Why do we soak in worship? What is soaking all about? These are questions many ask about worship. Let’s look at Jesus’ example through all four viewpoints of the anointing at Bethany. Matthew’s Account: Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." Matthew 26:6-13 Mark’s Account:
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. 6 "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." Mark 14:3-9 Luke’s Account: Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. 41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." 48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:36-50
John’s Account: Jesus Anointed at Bethany
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. John 12:1-11 Some would argue that these are different accounts but I believe them to be the same account from four different viewpoints, emphasizing different truths of the same incident. Matthew and Mark both tell us where and whose home the dinner took place, at Bethany and in the house of Simon the Leper. In Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts, they emphasize that she poured the perfume upon his head. I believe this represents the kingly anointing in Matthew and the high priest who was a man in Mark’s account. Luke tells us that a Pharisee invited him to his home in verse 39-40. “39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you..." Luke reveals that the Pharisee who invited Jesus to his home was Simon, as Jesus addressed the one speaking in his heart. John reveals to us the purpose of the dinner and who were some of the invited guests. He also confirms that they were in Bethany in the same town where Lazarus lived, and that a dinner was given in honor of Jesus. John does not reveal the owner of the house, but it reveals that Mary, Martha and Lazarus were there and that the guests were curious about Lazarus who was just raised from the dead. 1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. In Luke’s and John’s accounts, they emphasized that she poured the perfume on his feet. In fact in Luke’s account, he mentions the head, “46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.” I believe Luke’s account expresses the servant and the Savior-Redeemer, the very purpose he came to earth for, to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke also reveals that the woman is a renowned sinner in her town, and John tells us who the sinful woman was, Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus. This may explain the indignance Martha felt toward her sister when her sister who was a sinner, would not help her in the kitchen but would sit at Jesus feet, in essence doing nothing. This shows the difference of doing religious works for the Lord, and sitting at the feet of Jesus in worship and adoration, which the Lord highly esteems.
John’s account emphasizes his feet as well, but remember, we had seen Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus in worship and soaking up the very words of Christ. In Luke 10:38-40, we see Mary’s heart of worship towards her Master. 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" In John’s account, he emphasizes the fragrance of her worship in verse 3,“And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”John’s account really demonstrates the worthiness of the Lord Jesus to receive our worship, his Lordship, and the intimacy of worship. John also was the one who laid his head upon the breast of the Lord Jesus at the Lord’s Supper, and he referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” in John13:23, and four other times in his gospel. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.
I believe this story is a picture of the Lord Jesus who was anointed with the fragrance of worship to prepare him for his sacrifice. Can you imagine the Lord Jesus still recalling the fragrance and the beautiful thing done unto him, as he is carrying his cross to his death? I believe this is one of the reasons why the Body of Christ is in a season of soaking, to prepare her for the sacrifice and the cross she is to bear. The dying is a necessary part of her being able to identify with the fellowship of his sufferings, Philippians 3:10, and also to partake of the resurrection and the Glory of Jesus Christ as well. There is one more picture of the Body soaking in the fragrance of the Holy Spirit. 12 Before a girl's turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. 13 And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king's palace. 14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.
15 When the turn came for Esther (the girl Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. 16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther's banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality. Esther 2:12-18 The Bride must soak in the fragrant oils of the Holy Spirit, must be cleansed and prepared in the Myrrh, which was the oil of anointing for the dead body, first before she was adorned with perfume. The body has to die to the fleshly desires before she can be adorned with the fragrance of her King. Once she has been properly prepared and cleansed without spot or blemish, then she is adorned with the royal garments (Righteousness) of the King, and then presented to Him. He then presents her at the wedding feast as he celebrates her in all of her splendor. I believe this is the time we find ourselves in, a time of soaking the Body in preparation for the fragrance, the royal garments, and the presentation to our King, Jesus. What a beautiful picture of the Bride and her King!
