Love expressed toward the Christ
John 12:1-8
Passover (1a) is one of the greatest festivals, commemorating God’s salvation from slavery in Egypt. When Pharaoh disobeyed God’s command to release the Israelites from the slavery, God sent plagues to Egypt until the Pharaoh surrendered. The last plague, that is, the 10th plague was the slaughter of the first-born. The Israelites were instructed to mark the sides and tops of doorframes of their houses with the blood of lamb and upon seeing this, the Spirit of the Lord passed over these homes without striking them with the plague.
Jesus was in Bethany near Jerusalem (1b). Mary came with an expensive perfume, made of pure nard; She poured it on the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair (3).
First of all, it was her expression of gratitude & love.
Second, it was preparation for the burial of Jesus (7). The woman might suffer at her heart due to the suffering Jesus would go through.
Third, the feet of those who bring good news deserve good care!
Isaiah 52:7 says
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, Your God reigns!
Amen!
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected (4), saying “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” (5). v6 explains that 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.
Here, we can see Judas Iscariot was a person of ‘self-seeking' (pursuing only one’s own ends or interests). Also he didn’t love Jesus.
But Jesus advocated her and said it was preparation for His burial (7).
In fact, Jesus was going to be crucified days later. This story has been written in every book of Gospel – the gospel of Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:1-11, Luke 7:36-50 and John 12:1-8. Jesus made what she did meaningful and have it remembered wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world.
Jesus accepts our love and makes it meaningful & remembered. How wonderful our Christ is!
