John 12:1-3, NIV
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany,
where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while
Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then
Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she
poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And
the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
November 2, 2011
Bethany, two miles outside Jerusalem. Jesus came back to the place
of his greatest miracle, the place that personified his teaching about
being "the resurrection and the life", to the home of Lazarus, Martha
and Mary. Didn't they know they could be excommunicated? Their
friendship with Jesus defied the command of the established religious
authorities.
They each had a role at the dinner given in honor of Jesus. Martha
served the meal, Lazarus entertained Jesus at the table, and Mary did
an outrageous thing.
Was it an act of hospitality? It was customary to wash the feet of your
house guests. Roads were dusty; the climate mild; shoes resembled
sandals. Today people can leave their footwear at the door if they don't
want to bring dirt into the host's home. Back then the host provided
water and towels. It was all part of making your visitors feel comfortable.
But Mary did not use water and towels. I don't know if Mary's hospitality
was an example of thinking outside the box. More likely it was evidence
of extreme devotion and love for Jesus.
A pint of very expensive perfume poured on the feet of Jesus. That was
certainly extravagant beyond measure. Much more than was needed
for the task. The odor must have been overwhelming. Her deed could
not have been ignored. Maybe the nard also affected the taste of the
food. It was the kind of situation that is more pleasant days/months/years
after it happened. An event that grows with the re-telling.
All four Gospels have a similar version of this story. Matthew and Mark
place it two days before the day of Passover, also in Bethany but at the
home of Simon the Leper. They do not mention Mary by name; she is
simply referred to as "a woman with an alabaster jar of very expensive
perfume." Both of those gospel writers say she poured the perfume on
Jesus' head. Luke's account is much different and may have been
a separate incident. Luke placed the scene much earlier in time when
"one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him." A "sinful
woman" crashed the party and washed the feet of Jesus with her tears,
dried them with her hair, kissed them and then poured perfume on his
feet. Luke told this story as a lead-in to a parable about two debtors,
their moneylender and the idea that the one who is forgiven more will
also love more.
Back to Mary and her story as described by John. Her nard was pure
and we assume her devotion was also. "You will not always have me",
that's what Jesus told these loving friends and all who were gathered
around the dining area. That statement might have been even more
overpowering than the nard.
The image of anointing someone's head with oil is not unusual in the
Bible. The 23rd Psalm has a reference to it--"The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want. . . . You prepare a table . . . , You anoint my head
with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow
me . . . ." Mary didn't do the head, maybe because when men ate they
reclined at the table with their feet extended outward and Mary may
have thought she could reach his feet without interfering with the meal.
Mary had a strange way of connecting herself to Jesus. They would
both have the unmistakable smell of nard on their person for many
days to come. The same could be said for the whole house, and
possibly for everyone who was there. (Forgive me for this distracting
tangent, but I am reminded of the time our Siberian Husky was sprayed
by a skunk. It took a long time and many baths before we allowed him
in the house again.)
John 12:4-6, NIV
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray
him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money
given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6 He did not say
this because he cared about the poor but because he was a
thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to
what was put into it. 7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was
intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my
burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will
not always have me."
Judas speaks for many of us. At least for the Pennsylvania Dutch
where I live and especially those who are old enough to retire. You
wouldn't find us using more than is necessary to get the job done. Our
parents lived through the great depression of the 1930's, so we know
the value of money. Sadly, now a whole new generation is learning how
tight the finances can be when times are tough. Yes, Judas sees the
waste and speaks what is on our mind as well. A whole year's wages
poured on the feet of Jesus! Just think what we could do with all that
money! All those debts paid, all the worn out stuff replaced, plus a
little cushion so we could live without so many fears.
Judas worded it differently, a little more acceptably. Think how much
you could give to the poor! Giving always sounds better than keeping it
all for ourselves. Surely Jesus would agree and condemn this waste.
Expensive perfume, one year's wages . . . poured on his feet! What
is this!
How did Jesus react to Mary's loving deed which was now embroiled
in controversy? He said, "Leave her be." Don't fuss at her; don't
diminish her or her deed. Matthew quotes Jesus as saying she had
done a beautiful thing for him. He did not reject her gift of love. Any
negative reaction from the others was probably based on jealousy
because they had no such act of love to give.
November 3, 2011
Jesus' response also implies that she was saving the nard to use on
him when he died. His death was not unexpected. He was too good
to live in our world. Although his days on earth would be brief, the poor
will be with us forever. We can worry about them tomorrow. Mary did
not deserve to be berated. Today, this moment, Mary has done a
beautiful thing. A sacred, holy and love-filled act.
I wonder often about the value of things. How professional athletes
can earn a million dollars for one game! While child care workers make
minimum wage! How much is the kindness of a neighbor worth? Or a
photograph of our parents when they were young? What is the value
of love? Or a fun phone call from our grownup son or daughter? Or a
memento from a loved one who has died? Is there anything I would
trade a year's wages in order to experience? Is it true, as Henri Nouwen
said, that good memories are the best gift we can give each other?
Mary anointed Jesus in life, not death. How often do we wish that the
deceased could hear all the good things spoken at his or her funeral?
We are left thinking. . . if only the affectopmate sentiments had been
spoken to the deceased before they died. Mary did a beautiful thing for
us by reminding us to demonstrate our love . . . now, today. She also
gave Jesus a memory to treasure, one that would strengthen him
throughout the brutal ordeal he would endure in the next few days.
John 12:9-11, NIV
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was
there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus,
whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made
plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the
Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
November 4, 2011
Lazarus, Martha and Mary were being very courageous when they
hosted Jesus. Surely they knew the danger of defying the authorities.
As always happened in the gospel accounts, the presence of Jesus
attracted the attention of many people.
You can't hide a crowd, especially when it's on the street in front of
your house. These people came, not only to see Jesus, but also to get
a look at Lazarus, whom they heard had died, but is alive again.
The last thing this family needed was a crowd outside their house. Many
of the verses in this chapter are about death, so now we have a house
that smells of nard which at that time was typically used to anoint a dead
body, we have Mary with the odor of the nard throughout her hair and
dripping over her shoulders, we have Lazarus who was dead but is
now alive, and we have lots of spectators attracting the attention of the
authorities as though they held signs for all to see reading, "Jesus
is here."
Naturally, Lazarus had a bulls eye on his chest. He had to be put back
into the grave. Whether Lazarus was actually murdered remains a
mystery. The gospels do not follow up on his part of the story.
Because of Lazarus, many people believed in Jesus. That's a wonderful
way to be remembered. The whole family was very brave, and very
strong. They sided with Jesus at an extremely dangerous time. I think
this is the last we hear from them.
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