Feast at Simon’s House
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to show Him honor. At great personal sacrifice she had purchased an
alabaster box of “ointment of spikenard, very costly,” with which to
anoint His body. But now many were declaring that He was about
to be crowned king. Her grief was turned to joy, and she was eager
to be first in honoring her Lord. Breaking her box of ointment, she
poured its contents upon the head and feet of Jesus; then, as she knelt
weeping, moistening them with her tears, she wiped His feet with her
long, flowing hair.
She had sought to avoid observation, and her movements might
have passed unnoticed, but the ointment filled the room with its fra-
grance, and published her act to all present. Judas looked upon this act
with great displeasure. Instead of waiting to hear what Christ would
say of the matter, he began to whisper his complaints to those near
him, throwing reproach upon Christ for suffering such waste. Craftily
he made suggestions that would be likely to cause disaffection.
Judas was treasurer for the disciples, and from their little store
he had secretly drawn for his own use, thus narrowing down their
resources to a meager pittance. He was eager to put into the bag all
that he could obtain. The treasure in the bag was often drawn upon to
relieve the poor; and when something that Judas did not think essential
was bought, he would say, Why is this waste? why was not the cost of
this put into the bag that I carry for the poor? Now the act of Mary was
in such marked contrast to his selfishness that he was put to shame;
and according to his custom, he sought to assign a worthy motive for
his objection to her gift. Turning to the disciples, he asked, “Why was
not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief,
and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” Judas had no heart
for the poor. Had Mary’s ointment been sold, and the proceeds fallen
into his possession, the poor would have received no benefit.
Judas had a high opinion of his own executive ability. As a financier
he thought himself greatly superior to his fellow disciples, and he
had led them to regard him in the same light. He had gained their
confidence, and had a strong influence over them. His professed
sympathy for the poor deceived them, and his artful insinuation caused
them to look distrustfully upon Mary’s devotion. The murmur passed
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round the table, “To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment
might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”