THE ANOINTING AT BETHANY

John 12:1-8

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

Then Judas the Iscariot, one [of] his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?”

He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

Reflection:

Like so many characters in the stories of the Bible, Mary does not quite grasp the significance of her actions. We know and understand the path to Calvary that Jesus is about to undertake. However, she does not and unknowingly foreshadows His burial because the custom at the time was to anoint dead bodies in preparation for burials.

If Mary had waited until Jesus had died before anointing Him, nobody would have questioned the action, but Jesus teaches the significance of loving in the present moment. How can we embrace Jesus’ lesson and anoint those we love today in the present moment?

…..

NOW AVAILABLE - KINDRED BIBLES

KINDRED Bibles are beautiful presentations of biblical books designed for an accessible and reflective experience with Scripture. We invite you to experience the Word renewed. Preview the collection.