Day 24 - The Journey to the Cross - 1

Today we begin to look at the last few days of Jesus' life on earth. The reading for today is from John 12: 1 - 11...

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
3 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.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."
6 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.
7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

It's just six days before Good Friday and Jesus knows that the authorities are out to get him, but he still returns to Bethany (just two miles from Jerusalem) to visit his friends: Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Mary's act of anointing Jesus with the perfumed oil and with her hair, seems quite unusual for any of us today. We can't imagine feeling comfortable in a scene like that...and neither did all of the disciples. But the focus is on Judas...who we know by now is looking for an opportunity to give Jesus over to the authorities.

Mary's act is a prophetic one. She is doing it as an act of love for Jesus. She is doing nothing more than declaring her love and gratitude for all that he has done, as well as all that he is. Her loving act fills the house with a smell that reminds everyone of the "fragrance of Christ". Mary is smiling because she is giving all that she can to Jesus...Judas is frowning, hiding, scheming, because he has decided to go his own way and get what he can for himself.

Two acts, two people, two attitudes, two different directions in their lives. Which will it be for us? We may not have bottles of perfume to pour over Jesus' feet...we do have out mind, our heart, our will, our devotion to give.

Subtlety, but never-the-less important...Jesus is surrounded by friends...Judas is in a private world that has none but the enemy around him.

The journey to the cross begins with friendship...a decision on Jesus' part to spend some time with his friends before the week unfolds. Our lives are lived for some purpose, for someone...let it be for real life.

Peace

If you're reading through the-bible-in-a-year with me, read 2 Samuel 8, 9, 10, 11, 12