Walking in the Way of the Cross

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.

Our experience of the joy of the Easter celebration of the resurrection is made all the more powerful by the attention we give to these days of Holy Week. While emphasis is rightly placed on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, these first three weekdays are essential preparation for what follows.

Preparation is likewise a prominent theme in this portion of John 12. Jesus is in the home of his friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. The scene immediately follows the dramatic raising of Lazarus in John 11, and I think we are meant to note the contrast between Lazarus’ recent resurrection and Jesus’ impending crucifixion and death. Mary seems to be aware of the gravity of what awaits, and she proceeds to anoint Jesus with a precious and costly perfume, wiping his feet with her hair. The fragrance of the perfume fills the room, and we might imagine that some discomfort also filled the room as others witnessed what must have been a tender and intimate encounter between Mary and Jesus. Judas, the one who would betray him, gives voice to these concerns, questioning why the costly perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor. The text is quick to reject Judas’ question as one coming from a thief, who cared not for the poor but for himself. Jesus dismisses any concerns about the seemingly lavish act and orders them to leave Mary alone. She had bought the costly nard for his day of burial. Of course, Mary had clearly anticipated that day and anointed him for burial some six days before his body would be placed in the tomb.

Mary performed a loving act of preparation, anointing and adoring the one who knew the suffering that awaited him yet did not turn away from that path. He endured shame, suffering, and death for us. We approach that mystery in full on Friday, gathering at the foot of the cross to offer our worship and adoration to the one whose love for us is so great that it defies our understanding. In these early days of Holy Week, we are invited to preparation and reverent reflection on such wondrous love.

prayer

Almighty God, whose dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other that the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

—The Book of Common Prayer, p. 220