Thoughts for the Day

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.’

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Over the decades I have run many group workshops. This is one: A passage of scripture is read, say this story of Mary anointing Jesus' feet, and members are given different parts, eg Mary, Martha, Jesus, Judas or the disciples. The group are then asked to imagine what their character was thinking or feeling as the scene unfolds.

Mary: Is she overwhelmed with her need to thank Jesus for bringing her brother Lazarus back to life that she uses a costly pefume to anoint Jesus? It was a sign of honour to anoint someone's head, is anointing his feet a sign of humility? She wipes the oil with her hair - unbound hair was often the sign of a prostitute - does she even remember this?

Martha: She is the practical one. Hers is the task to oversee the house. She gives all that she has to Jesus by ensuring he and the others are well-fed. She has just declared Jesus to be 'the Messiah' (John 11.25-27) What are her thoughts and feelings about the scene and about Jesus' words?

Judas: He has already determined to betray Jesus, what are his real feelings about the use of the perfume? He has already stolen from the common purse, is he really concerned for the poor? What are his thoughts about Jesus?

Jesus: He defends Mary saying she is anointing him for his burial. Is his mind on the following week, on the ride into Jerusalem, the Passover, and his coming death?

Give a few moments think how one or two of these characters might feel about the scene, and about the words of Jesus.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You gave up Your life for us -
unselfishly and freely to save us from our sin.
May we offer You all that we have
just as Mary gave to You -
neither holding back nor limiting
what we give to You,
and especially in our worhsip this day.
Amen.