Ep 139 – Mary Anoints Jesus’ Feet | Focused on Christ
Join hosts Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith as they continue their study on the life of Jesus, focusing specifically on Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with expensive oil in John 12.
In this episode, they explore the significance of this powerful act of worship and the deep theological meaning behind it:
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The Significance of Oil: Discover the consecrating and precious importance of oil throughout the Scriptures, used to set apart something or someone as sacred, like a high priest or a king.
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A Sacrificial Act: Unpack the profound humility and value for Christ demonstrated by Mary, who used her most precious possession—expensive nard ointment and her own hair (an image of a woman’s glory)—to anoint the lowest part of his body.
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The Context of Passover: Learn how this event, which happens just six days before Christ’s death, ties into the central Jewish celebration of deliverance from death by sacrifice.
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Judas’s Hypocrisy: Examine Judas Iscariot’s criticism of the “wasteful” act, which Jesus sternly rebukes, exposing the disciple’s own selfish, thieving heart.
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Preparing for Burial: Hear Jesus’s main point: Mary’s act was a beautiful thing and a symbolic gesture of preparing him for his burial and the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.
The hosts also address important secondary questions raised by this passage:
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Should we still use oil for anointing today, as mentioned in James 5?
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Is Jesus’s statement, “You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me,” a broad statement about poverty? (Spoiler: The answer is no; it’s a contextual rebuke to Judas) .
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How should this text inform the church’s spending and the concept of “extravagance” in worship?
This is a powerful discussion on true worship and the unmatched value of Jesus Christ.