John the apostle wrote how, “a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha”, and in chapter eleven and verse two of his book John shared how, “it was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment” where we read:
(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment,
and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
The verse reads, “(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, …” John parenthetically began with the words, “(It was that Mary” which means “the Mary John shared about is the particular Mary” “which anointed the Lord” or “who poured out a perfume or fragrance upon the Master Jesus” “with ointment” which means “with perfumed oil”. John parenthetically shared that the “Mary” he was writing about was the “Mary” who “anointed” Jesus with “perfumed oil”.
The verse goes on to say “... and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)” John continued with the words, “and wiped his feet” which means “and dried off Jesus' physical feet” “with her hair” or “with the hair on her head”, “whose brother Lazarus” which means “Mary's male sibling named Lazarus” “was sick” or “existed as weak, feeble, without strength and powerless”. John continued his parenthetical statement about “Mary” as he told how she also “dried” Jesus' physical “feet” with “her hair”, and it was her “brother Lazarus” who was “very ill”.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how John thought it was important to distinguish as to who this “Mary” was. Because there were many women named “Mary” in that day, so there would be no doubt by his readers, John wanted them to know this was the “Mary” who “anointed” Jesus' “feet” with perfumed oil and “dried” them with “her hair”. “Lazarus”, her brother, was the one who was so sick. In other words, they knew Jesus well. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die for the sins of everyone, and though there were some people on the earth who knew Jesus better than others, every person was invited to believe and trust in Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”. Those who are wise will understand “there is no respect of persons” with God (See Romans 2:11), and everyone may come to Him through His Son Jesus to be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him in Heaven.
Next time John shares how Lazarus', “sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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