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Monday 17th March
Anointing in the church is becoming more popular and I would
like to spend this morning mediating on the anointing of
Jesus 6 days before the Passover in Bethany. When the
country was lovely with greenness and flowers, Jesus came by
the Mount of Olives and stopped at Bethany perhaps for a
Sabbath rest.
Read John Chapter 12, Verses 1-11. The Supper at Bethany
Picture the scene. Jesus was at the house of Simon the leper
probably a person he had cured, and we have Martha serving
supper, and Lazarus whom he raised from the dead at table
with him, and it is Mary the sister of Martha, who brings
oil to anoint Jesus’ feet.
In a reclining position with their feet away from the table
the supper was being enjoyed by all the guests. Then Mary
undertakes a special act of kindness to Jesus which will be
remembered for many generations to come. She comes to anoint
Jesus, and probably would have used the usual receptacle for
very expensive perfumes which would be a flask of white
marble sealed at the neck. She broke the seal and then
poured the sweet smelling ointment upon Jesus’ feet and then
wiped His feet with her hair. The house would be filled with
the beautiful smell of the perfume. The perfume would be
made from fragrant odours and spices including spikenard
coming from the mountains of India.
You can see how to make holy oil in Exodus 30 22-33.
Was it wasteful? Judas Iscariot thought so. However, I would
like you to mediate on the kindness you have received from
other people, from your church community and from our Lord
in your lifetime. Think of the last time your Church or your
house was filled the grateful affection as happened at
Bethany.
In a world where many starve is it right to be extravagant,
or should we acknowledge that there are occasions when we
should be bountiful with our generosity in response to the
goodness of God?
It is interesting - Jesus did not rebuke Mary for her
kindness but rebukes Judas.
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