The Anointment of Jesus by Mary of Bethany [pp. 484-511]

THE ANOINTMENT OF JESUS
knew nothing. No act or expression is right or wrong for an
unknown fitness or association or significance or consequence.
She must have been commended for what she did mean, not for
something she did not mean; for what was intentionally expressed by her, or something implied in her, not for any unknown
import of the act itself. Caiaphlias was none the better for his
unconscious evangelical prophecy —nor can any one be entitled
to credit for an act or speech effecting or expressing something
he did not intend to do or express, or that means something he
did not mean. —Any explanations not referring to Mary's intention
would have been irrelevant and no justification.
Our excuse for insisting on these truisms is that they are set
at naught in every comment on this subject that we have been
able to find.
Of course anointing Jesus for burial was no more praiseworthy
in itself than anointing him out of reverence. But if the ointment had been applied to his body after death, according to the
custom of the times, probably no one would have objected, nor
probably would any one who knew of his imminent death and
the probable non-recovery of his body have objected to anointing
him beforehand. By declaring that she did it for this purpose
Jesus probably gave to the disciples a reason why according to
their own ideas she was right. But if he did not mean that she
did it in view of his death then he failed to give the only reason
that was calculated to justify her in their eyes.
It may be said that the act was right in itself according to
funeral usages, and right in her for other reasons, therefore
Jesus approved. But the whole drift of his argument is to show
that she, not it, was right because it was to prepare him for
burial.
It may also be said that Jesus, in view of his ownI death, was
more appreciative of the kindness of his friends and so without
siny further meaning spoke of both in connection. This is
gratuitous, insufficient and oppose to the drift of his remarks.
If Jesus only meant that this unction was opportune, just in
time for his burial, or would answer for his burial, it was a solemn ennonrcement of a thing utterly unimportant; a conclusion
which must be rejected with abhorrence.
* John 11: 49-52.
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