Six Days Away

John 12.1-11

¹ Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour.  Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.  ³ 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.  ⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?  It was worth a year’s wages.”  ⁶ 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.  ⁷ “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied.  “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.  ⁸ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”  ⁹ Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.  ¹⁰ So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, ¹¹ for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

I see how we might have missed it if we were sitting in the room.  There is so much to focus on.  A dinner honouring Jesus.  Lazarus is there.  We see the reminders that Jesus has raised him from the dead.  The room is now filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  We know well the way strong scents, whether good or bad, can overwhelm our senses.  We understand the cost of the perfume and the contradiction of the plight of the poor, of whom many are represented in the followers of Jesus.

So when Jesus speaks, it is easy to refute the complaints of Judas.  He speaks of the poor.  Jesus says that they will always have the poor among them.  And it would be easy to pass by the fact that Jesus speaks of his death.  Even as he mentions his being anointed for his burial and his statement that they will not always have him with them.  And we have it even easier to see this.  John reminds us that this is six days before the Passover and we have read the stories enough to know that Jesus will soon be arrested, tried and crucified.

As we have entered this week between Palm Sunday and Easter, often referred to as Holy Week, we should keep our eyes open for all that is taking place.  Seeing the things that take place in these stories of Jesus in final week.  We will look at a few over these days together.  Seeing how Jesus continues to enter into our lives, as we saw with the Palm Sunday entrance yesterday.  Where is Jesus before us each day?  Seeing how we enter the lives of others as the presence of Christ for them.  How do we bring the grace of Christ into the lives of people?

It may have been missed in the moment, but John remembered and recorded these interactions so that we can see and hear Jesus in these days.  John’s gospel has 21 chapters.  10 of them are from the last week of Jesus’ life through the resurrection.  He wants us to see Jesus in these days and hear the grace coming, which has been given to us already.  John says it is time to dwell on these few days and see Jesus approach the cross for us.  It is time for us to lament our turning away, our rebellion, our ignoring him for so long.  It is time to look at Jesus in our midst now.

Song – Be Still My Soul

Prayer

Lord, we have denied you by refusing to know you.  We have betrayed you by keeping our distance.  We have mocked you by pretending we are not yours.  Lord, we are lost; let your forgiveness find us.  Welcome us into your strong, forgiving arms and let us feel reconciled again.  Amen.