Supper in Bethany

   At the supper in Bethany something very significant happened!  First let me tell the story, then the reason why it was so significant.

    Now when YAHUSHUA was in Bethany one of the sect of the Pharisees, called Simon the leper, desired YAHUSHUA that He would eat with him.  "Much people of the Jews therefore knew that He was there: and they came not only for YAHUSHUA's sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom He had raised from the dead." John 12:9

    "There they made Him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him." John 12:2

    As YAHUSHUA sat at meat there came to Him a woman, Mary, when she knew that YAHUSHUA sat at meat in the Pharisees house brought an alabaster box of essential oil of spikenard (pure nard, or liquid nard) very precious, and costly.  Mary loved YAHUSHUA very much, for He had done so much for her.  He had cast out seven devils, healed her of infirmities, forgiven her sins, and raised her brother to life again.  She loved to sit at His feet and learn the truth.  She saw through all of the hypocrisy of the Jews.  Mary did not make claims of her own righteousness as did all the religious folks about her and thus she escaped the religious prejudices of the time.  Therefore, just as a child, nothing stood in the way of her receiving the truth like a sponge. 

    Mary knew that her Master was a type of the Passover lamb, and that He would soon be slain.  I'm sure YAHUSHUA told her, as He did His disciples.

    She stood at His feet behind Him weeping, the tears dropped on His feet, and she began to try and wipe them with the hairs of her head, and having come closer to His feet and loving Him wept more, and then kissing His feet, and anointed them with some of the essential oil.  Then holding nothing back she brake the box and poured it on His head as He sat at meat: and the house was filled with the odour of the oil.

    "While the King sitteth at His table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof." Song of Solomon 1:12.  Was she familiar with this verse or something?

    "Then said one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray Him, Why was not this oil sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein." John 12:5, 6

    "When YAHUSHUA understood it, He said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon Me.  For ye have the poor always with you; but Me ye have not always." Matt. 26:10, 11.  "She has done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying." Mark 14:8

    "Now when the Pharisee which had bidden Him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth Him: for she is a sinner.  And YAHUSHUA answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee.  And he saith, Master, say on.  There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.  Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

     Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.  And he said unto him.  Thou hast rightly judged.  And He turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest Me no water for My feet: but she hath washed My feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.  Thou gavest Me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss My feet.  My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed My feet with oil.  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.  And He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.  And they that sat at meat with Him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?  And He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in salem." Luke 7:39-50

   "Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her." Matthew 26:13

    "He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over Me was love." Song of Solomon 2:4

    "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will you give me, and I will deliver Him unto you?  And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.  And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him." Matthew 26:14-16

   What is so significant about the story?  You might ask.  It was in fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy:  "In the tenth day of the month (Abib) they shall take to them every man a lamb . . . a lamb for an house . . . and ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it between the two evenings." Exodus 12:3, 6 margin

   John recorded that YAHUSHUA came to Bethany  "six days before the Passover." John 12:1

    The Passover happened that year on Friday afternoon according to John (Jn 18:28) counting six days backward, and counting the very day Sunday as part of the day that was left, it would still be counted.  They made Him a supper Abib the 9th.  Supper means toward the end of that day and the 10th of Abib was approaching when the Passover Lamb was to be selected to be killed on the afternoon of the 14th.  This is when Mary originally of Magdala, thus called a Magdalene, anointed YAHUSHUA with her oil and that very night Judas covenanted with the chief priests to deliver YAHUSHUA into their hands.  These things are significant because it was fulfilling the Passover prophecy.

    Bethany is where this supper took place, according to Luke this is also where YAHUSHUA's feet left the mount of Oil (Olivet) Luke 24:50.  As He ascended to His Father's house to build many mansions for those who believe on Him, two angels said to the disciples: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing into heaven? this same YAHUSHUA, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.  This they said of His third coming as brought out from the prophet Zechariah 14:4, "His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives."  At Bethany where His feet was anointed with precious oil.

   Thy name is oil poured out, therefore do the (wise) maidens love ya. Song of Solomon 1:3 RSV                                                                                       

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