The Week That Changed The World Devotional March 9

JOHN 12:1-8 | 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 reclining with him. ³ Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s 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 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.”

This is John’s version of the anointing with nard. We learn that “the woman” in Mark is Mary, sister to Lazarus and Martha. The raising of Lazarus just before has heightened tensions and will help precipitate action against Jesus. The person who objects to Mary’s generosity is also named by John—Judas. In John’s view, Judas was insincere in his wish for the ointment to be sold and money given to the poor. This was a cover for pilfering from the common purse, for he was treasurer for the 12. But it also indicates a deeper truth—Judas did not value Jesus as Mary did.

When have you been insincere?

Gracious God,

Let my words be genuine reflections of my heart and values, not a cover for a secret agenda.

Amen.