Holy Week began yesterday with Palm Sunday. These next four days, we will depart from Matthew for a bit to journey through the traditional Holy Week passages in John that lead us to Maundy Thursday. On Good Friday, we will pick back up with Matthew’s passion narrative.
John 12:1-11 | Hebrews 9:11-15 | Gospels in Lent Track: Matthew 19-20
What boldness from Mary of Bethany. We already remember her as the one who “neglected” other aspects of life to simply sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to his teaching. But here she takes sitting at his feet to a whole different level. How did she know that this act would prepare him for burial?
While Judas’ heart intentions were wrong, his words were not. At least, what he declared wouldn’t have been wrong if said at almost any other time. Jesus indeed has great concern for the poor and wants his followers to do the same. There is more than enough witness to this compassionate posture in the rest of Jesus’ teachings and actions.
But there are apparently times when right worship trumps the rest of it. Not all the time, but exceptional times.
Mary knew when.
John 12:1-11
Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Lazarus and his sisters hosted a dinner for him. Martha served and Lazarus was among those who joined him at the table. Then Mary took an extraordinary amount, almost three-quarters of a pound, of very expensive perfume made of pure nard. She anointed Jesus’ feet with it, then wiped his feet dry with her hair. The house was filled with the aroma of the perfume. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), complained, “This perfume was worth a year’s wages! Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would take what was in it.)
Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. This perfume was to be used in preparation for my burial, and this is how she has used it. You will always have the poor among you, but you won’t always have me.”
Many Jews learned that he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. The chief priests decided that they would kill Lazarus too. It was because of Lazarus that many of the Jews had deserted them and come to believe in Jesus.
Hebrews 9:11-15
But Christ has appeared as the high priest of the good things that have happened. He passed through the greater and more perfect meeting tent, which isn’t made by human hands (that is, it’s not a part of this world). He entered the holy of holies once for all by his own blood, not by the blood of goats or calves, securing our deliverance for all time. If the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkled ashes of cows made spiritually contaminated people holy and clean, how much more will the blood of Jesus wash our consciences clean from dead works in order to serve the living God? He offered himself to God through the eternal Spirit as a sacrifice without any flaw.
This is why he’s the mediator of a new covenant (which is a will): so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance on the basis of his death. His death occurred to set them free from the offenses committed under the first covenant.
Prayer
God,
As we’ve begun another Holy Week, lead us to know Christ crucified. Help us to hear the passion story with fresh ears and an open heart. Move us to identify with Christ in his suffering that we might rejoice in his victory.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.