Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Reflections of the Holy Week - Part 3

Several days before Jesus' death, a woman showed her deep reverence and love for Jesus in a rather strange, but beautiful way. Read John 12:1-8:

"Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.  

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.



But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.

 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

'Leave her alone,' Jesus replied. 'It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.  You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.'"

~

The bottle of perfume Mary used would have cost a year's wages in that day. Most likely, she took her most expensive possession and used it to honor her Saviour. What is your most precious possession and would you give it up to honor Jesus? 



Secondly, Mary used her glory. . . her hair . . . to wipe the perfume off his feet. Can you imagine using your long hair to wipe a man's feet? How humbling that must have been! How have you recently expressed our love and deep gratitude to Jesus?