we see and hear what we hadn’t seen or heard before.
That’s what makes the Bible
such
a unique book!:)
John 12,
we are entering the last week of Jesus’ life
and this
story of the anointing of Jesus in Bethany
at Simon the Leper’s house sets the stage for what would happen
in that last week on earth.
In the other gospel’s versions of this story,
we find other aspects emphasized.
Today’s reading, however, emphasizes the
contrast between Mary and the Disciples
and their grasp of
Jesus’ words and actions.
We see Mary presented by John
as insightful and devoted to Jesus,
sitting at His feet,
listening to His words and responding
with love.
She recognizes that Jesus feet were dirty from
His journey that day and wanted to do what servants
generally did in the middle eastern households,
wash the traveler’s feet.
Instead of using a basin of water from the well and a cloth,
she obtains her alabaster flask.
Alabaster was a white, semi-transparent stone
used to hold
precious and costly ointments and perfumes.
The flask contained Nard,
which was a highly aromatic ointment
used for
anointing priests and kings, anointing the wealthy for burial,
or a gift for a king.
Nard
was made from a plant that grew in the
Himalayan Mountains; it was difficult to obtain
and extremely expensive
Its cost was, according to today’s reading, 300 denari.
The typical daily wage of a worker in that time
would have been 1 denari.
It was worth an
entire year’s wages!
Mary broke the flask, probably the neck of
it as it would
have been constructed to only let a drop at a time fall out,
so that it could
flow freely
over both Jesus’ feet and His head.
This action alone shows
that Mary had great insight
as to
who Jesus was
and
His mission on earth.
1) She saw Him as King.
The very next day He would ride into Jerusalem on the
donkey proclaiming Himself as King.
2) She saw Him as Priest.
He was soon to make atonement for the people as a priest,
standing between them and God.
3) She saw Him as the One soon to die and
in need of anointing for burial.
He would provide for her.
The result of her devotion – the fragrance filled the room!
She sacrificed
her costliest possession for Him;
He was soon
to sacrifice His all for her and
the whole world!
Mary listened and heard,
watched and took
all that Jesus said and did and
acted from her heart.
The disciples heard and observed, but
didn’t really see and hear.
Mary made the issue Jesus, they made
the issue the poor!
Do you suppose that
Mary’s wholehearted devotion
to Jesus
made them uncomfortable?
I have often observed that devoted people
make
religious folks uncomfortable. It’s alright to
be “devoted”
to a hobby or your favorite sport,
but if you’re devoted to Jesus you are a “fanatic”. Why?
It shines the light on their own lack of spiritual priorities.
It’s very convicting to be
in the presence of a devoted follower of Jesus.
Mary knew
that her significance and her security
in this life was
in
Jesus Christ
For the disciples, especially Judas,
security and significance
were still
anchored on this earth.
They failed to really see and really hear
and were totally
unprepared for the reality that was to
occur just days from then.