Countdown

John 12:1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5 "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.

Mary, who loved Jesus very much, seemed to know something about Jesus which no one else knew. Did she alone have a special foresight not possible for anyone else to have? Did she alone view Jesus with the eyes of love, which took her perfume ‘outside the box’?

Maybe. But maybe she was just paying attention. Of all those present in the room with Jesus, Mary alone knew He was about to die. Which is why they were all (see Matt 26:8) indignant about the extravagant “misuse” of the perfume Mary was pouring out on Jesus’ feet. (“That money could have been better spent!”)

How could Mary have known what was unknown to all the others present? Perhaps she alone was counting down the days.

On May 14, 445 B.C., a countdown had begun. A time fixed - which was certain. God’s clock. God’s countdown of days – to the very day “Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself.” 173,880 days, to be exact.

That’s a lot of days. 483 years. Expressed as 69 “weeks” or “heptads” or “sevens” of years. The angel Gabriel had declared all of this to the prophet Daniel in Dan 9: 25-26. 483 years X 360 days (a 360 day year according to the Jewish calendar,) = 173,880 days, to be counted down beginning with the decree of Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem and its wall. Said decree was proclaimed March 14, 445 B.C. March 14, 445 B.C. + 173,880 days = April 6, 32 A.D.

On Palm Sunday, April 6, 32 A.D., Jesus dropped by Martha and Mary and Lazarus’ house for a farewell visit. It seems Mary alone had done the math. The Lamb of God had come to take away the sins of the world, and the hour was at hand for this to be accomplished.

When Jesus came the first time so few recognized Him for Who He really was based on Biblical accounts. When He was raised and went to be with His Father, a new countdown was begun for His return to rapture his church. But who’s counting?

- Pastor Bill