Sunday School Lesson for Feb. 28, 2010: The Anointed in Bethany (Matthew 26:3-16)

Song of Solomon 1:12 (New International Version)



12 While the king was at his table,

my perfume spread its fragrance





For a long time I could not fully understand the story of the Anointing at Bethany. Then I discovered this verse in the Song of Solomon and I understood perfectly. There are a number of prophecies in scripture, especially the Old Testament that point to a coming King, Savior, Messiah. They are regarded as ‘Messianic Prophecies and their specific purpose was to leave prophetic indicators or markers throughout history for the Hebrew peoples to watch for so that they would not miss the coming of their promised Messiah. I believe the verse above was such a prophetic marker. I also believe that in that setting, at that dinner, on a day when the Pharisees were plotting to kill Jesus, the significance of this single act was not lost on the guests. In essence, this woman silently made a declaration to all that were present that Jesus was Lord! The very Promise that they had awaited for centuries they were now plotting to kill. What an act of courage on her part. The Bible says that we are to be living Epistles (II Corinthians 3:3). Our lives should testify of our faith. Her’s certainly did.

An interesting point about Jesus and Messianic Prophecy. The statistical odds that one man would fulfill just seven of the major Messianic Prophecies is 1 in 100 billion billion billion billion. Whew! The question then becomes “How could you not believe the Jesus is the Christ?”

My final observation: Jesus called her gift ‘beautiful’. This is what I love about him. He enjoyed it! He told them (and us) that.. He liked it! It felt good! That it was pleasant! Can you see him smiling? He takes pleasure in our worship, in our giving, in our service, in our kindness toward strangers and our love for one another. His simple acknowledgement of his enjoyment of her worship lets me know that whenever I do whatever I do in his name, it pleases him. It causes him to smileJ The scripture tells us that he endured the pain of the cross because of the joy that he was looking forward to (Hebrews 12:2). We are his joy. The Church; you and I. Selah.