Reading the Bible can be a rich and meaningful experience, hearing God’s voice speak to us and teach us as we engage his written Word. Yet the inspired authors penned these letters and books almost two thousand years ago or more. Some details become lost to us in the distance of culture, language, and history. Certain nuances are meaningless to us today unless we do more research.
Most (or all) of those details had meaning in their context. Writing with ink and parchment was expensive, so the authors specifically chose certain information to include, inspired and connected to the larger redemptive story God is telling.
One of those particular facts is when Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with spikenard. In context, we can understand the general idea--that spikenard is some type of perfume. But looking closer into what spikenard is, we can also see a deeper meaning in the story.
What Is Spikenard and Its Significance?
Spikenard oil, also called nard, comes from the Nardostachys jatamansi plant from the Himalayan mountains in Nepal and India. As we can imagine, this oil proved rare in the first century Middle East, and when they could find it, it cost a great deal because of the distance and how difficult it was to make and produce. Traders took the root across the spice routes, and spikenard became a luxury oil used by the wealthy or saved for very special purposes.
To make the oil, people would dig up the roots and rhizomes. These parts had the oils containing the popular and strong scent. Workers would clean, dry, and crush the roots before distilling all that into the oil. It was thick with an amber color. Only a small amount of oil could be made from each plant. When applied, spikenard oil would produce a powerful aroma and would last a long time afterward.
In the days of Jesus, spikenard carried cultural meaning and uses. Rich households used it as a perfume or anointing oil, sometimes placing it in an alabaster jar to preserve it. Alabaster is a soft stone used for decoration, statues, and containers. An alabaster jar would reveal a costly perfume or oil within, increasing the cost. Due to the expense, people would save it for an honored guest or religious purpose.
Additionally, decomposing bodies of the dead begin to smell, so families and friends would use spikenard in burial customs. Grievers would anoint the bodies of the dead to overwhelm the scent of decay. This dignified the dead and made it more comfortable for visitors to come and express their love. Burial customs were especially important within Jewish customs.
Because of these practical uses and the cost, spikenard represented devotion and honor. It was worthy of kings. John 12 even records how Judas expresses the cost: 300 denarii. In that day, one denarius would be a day’s wage. 300 denarii would be a year’s wages. Think about buying something that cost your yearly wage and what you would spend that on. That’s what Mary poured out over Jesus’ feet.
Also, anointing usually happened on peoples' heads. To anoint his feet was a huge step beyond washing someone’s feet, the act of a lowly servant to touch the dirty and smelly feet in those days.
Where Does the Bible Mention Spikenard?
The Bible first mentions spikenard in Song of Solomon 1:12. “While the king sits at his table, my spikenard sends forth its fragrance.” In this context, spikenard symbolizes romance, the woman’s desire to please him. She brings her fragrance to the king, Solomon, to help create an atmosphere of love, intimacy, and honor. The future bride believes the king worthy of honor and respect, even worship, with a very expensive oil. Here, spikenard happens within a marriage theme, the topic of the poem we call Song of Solomon, or Song of Songs.
Within that Old Testament context, John 12:3 shares this account: “Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” Here, Jesus literally sits at a table with the religious leaders, and Mary of Bethany comes in and pours an expensive jar of oil on Jesus’ feet. In the previous chapter, Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus, had died, and Jesus arrived and resurrected him from the dead. Before Lazarus’ resurrection, Mary expressed her grief to Jesus. With the anointing oil, she honors the one who raised her brother from the dead.
Mary’s anointing causes controversy among the disciples. Judas Iscariot questioned the waste of such expensive oil. Jesus defends Mary, saying she anointed him for his burial to come, prophesying his death.
The same story appears in Mark 14:3, and Matthew 26:7, although the woman is unnamed. Tradition and John’s gospel make it likely this was also Mary of Bethany.
In each case, Jesus sits at a table, pointing back to the Old Testament reference to spikenard in Song of Solomon. Jesus was and is the King of Kings, and Mary serves Jesus with the same type of oil. Along with the theme of marriage and intimacy (consistent throughout the whole Bible), the passages in Matthew, Mark, and John add how Mary prophesies Jesus’ death and burial with her act of worship.
What Is Spikenard’s Symbolism in the Bible?
First, the connection with Solomon is fascinating. Generally, the Gospels point Jesus’ acts to King David, especially as Christ is known as the Son of David, the Messianic title. However, here, three Gospel writers include an account connecting to Solomon, the literal and chosen son of David. Solomon’s wisdom and leadership resulted in great wealth for Israel, the height of their power and influence. In addition, the story holds meaning of romantic and worshipful love, a theme running through the Gospels and even into Revelation and the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Second, scholars view spikenard as a symbol of sacrificial love. Between the alabaster jar and the spikenard, Mary used something worth a great deal of money. The average income in the US right now is around $66,000 a yeaar. Even if we get conservative with the number, buying something worth $50,000 for a five-minute act of worship seems extreme. And yet, Jesus received it as legitimate worship and love. Mary held nothing back, revealing true and reasonable worship is offering ourselves as a living sacrifice (Romans 12).
Third, it seemed extreme because Jesus looked like a common Jewish rabbi. In that day, people would often see and hear a traveling rabbi like Jesus, one who even took disciples. John the Baptist was one of the most famous in his day. To use this oil for Jesus clearly treated him like a king or royalty. As Messiah, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the eternal king who would bring a great, peaceful, and just forever kingdom. Mary recognized him for who he was, contrasting with the religious leaders and priests who rejected the act even in the moment. They also rejected his authority in several Gospel narratives.
Fourth, while she may have intended the anointing for kingly reasons, God used her worship to prophetically declare this King would be sacrificed as the Lamb of God. Even Pontius Pilate wrote “King of the Jews” in three languages upon the cross when Jesus was crucified.
Finally, some theologians connect Mary’s spikenard with the “fragrance of faith,” the expression of complete belief in a person. Mary’s worship filled the room with a strong scent, just like true faith influences and blesses other people. Paul even used this idea in 2 Corinthians 2:15, calling disciples of Jesus the “aroma of Christ.”
What Can We Learn from Spikenard in the Bible?
When God gets involved, an act goes beyond the surface, and Mary’s use of spikenard possesses several different levels of meaning. And yet this isn’t meant for academic curiosity. God’s Word teaches us through a simple, amazing act.
This moment teaches us the importance of humble worship. She didn’t anoint his head but his feet, acknowledging that he was a king. She bowed low. In a room of people who didn’t approve (even one of Jesus’ own disciples!), she worships anyway. God is worthy of this humble and extravagant worship, crowning him with praise and recognizing his value. We should also anoint Christ with our words, our actions, and humble hearts. We surrender all for the one who is truly worthy.
Second, true worship costs us something. For most people, giving up a year’s wages would risk their whole livelihood and provision, as we can imagine. Mary gave it freely, not because she was rich, but because she knew Jesus’ worth. So many people today worship when it’s convenient, and churches try to cater to this. But true worship costs us something, giving God our best in time, energy, money, plans, our whole life, trusting him to provide.
Finally, God honors and blesses us for this type of worship. In Matthew 26:10-13, Jesus responds to the critics with, “She has done a beautiful thing to me … wherever this gospel is preached … what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” Her one act with the spikenard, lasting a few minutes, now has eternal impact, teaching us today in a different culture and time, centuries later. Her worship became part of the Good News. When we worship like this, God uses it to bless us and others. While others might think our lives a waste to live for God, it is only this type of worship and complete surrender that gives our lives any lasting meaning. God sees, remembers, and uses it for his glory and our good.
Peace.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Madeleine_Steinbach
