Scripture: John 12:1-11
Focus on the Word
On His way to the cross Jesus stopped in Bethany to share dinner. It was quite a scene. Martha was serving because that's what Martha did. Seated with them at the table was Martha's brother, Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Seated at the table was Martha's sister, Mary, whose heart was made for worship. Seated at the table was Judas Iscariot, a thief and the man who would betray Jesus.
At some point during the meal Mary got up from the table, took a pound of very costly perfume and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping His feet with her long hair; and, as we might suspect, "the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume" (John 12:3, NASB). Mary's act and the Perfume's fragrance turned that supper into holy ground. Judas didn't like it and saw the whole thing as a waste. Jesus liked it very much and told Judas, "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me" (John 12:7-8, NASB).
Jesus saw the act as a preparation for His burial. Something bigger than the moment was underway. God was guiding and directing history to an atonement, and atonement would go much further to resolve issues men and women face than the selling of a bottle of perfume. So it was at that evening meal, Jesus, the Bread of Life, said to Judas, "Let her alone." While Judas fumed, Mary worshipped.
When the people outside the home heard that Jesus was there, they came to check it out. At least that's the way it seemed. Actually they came to check out Lazarus. After all, it's not every day you get to see a man who had been raised from the dead. Others, the chief priests particularly, came to seize Lazarus so that they might put him to death. His resurrection was interfering with their faith and people were coming to believe in Jesus because of Him. That was unacceptable to them.
In Lent we examine our hearts to see where we stand in the story of God. What is our motive? How do we view things? How committed to do things God's way are we? What is our passion? What shall we do with what we have? What is the true story going on in our hearts? How shall we live?
Today’s Prayer
God of steadfast love, light of the blind and liberator of the oppressed, we see your holy purpose in the tender compassion of Jesus, who calls us into new and living friendship with you.
May we, who take shelter in the shadow of your wings, be filled with the grace of his tender caring; may we, who stumble in selfish darkness, see your glory in the light of his self-giving. We ask this through him whose suffering is victorious, Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
(The Revised Common Lectionary)
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