JOHN 12: 1-8

Jottings on John…Lent 5…New 2019

[Next week back to Laterally Luke!]

“Do you know what Mary’s done? You know, that Mary! Lazarus’ & Martha’s sister! Haven’t you heard? That hussy has been & washed this Jesus’ fellow’s feet! That chap who’s always hanging out at their place! She’s actually gone & washed His feet! Not only that, she’s gone so far as to let her hair down in company & then dry His feet with her hair! Scandalous stuff! Pity Lazarus doesn’t run as strict a family as his father did when he & their mother were still alive!

Bethany’s calmed down a bit now since this Jesus brought Lazarus back from death a few days back. We’re still trying to come to terms with that, when there comes this new whammy! This new buzz in the air. This feet washing & hair drying business starts things up all over again about that family! I’d never have thought of Mary as being a hussy before, but now she’s brought her family & our village well & truly into disrepute! All over again. After what this Jesus has done for Lazarus!”

Whatever else happens at Bethany that day, in anointing Jesus, Mary, one of His closest friends, Celebrates Jesus; Marks Him out for whom He is; Proclaims within her family & to some others (inc. Judas, who’s there, too) whom Jesus actually is; Prophesies what’s going to happen Him; Declares her personal faith & trust in Jesus. Puts her own standing in the community at risk by not only washing Jesus feet, but drying them with her hair! With Compassion!

Drawing closer to Palm Sunday & Holy Week as we are, there are a few sermon starters above, & no doubt you can think of more. Such as, what kind of King Jesus is committed to being when He enters Jerusalem, knowing full well the consequences of the actions He’s taking. That He’s already raised His old friend Lazarus confirms His own confidence in God’s ability to raise Him, too, ‘on the third day’. And, the love & compassion we’re challenged to show to others as lovingly as Mary cares for Jesus.

When Jesus dies in Jerusalem, there’s not going to be any opportunity for anointing or any other funerary rites, so what Mary does here are the real thing. There will be no other. Are there things we need to do for Jesus in life now, that no-one else is go-ing to do for Him if we don’t? How good are we at seizing opportunities to serve God through serving others? Even if & when it causes others to turn their noses up at us?

Brian 

Afterthought: It’s important we keep the Jesus story & the Jesus stories up to date in today’s world. By our own equivalents of Mary’s foot-washing & drying; of her  loving & serving selflessly. By our own confidence in God’s provident care for both served & serving. Is our congregation a committed carer for those for whom no one else cares for in our community? Or would that outlaw us, too?