John 12:5, Three hundred denarii. This large sum is equal to 300 days’ wages for a common laborer.
To the natural mind, Judas’ objection to the use of this expensive spice (worth between $30,000 and $50,000 in today’s money) to anoint someone’s feet seems logical. It seems like a total waste of something very valuable. By contrast, from our perspective, we can look backwards historically with perfect 20–20 hindsight and realize that for Yeshua, the Messiah and Savior of the world, he was worth every penny of the spikenard and much more. Yet, from the perspective of Yeshua’s followers, Yeshua’s true identity and mission still weren’t clear. This confusion wouldn’t clear up until after his resurrection and glorification (v. 16). So for some of them, Mary’s act of faith in anointing Yeshua’s feet with a year’s wages of spice seemed to be illogical folly.
This spice, most likely was originally intended for use on Lazarus’ body, whom Yeshua had just resurrected and so was no longer needed for that purpose, at least. It is likely that it was out of gratefulness for resurrecting her brother that Mary performed this act of love and devotion to Yeshua, not realizing that her actions were prophetic in that she was pre-anointing Yeshua’s body for his own burial ten days from that night (v. 7).
Now let us consider the following. We know that YHVH Elohim the Father gave us his greatest love gift by sending Yeshua, his Son, to this earth to live, die and resurrect for our redemption and ultimate glorification (John 3:16). How much do we love Yeshua, and what is the greatest gift we could ever give him, even if those around us thought we were crazy to do so? Have you given him all your heart? Does all that you own belong to him including your life? Would you give away all of your possessions in devotion to him if he asked it of you? Would you literally lay your life down for him as he did for you? How much do you love Yeshua?
I’ve been researching the days of Easter and comparison with the passover seder. I found your calendar: http://www.hoshanarabbah.org/passover_week_timeline.html
One perspective I’ve started looking at is whether Jesus touched the grave or Lazarus thus meaning He would need to observe the 3rd and 7th day purification before being able to enter the temple. Mentioned in Numbers 19.
John never mentions that he touched anyone to make him required to do this to fulfill the law. However, the Red Cow sacrifice done outside the temple, seems to align with Jesus sprinkling of His own blood on the Mt. of Olives when he prayed and sweat with blood in the garden there.
I was curious if you having studied the calendar to greater detail than I could offer some perspective as to what day and what hour (meaning was it late and the start of a new day) did the Lazarus event take place, was it Sat. or Sun?
The importance for me is that Jesus also fulfilled the Red Cow purification for us, which can become important to the Gentiles among other things that circumvent potential road blocks and in fact accurately picture for us the process of dying to ourselves and living for Christ. Not trying to piece together the whole concept yet, trying to get dates and facts first.
Thanks for any info.