READING: John Ch 12 v 1-8

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 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. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 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. “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

SERMON

Many events took place during the last several days before Jesus died on Calvary. He had left the area some time before and had stayed in a rural area. Now, it was time for Jesus to take His last journey. He stopped at Bethany and was invited to a feast. That wasn’t the only thing that happened, as we have heard in the Gospel reading.

We can notice three major events in the text: first, an act of love, by Mary of Bethany; then an accusation, by Judas Iscariot; and an answer, by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. So let us look at these in more detail:

I An act of love, by Mary

John’s Gospel was careful to state that this supper, or feast, took place in Bethany, and that Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were there as part of this occasion. We’ve met these folks before: Mary and Martha, twice, and Lazarus, once.

Many of us are like Martha! She seemed to have a talent, for keeping the household running smoothly. But she did have a problem, once before remember, in that she was one of the very few who dared complain directly to Jesus! We don’t read anything about Lazarus, but we do notice Mary and Martha. Jesus was apparently teaching the Word of God to those who would listen.

You can almost hear Martha, stomping into the room where Jesus is teaching, and demanding, “Lord, tell my sister to help me!” I don’t know of anyone else who had the audacity or the gall to get into Jesus’ face and demand He help her!

But Martha seems to have had a change of heart. She’s still serving, but now she’s not demanding anything. She’s content, it seems, to be in the background, and to use her talents in the best possible way. And there is nothing wrong with that. There are any number of folks who don’t have the desire, the talent, or the ability, to be in an up-front position. But ask them to serve in a “behind the scenes” capacity and they’re there! May our Lord help us to realize that those who serve quietly are just as important as those who serve in a more visible position.

Lazarus was there, too, taking part of the supper. He’s only mentioned twice in Scripture, here and also in John Chapter 11. We do not have a record of one single word he uttered, certainly nothing about his death and resurrection from the dead. In fact, of all the people (7 at least) who were raised from the dead like Lazarus, according to the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit didn’t permit any of them to have their experiences recorded.

One final comment about Lazarus, in that he’s mentioned as basically eating with Jesus. Could it be that some, even though they saw the stone rolled away from his burial cave, and had heard Jesus say, “Lazarus, come forth!”, and had seen the burial wrappings or grave clothes removed, didn’t believe he was truly alive?

We not only see Lazarus and Martha, but we also see Mary, their sister. We had seen Mary of Bethany twice before, once listening to Jesus as He spoke, and speaking to Him through her tears just before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead

2 An Accusation, by Judas Iscariot

It’s really sad when even the best of deeds, done in love and genuine admiration of our Lord, are judged or evaluated in terms of money. True enough, we do need people who have the ability and talent to keep financial things in order, read and/or produce the financial documents we need, and so forth.

But we do need for these folks to get their eyes off the balance sheet or the budget, and get their eyes also focused on Jesus Christ! We’re not talking about pie-in-the-sky projects that may glorify only the leaders and there are plenty of those, all right.

There are times when many feel the Lord’s clear guidance, only to be told, “Nope, can’t afford it,” even when there’s money in the bank. Where is our faith? Is it in God, or in the budget?

Judas was apparently one of those who seemed to have had a fixation for money. What was the first thing he said, maybe the first words of his recorded in Scripture? “Why was this ointment wasted? We could have sold it for 300 denarii and given it to the poor!”

Now, Judas was right about the cost. Mary’s ointment was made of pure nard, an extract from a plant that didn’t grow in Palestine. Some commentators think that the ointment itself came from as far away as India but how it got from India to Palestine, we can but guess.

But he was certainly wrong about something more important than the cost, and that’s the motive, the driving purpose behind Mary’s act. Several times, Jesus had told the disciples, “They’re going to kill Me” but they didn’t seem to understand this not until later, as John recorded in his Gospel, and yet Mary of Bethany came to understand what was being said by Jesus? It really doesn’t matter how she knew but rather she knew that Jesus was going to die and her gift was an offering to show her love for Him. On a side note it’s interesting that when we compare the four gospels about who came to the empty tomb on Easter Sunday, Mary of Bethany wasn’t mentioned yet she understood the words of Jesus far better than anyone else did!

And even worse than being wrong about the motive, Judas planted a seed of greed or perhaps something similar. In a few days after this supper or banquet, Jesus went to another house where another woman anointed Him. And this time, it wasn’t Judas but the other disciples who began to grumble about the cost or the waste.

What a contrast: these women brought a sweet smelling gift to show their love for Jesus, but the disciples had a feeling about the money the sweet smelling gift could raise. Had they forgotten what Jesus had said early in His ministry, even on the Sermon on the Mount, that life was more than food and drink and clothing? How could they have sunk so far from those days?

But the worst thing of all was this: Judas was not only the treasurer of the group but John says he “he was the keeper of the bag, he also was a thief!” John also mentioned that he used to help himself to what was put in the bag. Therefore could Judas have had dreams on some bonuses or investments of his own?

Nobody knows what Judas was thinking. This supper was before he decided to betray Jesus for the 30 pieces of silver. Why was he more concerned about money, when the whole ministry of Jesus on this earth was about people?

3 An Answer from the Lord Himself

Mary perhaps was feeling the heat from those who refused to understand her deed. Her heart was heavy, I’m sure, realizing that Jesus meant what He said, in that He faced death, and only in a few days after this supper. And to have the people whom you thought were your friends, trying to verbally attack your deed of love, must have hurt her to the depths of her soul.

But Jesus was there! And He spoke, “Leave her alone!” He knew what Mary was doing, and why.

So in conclusion there are and will be times when our Lord asks us to do something that may not make sense. But don’t fear, just listen to the Lord. He knows the thoughts and desires of our hearts and will tell others “Leave him or her alone” because you or I might be doing something for the Lord which doesn’t need to be broadcast. May we be less like Judas, and more like Mary, in showing our love for the Lord. Amen

PRAYERS

Lord God – as we wait upon you now – as we listen for your voice in the silence of hearts and as we offer our prayers to you – we think of those people in our lives who have loved us with a generous love — we think of those who like Mary – have not counted the cost of what they have given us; of those who given all of themselves to us as Christ gave himself for the world; and we thank you for them – and ask you to bless them and for you to make us like them…..

Lord in your mercy Hear Our Prayer

As we go into this week, O God, help us to have a focus – a purpose – that is beyond that of just getting by; beyond that of just trying to make it through another week; show us we pray what you would have us do; reveal to us our own personal and unique ministry — and help us to do it….

Lord in your mercy Hear Our Prayer

Bless O God those in our midst and those around the world whom we name in our hearts before you at this time; we especially ask for those who are poor in the basic needs of daily living and for those who are poor in love

Lord in your mercy Hear Our Prayer

Hear our prayers for those who need your healing touch or a need for hope in their lives, for those who need justice, and those who require mercy. Lord, hear our prayers

Hear also Lord our prayers for those whom we now hold before you in our hearts……

Lord in your mercy Hear Our Prayer

We thank you God for hearing us – and for answering us – We thank you in the name of Jesus your Son and our Saviour

Merciful Father

Accept these prayers for the sake your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

And so we bind our prayers together in the words that Jesus taught his disciples

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, For ever and ever.
Amen

Revd Kevin
Associate Priest at St Wilfrid’s and St Thomas’