"Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair" - John 12:3
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John 12: 1 -26
Mary Anoints Jesus
1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 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. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 'Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and the money given to the poor?' 6 (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.) 7 Jesus said,' Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.'
The Plot to Kill Lazarus
9 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. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.
Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,
'Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!'
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:
15 'Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!'
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. 17 So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. 18 It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. 19 The Pharisees then said to one another, 'You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!'
Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.' 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.
Reflecting on the Gospel passage, recounting the days leading up to Jesus' arrest, including the excited crowd waving palms and shouting "Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the LORD – the King of Israel. The entire account portrays the inconstancy and deceptions of the human heart. This is in stark contrast to the steadfastness and single-minded focus of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Lord looks straight into our sinful hearts and knows that all of us are floundering in sin. He had steadfastly walked the painful, blood-stricken road to Calvary, paying for the sins of every man, woman and child who acknowledges Him as personal LORD and Saviour. As St. Paul wrote insightfully in Romans 3:23-24: "since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Our Lord's open sharing to His disciple about the impending sacrifice of our Lord. He obediently subjected Himself to God's will and received the cup of God's wrath as the perfect redemption price for humanity's sins. As St. John wrote so beautifully in John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life".
As I reflected on my life before and after knowing Jesus, it brings tears of deep gratitude how a sinless Saviour could die for a sinner like me. But this is exactly why our LORD Jesus came to Earth. He didn't come to Earth to enjoy a privileged life of royalty. In fact He was so humble that the King of kings was born in a lowly animal feed trough surrounded by farm animals and His parents.
Therefore, what is my response to this undeserved mercy and grace of God, paid with Jesus' blood? Will my response be an extravagant love, like Mary who anointed Jesus' feet with a pound of pure nard (worth a year's wages)? Or will I be calculative like Judas (who betrayed his Master for the lowly price of a slave)? Or will I be like the nameless crowd who sing joyful praises of Jesus when things are going well, and yet spit on the face of our Lord during His trials and execution? Or am I like the religious leaders, with hearts poisoned by jealousy and religious pride, unable to even recognize the face of God's Son who walked in their midst?
Can I adopt the right attitude of St. Paul who wrote wonderful epistles of great encouragements and joy from behind prison bars, and shared the secrets of his joy and contentment amidst life's trials. In Philippians 4:10-13: "I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. "
I will end my reflection with this reflection question for all of us including, myself: "What is my response to God's extravagant love for me?"
Let me end with a beautiful worship song by Sovereign Grace reminding us to turn our eyes upon Jesus, "Turn Your Eyes"
Turn Your Eyes
Verse 1
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Verse 2
Turn your eyes to the hillside
Where justice and mercy embraced
There the Son of God gave His life for us
And our measureless debt was erased.
Chorus
Jesus, to You we lift our eyes
Jesus, our glory and our prize
We adore You, behold You, our Savior ever true
Oh Jesus, we turn our eyes to You
Verse 3
Turn your eyes to the morning
And see Christ the Lion awake
What a glorious dawn, fear of death is gone
For we carry His life in our veins
Verse 4
Turn your eyes to the heavens
Our King will return for His own
Every knee will bow, every tongue will shout,
'All glory to Jesus alone!'
Copyright
CCLI Song # 7120053
Song writers: George Romanacce | Kevin Winebarger | Nathan Stiff | Nic Trout
© 2019 Sovereign Grace Praise (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook)) Sovereign Grace Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook)) Sovereign Grace Worship (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook)) For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 167739
Original words (v1) and music by Helen H. Lemmel
Reflection by Chris Tan on John 12:1-26
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