Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.

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Read

John 12:1-11 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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.

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Reflect

In today’s passage, we notice that Mary took a costly perfume and poured it on to Jesus’ feet. When Mary had done this Judas Iscariot began to question why she had done so. Judas Iscariot believed that Mary should have sold the costly perfume for money.

Now when I think about this passage I begin to think that Mary did this pouring of the perfume on Jesus’ feet as a way to show thanks and appreciation to him. The reason why I say this is because Jesus tells Judas Iscariot to leave her alone in verse seven of today’s text.

How can this text relate to us as children of God? Some of the ways that we show thanks to the Lord will not always make sense to those around us. Just like we all worship in different ways, we also show our thanks for the blessings we have received differently. So even if those around you do not understand why you give thanks the way you do, please do not stop. Remember who and why you are giving thanks too. Let us always give thanks unto the Lord for the things he has done for us. For us, giving God thanks is our way of showing our appreciation for the things he as done for us.

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Pray

Dear heavenly Father thank you for your word today. Please allow us the strength and courage to always show you our thanks for the things you have done for us. We ask these things in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.

Go with God!