Sunday, March 25, 2007

John 12:1-11 (The Message)
Anointing His Feet
1-3Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus' feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house.
4-6Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, "Why wasn't this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces." He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them.
7-8Jesus said, "Let her alone. She's anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don't always have me."
9-11Word got out among the Jews that he was back in town. The people came to take a look, not only at Jesus but also at Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead. So the high priests plotted to kill Lazarus because so many of the Jews were going over and believing in Jesus on account of him.

Jesus was keeping a low profile in a desert town, but he returned to Bethany, where Lazarus, Mary, and Martha live. Lazarus, Mary, and Martha were dear friends of Jesus. While eating dinner at their home, Mary poured perfumed oil over Jesus’ feet and dried his feet with her hair. It was common and expected that a person would have their feet washed before a meal. After all, the roads in Jesus’ day were made of dirt and everybody wore sandals. Can you imagine how dirty their feet would get?

It is out of the ordinary that Mary used such expensive perfume to wash Jesus’ feet. It might have been the same kind of oil that was used to anoint kings. Judas, who was already misusing the disciples’ money did not like the use of something so expensive. But Jesus approved. He used this as another way to remind the disciples he was going to die. He said that Mary was anointing him for burial.

While Mary may not have realized she was anointing Jesus for his burial she did know she was giving a great gift to him. Maybe she did realize Jesus was a king. To Mary it did not matter how much the oil cost, and she did not see it as a waste. Instead, by anointing Jesus’ feet, Mary was showing her love and devotion to him, her faith in him.

Would you be willing to give your most expensive possession to Jesus?

Loving God, thank you for accepting Mary’s gift of love and devotion. Teach us how to give gifts like that, gifts where we do not hold back but lay gifts at your feet in extravagant and generous ways. Teach us to give gifts worthy of our king. God, we love you and we want to show you our faith in you. Help us learn to be your devoted followers. Amen.