Sunday 21 March 2010

Background

These events take place six days before the Passover, andusually at this time, people would be preparing for the festival.Jesus and the disciples were in Bethany at the home of Mary, Marthaand their brother Lazarus, who Jesus had recently raised from thedead (John 11:1-44).

Mary took nard (a very expensive oil), poured it on Jesus' feet andthen wiped his feet with her hair. This was a very unusual act. Notonly because it took place around a dinner table, but because suchperfume was usually poured on someone's head and wiped away withsome sort of cloth. A woman's hair was not meant to be loose inpublic, let alone used to wipe expensive oil from a man'sfeet.

Mary's simple act can be seen as erotic, intense and pleasurable,but it also showed humanity and a great deal of respect for Jesus.Her actions are used by the Gospel-writer John to highlight herempathy for Christ's death - as such perfume would normally be usedfor festivals and quite often for burials.

But this act did not go unnoticed and in particular upset JudasIscariot, the disciple who later went on to betray Jesus (John18:1-5). John adds a note that Judas' concern for the poordoesn't illustrate his compassion - it shows his dishonesty. Hereis a man who masquerades as a money bag keeper, but is accurately athief and would rather have the money for himself (verse 6).

But Jesus immediately comes to the defense of Mary by saying,"Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for theday of my burial".

To Ponder

How do we prepare a loved one for deathtoday?

What is the best way to say goodbye?

What do you think was Mary's intention in thisact?