St John 12:1-11
This week, because of its special nature, the Thought for the Day will be a little longer than usual.
On this day, traditionally, the reading is as above. Much happens; Jesus shares lodgings at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary – Jerusalem being jam-packed and Bethany being one of the nearby villages designated for pilgrims up to the holy city for Passover. The character of two of Jesus followers comes into the light in this little story- Mary with her unsolicited, even reckless disregard for propriety, when she wiped Jesus feet with her hair and Judas with his severe criticism of her actions.
Mary had shown her utter devotion to Jesus by doing something completely inappropriate – the use of her hair in such a public and very questionable show of devotion in wiping Jesus feet. No respectable woman would have been seen with her hair down and loose and they certainly wouldn’t have been using their hair as a towel on a man who is not related in any way to her. It is an act of truly humble and devotional proportions and really rather extraordinary. Think for a minute! Would you ever conceive of doing what she did? It was scandalous but it was act of great love.
The other character upon whom a light shines in this story is that of Judas. This is a man who it would appear is trusted with the money but we are told he is a thief. This is a fairly brutal description and we have to ask if he was known as a thief why was he in charge of the funds? Was this discovered later or is it yet another charge against the man who was found to betray Jesus as if to confirm he was always a bad character. Ask yourself? Whatever is the case, he objects to the extravagance of Mary’s actions. One could object for a whole variety of reasons and not all of them completely negative. Jesus, in our passage, challenges the reasoning offered by Judas with the reply, and I say this colloquially, “Am I not worth it?” Jesus tells them the poor will always be with them – He won’t.
Then there is the little bit at the end about the crowd wanting to see Him but they also wanted to see Lazarus, raised from the dead. A large crowd would be trouble and the authorities could not risk any kind of trouble at this very sensitive point in their preparations for the Passover. They had already determined Jesus should die (see chapter 11) but now they needed to give rid of the evidence of Jesus work so Lazarus was to die also.
A short reading but loads in it. Take time to read it slowly again and maybe even again. You will see things you missed before.
This week, because of its special nature, the Thought for the Day will be a little longer than usual.
On this day, traditionally, the reading is as above. Much happens; Jesus shares lodgings at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary – Jerusalem being jam-packed and Bethany being one of the nearby villages designated for pilgrims up to the holy city for Passover. The character of two of Jesus followers comes into the light in this little story- Mary with her unsolicited, even reckless disregard for propriety, when she wiped Jesus feet with her hair and Judas with his severe criticism of her actions.
Mary had shown her utter devotion to Jesus by doing something completely inappropriate – the use of her hair in such a public and very questionable show of devotion in wiping Jesus feet. No respectable woman would have been seen with her hair down and loose and they certainly wouldn’t have been using their hair as a towel on a man who is not related in any way to her. It is an act of truly humble and devotional proportions and really rather extraordinary. Think for a minute! Would you ever conceive of doing what she did? It was scandalous but it was act of great love.
The other character upon whom a light shines in this story is that of Judas. This is a man who it would appear is trusted with the money but we are told he is a thief. This is a fairly brutal description and we have to ask if he was known as a thief why was he in charge of the funds? Was this discovered later or is it yet another charge against the man who was found to betray Jesus as if to confirm he was always a bad character. Ask yourself? Whatever is the case, he objects to the extravagance of Mary’s actions. One could object for a whole variety of reasons and not all of them completely negative. Jesus, in our passage, challenges the reasoning offered by Judas with the reply, and I say this colloquially, “Am I not worth it?” Jesus tells them the poor will always be with them – He won’t.
Then there is the little bit at the end about the crowd wanting to see Him but they also wanted to see Lazarus, raised from the dead. A large crowd would be trouble and the authorities could not risk any kind of trouble at this very sensitive point in their preparations for the Passover. They had already determined Jesus should die (see chapter 11) but now they needed to give rid of the evidence of Jesus work so Lazarus was to die also.
A short reading but loads in it. Take time to read it slowly again and maybe even again. You will see things you missed before.