John 12:1-8 (NRSV)
Read John 12:1-8 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 12Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. Verse 2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Verse 3Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Verse 4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, Verse 5"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" Verse 6(He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Verse 7Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. Verse 8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
Devotion
The risky hospitality extended to Jesus in Bethany includes not only the dinner Martha served, but also Mary lavishly anointing Jesus. This occurs during Passover week—the week in which Jesus will be crucified. Mary’s anointing of Jesus, therefore, is a prophetic act that anticipates his death and proper care of his body, as Jesus himself explains (12:7). The anointing is also a tangible outpouring of Mary’s love and devotion to Jesus. A pound of perfume to anoint someone’s feet seems excessive. Yet, if love can be measured by what one is willing to sacrifice for another, spending this large amount of costly perfume on Jesus shows Mary’s abundant love for him. Hers is a love that stands defiant in the face of criticism—in this case from Judas, whose own selfish motives are exposed by the extravagance of Mary’s fragrant offering to Jesus.
Prayer
Merciful Christ, may your sacrifice on the cross continue to ignite divine love in our hearts for you and others. Amen.
Interested in digging deeper into today’s text?
Read more here.