The Anointed One

Matthew 26:1-13

Now Jesus turns His thoughts to the Passover.

(He has been teaching His disciples about His two-fold return, (while on the Mount of Olives,) and now He makes the move toward His exit, on Mount Calvary.)

The Passover will be taking place in two days, and we know now Jesus is the Passover Lamb.

He will offer Himself as a willing sacrifice for the sin of the world. Through His sacrifice alone the world may be saved from eternal damnation.

In the Passover, the prescription is for the lamb to be brought into the home for four days prior to the sacrifice, for inspection, and for affection. Then the lamb is to be killed, roasted over an open fire and completely eaten.

Presently just two days prior to His crucifixion, Jesus moves to assure those who are watching closely He is the Lamb. He shall ever be The Lamb. So He strongly makes the connection for His disciples, telling them the Son of Man will be delivered up and crucified – but not just on any day – it will be the Passover. He is the fulfillment of what the Passover is all about. Because of His sacrifice, we may all escape the bonds of the slavery of Egypt and death and move into the Promised Land of eternal life. Because of His sacrifice, the death angel will pass over all of our households.

As mysterious as all this may be to His disciples in that moment, there is one who gets it. She comes to visit Jesus in the house of Simon the leper. (Let that sink in for a moment. The home of  leper – or former leper since Jesus is present.)

Her only thought, it seems, is to anoint Jesus. This is not just any anointing either, as she breaks open her own supply of very costly oil to pour on Jesus’ head as He sat at the table. She is rebuked by Jesus’ disciples for her actions, but not by Jesus. In fact, Jesus informs them her actions shall stand forever as a memorial for all the world to see and take note of. Quite properly, she has anointed the Anointed One.

-Pastor Bill