Stinky feet
by Darren Pope
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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 (John 12:3).
In my early teens, I sprinkled powder in my shoes and sprayed deodorant under my toes. But no matter what I tried, it never seemed to help make a difference. I had stinky feet!
The blokes who hung out with Jesus each day were rough-and-tumble kind of guys. They came from all walks of life. Most of them had hands and feet that told the story of a lifetime spent doing hard physical work.
When they scrubbed up to go out for a meal, they did their best to be a bit fancy by washing their body, hands and hair. There was no point in washing their feet because after walking barefoot on dusty tracks all day, dirt had ingrained itself into every fold of skin. It was wedged under their toenails and crammed into the crusty cracks of their heels and souls like tattooed veins. Jesus’ feet were the same. While this bunch of blokes reclined around the table together, yarning, eating and drinking, an unpleasant undercurrent wafted from below the table. Everyone had stinky feet!
In a seemingly simple act, Mary washed Jesus’ feet and used her hair. Was this normal? It stirred up the crew that had gathered together, especially when she used some really special and expensive perfume to do the job!
Symbolically, Mary points forward to Jesus’ crucifixion and burial, but more importantly, lavishing Jesus’ feet with such a beautiful scent during this moment highlights the reality that he will always be a living Saviour, rather than buried and forgotten.
No doubt, after his feet were cleaned and perfumed, there was a very different aroma pervading the room as it slowly seeped into the senses and experiential memories of each disciple. When Jesus retired for the evening, the scent was with him. The essence of Christ was precious, tangible and shared with many.
The journey of passion heralds the coming of a new aroma, a new era of kingship that is precious, tangible and shared with many. God comes to us day after day, in Christ, and works through us in his world as we serve in response to his unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness. By grace, we are washed clean each day. And even with our stinky feet, the scent of Christ goes with us as we travel our journey and influence others as gentle witnesses … ‘you will always have poor among you’.
Be the perfume of Christ.
May the feet of God walk with you, and his hand hold you tight.
May the eye of God rest on you, and his ear hear your cry.
May the smile of God be for you, and his breath give you life.
May the Child of God grow in you, and his love bring you home.
— lyrics Aub Podlich, music Robin Mann, 1983
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