Mary anoints Jesus
by Neil Bergmann
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‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial’ (John 12:7).
Read John 12:1–11
Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with the perfume she had been saving for his burial. Did Mary know that Jesus was on an inevitable path to arrest, trial and execution in the next few days? Did she believe this would be the last time she would see him before he was arrested? Why did she use the perfume to anoint Jesus now rather than wait for his burial?
In the stories leading up to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, many of his friends and disciples don’t know how to react. What should they do? Can they stop what seems inevitable? Can they change Jesus’ mind? I believe Mary is also at a loss about what to do. So she seeks to comfort Jesus and acknowledge his kingship.
However, in anointing Jesus with perfume, she also acknowledges that Jesus is the king of a very different kingdom. Rather than stand above Jesus and anoint his head as one would for an earthly king, she kneels and anoints Jesus’ feet. She emphasises the servant nature of the heavenly kingdom.
We also are continually faced with the question of what we should do as children of the light now that Jesus has done everything needed for our salvation. We can do nothing more to secure eternal life. Jesus has done it all.
So instead, we can wonder what to do now to live most fully in Jesus’ new kingdom. Mary gives us some guidance. We can acknowledge Jesus as Lord and King, but not like any other king. This is not the king of glory – it is a king crucified and suffering. This is a humble king, the king of the poor, the king of the lowly, the servant king.
We are asked to model ourselves, our actions, and our priorities on Jesus. By doing so, we join him in his heavenly kingdom, here and now, wherever we are.
Hosanna! Blessed is the king of Israel! Guide us to live as servants of each other in your counter-cultural, upside-down kingdom of heaven. Amen.
Neil Bergmann is currently the chair of Lutheran Earth Care, Australia and New Zealand. After retiring, he recently completed a research Master of Theology at Flinders University, Adelaide, on eco-theology. He worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale, Queensland.
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