Lent 5

John 12:1-8

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

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I love this depiction of the passage. I see illuminated in it several emotions that Mary is feeling at this point. In one sense, she appears to be showing great reverence to Jesus, as she believes him to be the true Messiah. We see her bowing her head down low to the floor by Jesus' feet to honor him. Secondly, Mary also appears to be showing great maternal care over Jesus. She knows that Jesus has chosen a very arduous path, and one filled with grave danger. She caresses Jesus' feet with her hair and anoints them with perfume as a comfort and reassurance to Him in traveling this path. This scene is a very endearing one indeed. It is quite a comforting thought to me that Jesus would appreciate and find comfort in such an act, as it illuminates his humanity. To know that Jesus has fully experienced a human life, with all the fears, joys, and natural shocks that flesh is heir to, brings me close to my Savior. Knowing that my Savior did endure such human woes, brings a certain intimacy with Him when experiencing my own darker times.