor comes from that very religious utilitarianism. Jesus, however, calls His disciples to turn their attention away from 'good works' and look at Him—the One without whom any deeds will be good only in quotation marks—and to put their relationship with Him first, where it belongs.
14
14:1 Mat 26:1; Luk 22:1.
14:3 Mat 26:6.
14:4 Some had indignation - Being incited thereto by Judas: and said - Probably to the women.
14:10 Judas went to the chief priests - Immediately after this reproof, having anger now added to his covetousness. Mat 26:14; Luk 22:3.
14:12 Mat 26:17; Luk 22:7.
14:13 Go into the city, and there shall meet you a man - It was highly seasonable for our Lord to give them this additional proof both of his knowing all things, and of his influence over the minds of men.
14:15 Furnished - The word properly means, spread with carpets.
14:17 Mat 26:20; Luk 22:14.
14:24 This is my blood of the New Testament - That is, this I appoint to be a perpetual sign and memorial of my blood, as shed for establishing the new covenant, that all who shall believe in me may receive all its gracious promises.
14:25 I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, till I drink it new in the kingdom of God - That is, I shall drink no more before I die: the next wine I drink will not be earthly, but heavenly.
14:26 Mat 26:30; Luk 22:39; Joh 18:1.
14:27 This night - The Jews in reckoning their days began with the evening, according to the Mosaic computation, which called the evening and the morning the first day, Gen 1:5. And so that which after sunset is here called this night is, Mar 14:30, called to - day. The expression there is peculiarly significant.Verily I say to thee, that thou thyself, confident as thou art, to - day, even within four and twenty hours; yea, this night, or ever the sun be risen, nay, before the cock crow twice, before three in the morning, wilt deny me thrice. Our Lord doubtless spoke so determinately, as knowing a cock would crow once before the usual time of cock crowing. By Mar 13:35, it appears, that the third watch of the night, ending at three in the morning, was commonly styled the cock crowing. Zec 13:7.