¹Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. ²"But not during the festival," they said, "or the people may riot." ³While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. ⁴Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? ⁵It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. ⁶"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." ¹⁰Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.

Mark 14:1-10

He had always liked Bethany.  It was friendly, and quiet, and He had friends there. 

Tonight, the burden of the tired feeling is somewhat lifted, for he is among friends and sharing the fellowship and love of their table. 

 He senses her come to Him, her hands holding the alabaster jar.  And He hears her break the jar and feels the sensation of the perfume run over His head and down His body as He closes his eyes.  And instead of being angry, a smile - there were far too few of them this week – a smile comes sweetly across His gentle face.

 The others at the table, however, react in horror.  “What a waste of perfectly good perfume.  Think of the money we could have had.”

 Slowly he opens his eyes and looks at them.  And once again the sadness and exhaustion return.  They still do not understand.  And so as always, in His heart He shares the moment with His Father.  "Abba Father, thank you for the beautiful acts of this woman.  She has given me a gift in preparation for what lies ahead.  Never will she be forgotten."  Finally, one who understands, and openly admits it.  But still not the others.

 But they would, soon enough.  For at that moment, He knows that Judas is on his way to the chief priests, and He knows that all is falling into place.  The week is fast coming to a close . . .

"Father, Help us to understand, in our hearts, the true meaning of this week.  In Jesus' name, AMEN."

Grace,

Rev. Dan