Anointing of Jesus' Feet

"Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at table with him.  Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment." John 12:1-3

Six days before the Passover, the 8th of Nisan, there was a supper for Jesus. That is tonight; This Eve of Palm Sunday.  Image the scene.  There is Lazarus, the one who was dead for 4 days eating and drinking at table with the One who raised him.  His friends and his sisters were there as well along with the rest of the Apostles.  This is a celebration of great joy.  They just witnessed a huge miracle. You could imagine the buzz between those who were gathered as to what happened that day.  I am sure they were asking Lazarus what it was like for him as well.  Then, out of no where, Mary comes to anoint the feet of Jesus with costly oil and wipe his feet with his hair.  Obviously, a gesture of love; one that really got under the skin of Judas who was more concerned with taking the money used to buy the nard and most probably skim off the top.  But, I think there is something even deeper that John is hinting at.

This event occurs 6 days before Passover, the 8th of Nisan.  In Leviticus 9, we read that on the 8th  day (of Nisan) Aaron was anointed and began his role as the first high priest.  He was anointed with oil made from "myrrh, cinnamon, cassia, and olive oil." (Ex 30:22).  His head was anointed although there is literature that his hands and feet were anointed as well coupled with the anointing of blood and washing with water in those same locations.

On the 8th of Nisan, like Aaron the High Priest, Jesus is anointed on his feet with anointing oil. Mary uses "spikenard" to anoint Jesus' feet.  Spikenard is made from cinnamon, myrrh, fine spices and olive oil.  It is the identical substance of the anointing oil for the High Priest.  I think John is showing us that today, the Great High Priest is chosen. He is anointed by the daughter of Israel symbolized in Mary.  In 6 days, he will offer the final Paschal Sacrifice of Himself on the altar of the Cross.  He is both Priest, Victim, and Altar.

Tonight, our Great High Priest is anointed.  Tomorrow, he comes to Jerusalem and is trumpeted by the loud cries of "Hosanna to the Son of David!"  Today He proclaimed He is Lord of Life, tonight He is anointed Great High Priest, tomorrow He comes to Jerusalem to save His People.