John 12:1-11
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.
Reflection
The crowd came to see Jesus and Lazarus. In Jesus we see healing, teaching, miracles, salvation, passion and love. We see a man that is driven by something greater. In Jesus we see a person that has a different view of the person in need. Jesus values the small people and the lowly people just as much as he values the rich and powerful people. Jesus seems to draw all of the people to himself with a passion of love.
In Lazarus, we see healing from death. Now, how can this be? Does this mean that death is only temporary? We see Lazarus and witness a person that was dead long enough to be dead for sure. Yet, Jesus still brought Lazarus out of the tomb. Does this imply that there is life after the tomb? How the crowd, the leaders, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the politicians of the day must have feared Jesus with this notion.
If Jesus could raise people from the dead, what else might he be able to do. Could Jesus really be the Messiah? What kind of Messiah might Jesus be? Would Jesus be one to take away all of the power and authority of the people? Would Jesus be one to punish all people for the sins they had committed?
Or perhaps would Jesus be the one that we kneel before with our best offering and in humility offer ourselves to him in love? Yes, Martha and Mary show us how to love Jesus. We love Jesus in service to him and to those God has given to us. We love Jesus in adoration with our best perfume. In the serving of Jesus in humility with an offering of perfume, we wipe the hair of our head on the feet of Jesus. As we serve and love Jesus we also become an example of serving one another. And we serve other's because we love Jesus so deeply and passionately that we could not help but to do anything else.
Jesus seems to draw all of the people to himself with a passion of love.
Prayer
Father; I give you thanks for Jesus. The flesh and blood of a Savior. Take my very best... take my life... that I may serve you and those you give to me with the passion and love that you have shown to all the world. May all your people serve... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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