John 12

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to 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^[a] 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.

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.^[b]” 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,^[c] but you will not always have me.”

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 believing in him.

Next to the Day of Atonement, there is no higher, no holier day in the calendar for the Jews than is Passover, for it commemorates the day of rescue in which God brought His people out of slavery, out of Egypt. It is well told by Hollywood and the story from that perspective seems to be around Moses and their leaving Egypt and much of that is true. But the day of atonement and the story to be told is that God forgives, God saves – God rescues!

Mary comes as one who knows that it is to be forgiven. She understands the price of being rescued. She is grateful, very grateful. She does something that no one understands and certainly no one expected. She spends a fortune to buy oil to anoint the feet of Jesus. The aroma so fills the room that it catches the attention of all. John records that later on Juda objects. But that objection is a distraction. Jesus understands her motivation and praises her.

The aroma of this perfume would last all week. It would go with Jesus from Bethany to Jerusalem and right into the house of Caiaphas, the palace of Pilate, and the hill of Calvary. And Jesus points out that her action would be told around the world and through the ages.

Jesus understood her motivation.

There will be another moment like this in Holy Week. It will come on Mount Calvary. Three crosses will be erected and of course Jesus, beaten and mocked will be on the center cross. Next to him a thief, who understanding that his actions brought about his punishment he turns to Jesus, “remember me when you come into your kingdom”.

And Jesus knowing the sincerity of his heart responds, “today you will be with me in paradise”.

In this Holy Week, let our hearts be searched and to allow our motivation to be His follower to be pure, one of submission that God Himself will have time to respond to our heart.