Saturday 12 August 2023

Psalm 98

Background

Jesus takes a risk and goes out for dinner with his friends in Bethany. Chapter 11 ended with the Chief Priest and Pharisees looking for Jesus so they could arrest him. They gave orders that anyone who knew his whereabouts should report to them.Up to this point, to avoid arrest, Jesus, according to John, had been staying in Ephraim (possibly modern Et-Taiyibeh/Taibe in north-eastern Israel). Now with the Passover festival approaching and the end of Jesus' life getting ever closer, he begins his final days with friends. Wanting perhaps a last chance to relax and a time to say goodbye are very human traits.

With Lazarus relaxing at the table and Martha busy serving, Mary approaches Jesus and pours perfume on his feet, filling the house with the sweet aroma that symbolised her humble devotion and love. The perfume was made from crushing and distilling the Nard plant into a thick oil. This plant came from India and the perfume and plants had been used in Jerusalem for centuries (see Song of Solomon 4:12-13). Nard was always used in its pure form and never diluted, and this is what made it so expensive. Mary's gift was worth a year’s wages, according to Judas.

There is lots of symbolism in Mary using her hair to wipe Jesus’ feet. Her hair would have been ‘her glory’ and to use it in this way would have been frowned upon. It might also be seen as over familiar, especially since Jesus was an unmarried and well known Rabbi. The fact that Mary was willing to give so much to Jesus demonstrates just how much love she had for him.

Judas does not appreciate this symbolic act, although I am sure that he was not the only one. He is probably singled out and mentioned because of how he later betrayed Jesus.

To Ponder:

• We do not hear from Lazarus, whom Jesus had brought back from the dead. We only hear about him. His unforeseen fame is bringing him to the attention of the authorities, and he joins their list of people to be killed. I wonder what Lazarus thought about this unexpected fame and deadly attention?
• In this fragrance-filled passage we read that Mary gives all she had to Jesus, regardless of the financial cost or what people thought of her. We are all called to give things to Christ. Would you be willing to give everything to him in the manner of Mary, or would you hesitate?

Prayer

Guiding God, show us the way to move forward so that we can fully serve you in the way you have called us. Show us what we have to give to you and what we have to leave behind, and give us the strength and courage we need to make the changes you need. Amen.