Fifth Sunday in Lent March 25, 2007
Scripture	John 12:1-8 12 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary 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. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 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.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
Devotional	“It is important, therefore, in the appropriation of John 12:1-8 in the life of the church to acknowledge that the Fourth Evangelist names a woman as the first to embody the love that is commanded of all disciples.” “Jesus’ disciples, like Mary, whom he loves and who loves him and lives out that love.” In the Gospel of John, the focus is on individuals as disciples rather than on the Twelve as a group. I believe this is why the story of Mary’s anointing Jesus’ feet is an example of discipleship. The Gospel lesson returns to the family of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus with the emphasis on the anointing of Jesus’ feet. Mary takes a pound of costly perfume, which cost equaled a year’s wages. If we were to equate this with today’s minimum wage, the cost would be about $11, 000.00. This was an act of extravagance so lavish, which all in attendance participated as the fragrances filled the house. One of the first acts in this story is by Judas. Judas attempts to create an either or situation. Judas pushes us to point of either you love Jesus or you love the poor. Why would we have to choose one over the other? Jesus’ replies’ “Leave her alone” gets us back to the story. The Woman’s Bible Commentary says this story of the anointing anticipates there crucial parts of the remainder of the Gospel of John. “First, as Jesus words to Judas suggest, the anointing anticipates Jesus’ death and burial.” Later in secret, Jesus’ body was anointed by men, but here Mary anoints Jesus’ feet in front of everyone. This is the act of a servant. “Second, this anointing, in which Mary anoints Jesus’ feet rather than his head, anticipates the foot-washing in John 13:1-20.” Mary does for Jesus now what Jesus does for his disciples later. “Third, Mary’s anointing of Jesus anticipates the love commandment that Jesus will give his disciples. ‘I give you a new commandment that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another (13: 34-35)’” Mary is the first disciple to live out Jesus’ commandment, but she practices the commandment before Jesus gave it. Did Mary’s example give Jesus the idea of washing the disciples feet? Was Jesus so impressed with Mary’s acts discipleship that he follows by later washing the disciple’s feet? Were you surprised when Jesus defended Mary’s actions? What lessons can we learn from Mary? Mary would spare no expense. Mary’s anointing was a demonstration of gratitude, love and devotion. Did Mary do the right thing? Prayer: Lord. we see Mary as an example of what you expect of us as a disciple. Help us to live up to the standard that Mary has set for us.