This story is contained in all four gospels. Each gospel presents the story slightly differently. By collating the details from all four, we can develop a composite picture as follows.
In Bethany, in the presence of the Pharisees, Jesus proclaimed the hallmark of his doctrine, by which HIS gospel would be distinguished from all other doctrines.
It was a doctrine so controversial and divisive that upon hearing it, Judas Iscariot went out IMMEDIATELY and conspired with the Sanhedrin to betray and murder Christ.
To understand the offensive nature of Jesus’ doctrine, we must remember that Jerusalem was ruled by the Pharisees (Farsi’s), who were the sons and disciples of Moses and the keepers of the Law of Moses, which in Hebrew is called Torah and in Arabic is called Sharia.
Under this law, which is Islam, women were required by law to keep their heads covered.
The apostle Paul describes the role of women in Jerusalem under Torah/Sharia law at the time of Jesus. Paul writes:
1. Women are to cover their heads.( I Corinthians 11:5)
2. Women are to walk with downcast eyes. (I Timothy 2:9) The word “shamefacedness” in Hebrew literally means “downcast eyes”. (Strong’s Concordance #127)
3. Women are to wear the “modest costume” i.e. hijab or burka. (I Timothy 2:9) The word “apparel” in Hebrew literally means “costume”. (Strong’s # 2689)
4. Women are to obey, or submit, to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:22)
5. Women are to learn in silence. (I Timothy 2:12-13)
6. Women cannot teach. (II Timothy 2: 12-13)
7. Women cannot have any authority over men. (I Timothy 2: 12-13)
8. Women are born sinners, the offspring of Eve, who was deceived. Women are a curse whose only redemption is their ability to produce offspring.
This is the doctrine of the Pharisees regarding women and Jesus called the Pharisees blind guides and children of hell who could not escape damnation. He said the Pharisees had not understood the scriptures.
Mary of Bethany walked into a room full of Sharia/Torah believing Pharisees with her head UNCOVERED.
Beside the crime of having her head uncovered in public, Mary had in her possession contraband of the most inconceivable kind. She carried in her vessel genuine, holy anointing oil of the high priests. John calls it “spikenard” which means genuine or authentic.
It was the sacred and holy anointing oil of the priesthood, for use by the priests in the temple. It was a recipe given to the Levites by God himself and handed down from generation to generation. It was forbidden, under penalty of death, to be duplicated or used for any other purpose.
There must have been an audible gasp of disbelief and horror throughout the room when Mary opened the vessel and began to anoint the Christ. As the aroma filled the room, it would have been immediately evident to the Pharisees, who served in the temple, that Mary was in possession of the holy anointing oil of the priesthood.
Mary proceeded to perform two ordinances of the priesthood. She washed the feet of Jesus and anointed his head with holy anointing oil.
It was an outrage. Someone yelled “What is the purpose of this pernicious act?” The words “pernicious act” have been translated as the word “waste”. A pernicious act is one that will get you executed under the Law of Moses.
The priests had great indignation against Mary and murmured against her. They were greatly afflicted by her pernicious act and became enraged at her.
Judas Iscariot fanned the flames of indignation by proclaiming “It would have been better for this holy anointing oil to have been sold to beggars on the street than to be in the hands of a harlot!”
They charged her with crimes against the law, sins worthy of death. They cried for her execution. It was a scene of utter pandemonium.
Simon waited for Jesus to rebuke Mary’s pernicious acts, thinking that if Christ were a man of God, he would not allow such an outrage.
But Christ did not rebuke her. He called her a woman of faith and good works whose sins were forgiven.
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees saying “A woman has come, who is advanced above you, and is preferred before you. She alone among men has done the good work of God and anointed me for my burial.”
And then Jesus made this extraordinary statement “Wheresoever, In ALL THE WORLD, that MY GOSPEL is proclaimed, this act, which Mary has done, will be taught and proclaimed in remembrance of it."
Jesus encouraged women to excel above the patriarchy and to free themselves from patriarchal rule and follow Christ.
Jeremiah 31:22
“For the Lord has created a new thing in the earth, a woman shall LEAD a man.”
Judah betrayed the Christ, because he understood that Jesus was ending the patriarchal order, and that women would both receive and adminster the priesthood, under the order of Christ.
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