A Children’s Sermon on Mark 14:3-9 — The Anointing at Bethany

Polidoro Lanzani – Salbung Christi in Bethanien (public domain)

Preface for Pastors and Parents

This children’s sermon on Mark 14:3-9 is sort of a bonus. My main plan is to do children’s sermons on all the Gospel texts assigned in the Revised Common Lectionary. This text is part of the grand sweeping Passion story assigned for the beginning of Holy Week — Mark 14:1-15:47. I’ve already written one on that.

I still felt like something important was missing. Several somethings, actually. I’m happy that my Passion children’s sermon compresses Jesus’ trials and sufferings and death in a way that tries to make it bearable for little kids. But the beginning of the long reading includes a number of other stories that really should have their own time in the spotlight.

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First among them is the story of the Anointing at Bethany. It’s one of the rare bits apart from the Passion itself that is recounted in all four Gospels. And Jesus makes a point of saying the story is so important that it will be told everywhere the Gospel is preached. 

So I’m following my Lord’s lead and including it in my series of children’s sermons. You can use it on Passion Sunday when the big reading is assigned. Or if you don’t follow the lectionary, you can use it when you are preaching this text. After all, Jesus said you should tell this story, right?

Without further ado, here’s my children’s sermon on Mark 14:3-9.

A Children’s Sermon on Mark 14:3-9

Good morning, kids! I am so happy to see you. Thanks for coming up to hear the children’s sermon. 

This morning’s reading from the Gospel includes a very important story about Jesus. 

It is so important that all four Gospel writers included it in their books about Jesus. 

It is so important that Jesus himself said that everywhere in the whole world that the Good News is told, this story would be told. 

So I guess we’d better hear that story!

Here’s how I imagine it happened.

Dinner Plans

One day, in the very last week of his life, Jesus and his disciples were walking down the road through the town of Bethany. He knew he would die very soon, so every moment together was precious.

It was getting on towards evening. 

Peter said, “Jesus, I’m getting hungry. Could we stop for some dinner soon?” 

Martha spoke up right away. “Our house is right here in Bethany. Why doesn’t everybody come over to our place and I’ll make some dinner.” 

Jesus said “Thanks, Martha, but I’ve made some plans already. We’re having dinner at Simon’s house.”

Peter, whose original name was Simon, said “Um, Jesus? My house is a long way from here, back in Capernaum. Maybe we should go to Martha and Mary’s place.” 

“Not your house, Simon Peter,” Jesus said. “Another friend of mine named Simon lives here in Bethany.”

One of the other Apostles, Simon the Zealot spoke up. “Uh, Lord? I think I’m the only other Simon in the group—and my house is way far away in Cana.”

“No,” said Jesus. “We’re having dinner with another Simon. One who lives right here in Bethany. In fact his house is right here.” 

Jesus went up to the door and knocked. 

But Martha said to Peter, “Oh oh. I don’t think this is a good idea. I know who lives here. This house belongs to Simon the Leper.”

Peter said “Simon the Leper?! Simon the Leper?!? We can’t go in a leper’s house! We’ll all be unclean—and its almost Passover!”

Mary said “But didn’t Jesus heal Simon’s leprosy? I think it’s kind of mean to still call him ‘Simon the Leper’.”

Nobody knew what to say about that.

A Surprise Visitor

But by this time they were all inside the house. Simon greeted them and had them sit down at his dinner table. They were all eating, and talking, and enjoying their time together. 

Then the front door opened, very slowly. Very quietly, a woman came in. She was carrying a beautiful little round jar. The jar was carved out of a white stone called alabaster. At the top, the jar had a narrow delicate neck and it was sealed with an alabaster plug.

Slowly, quietly, she came up right behind Jesus.

Everyone else became quiet as they watched her. Who was she? What was in the beautiful little jar? What was she doing behind Jesus? 

Then to everyone’s surprise, she broke the slender neck of the jar right off, and poured what was inside right on Jesus’ head! 

Right away they knew what had been in the jar. The room was filled with the smell of a beautiful perfume—a very expensive perfume. 

Grumpy Disciples 

“What does she think she’s doing?” asked Nathaniel.

“What a waste!” said Martha. “That perfume costs a fortune! I bet a jar of it cost a year’s wages!” 

“We should have sold it. Think how many poor people we could have fed!” said Judas.

A Special Gift

“You guys leave her alone,” said Jesus. “She has given me a very special gift—and I’m really grateful. I never smelled so good!” Jesus turned and smiled gently at the woman.

“But what about the poor people?” said Nathaniel. “Shouldn’t all that money have been given to help them? I mean, there are so many hungry people…”

“That’s true,” said Jesus, “there are lots of hungry people. But you’ll be around a long time. I hope you help poor people get food your whole life long. But I’m going to be gone very soon. She has done something wonderful. She has helped prepare my body for burial.” 

“Okay, fine,” said Peter. “But it’s kind of embarrassing, you know? All that expensive perfume on your head. Maybe we can just keep quiet about it. Let’s all agree to not tell anybody what happened.” 

“No, Peter,” said Jesus. “I want you to tell everybody. Everywhere in the world that you tell the Good News I want you to tell about this woman and her gift. I want everyone to remember her. Now, let’s set another place for her at the table before the food is all gone.”

Wondering

I wonder how Simon, who everyone called a leper, felt about Jesus coming to his house?

I wonder how the quiet woman felt when Jesus accepted her gift and said for everyone to tell her story? 

I wonder why Jesus thought the story of the woman pouring perfume on him was so important?

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