Mark 14:1-11 — No one in this passage is INDIFFERENT to Jesus.  He is a THREAT to Scribes.  He is an OPPORTUNITY for Judas.  He is LOVED by the woman.

The anointing interprets the cross because it reveals in advance that Jesus’ death is purposeful, honoured, and central to God’s redemptive plan. Jesus himself declares her act to be preparation for his burial and inseparable from the gospel message.

Jesus’ death is interpreted before it occurs - Without Jesus’ interpretation, the woman was misunderstood

  • Extravagant
  • Wasteful
  • Misplaced Devotion

It reframes the cross as PREPARATION, not DEFEAT - Burial preparation assumes dignity, honor, and intentional care, not abandonment or failure. Without the anointing, the crucifixion could appear as:

  • Defeat
  • Tragedy
  • Betrayal

It assigns MEANING to his death before it happens. - He has spoken of his death as something moving toward a known and meaningful end. Not as a DISRUPTION of his mission, but its fulfillment.

Romans 5:6-11 CSB, For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly… [8] But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. [10] For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. [11] And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

God is the INITIATOR of salvation. Christ is the MEANS of salvation. Believers are the BENEFACTORS of salvation.

Her response contains FOUR defining features that become NORMATIVE for gospel response:

  1. She sees the VALUE of Jesus clearly: The perfume is worth more than a year’s wages. But she treats Jesus as more valuable than the perfume.
  • Her story becomes replicated whenever someone sees Jesus as their greatest treasure.
  1. She responds with costly SURRENDER: She breaks the jar. It’s irreversible. There’s no taking it back.
  • Her story is replicated every time someone surrenders their life to Christ.
  1. She responds with personal devotion, not abstract agreement: She does not merely believe something about Jesus.
  • Her story is replicated whenever people see the love of God demonstrated in the cross.
  1. Her response flows from understanding His death. This is the most important point. Her devotion is not the cause of His death. It is the response to the meaning of His death.
  • Her story is replicated whenever people experience the love of God in the cross.