Anointed to Serve

John 12:1-11 (NIV)
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. 


Jesus goes back to his friends home for a dinner to honor him.  Lazarus' resurrection wasn't what created the friendship, that was there before Lazarus died and Jesus came back to bring him back to life.  Mary and Martha, along with Lazarus, form the nucleus of what seems to be his closest friends while not being his direct disciples.
When Jesus shows up for the dinner in his honor, so do his disciples.
So there are at least 17 people there, probably more.

"Martha Served"...

Martha was taken back once before when Jesus told her to relax about Mary's desire to sit at his feet while she did the work.  It was a mild rebuke but this time around there is none of that.

Martha served...not with a "why-do-I-have-to-do-everything" attitude; but because she was filled with joy and wanted to do what she did for Jesus.

We sometimes get the wrong idea about "Martha's".  We're told in scripture that when we do what we do "as unto the Lord", we are worshiping.  There's no song being sung, no hands being raised, no eyes closed, or maybe even prayers being said.  Cooking a meal, doing laundry, changing oil, cleaning, etc...all are worthy acts of worship when done "as unto the Lord".

I love the plaque over the kitchen I once read:  "Divine Service held here three times daily".

There was an anointing with oil by her sister that we'll deal with tomorrow, but today, let's honor the Martha's whose anointing it is to serve.

Peace