April 3

Sunday, April 3, 2022

John 12: 1-8

In the past, when I’ve heard or read this passage, I’ve focused on Judas’ response regarding the cost of the perfume.  But when I read this passage today, Mary’s actions jumped out at me, or rather Mary’s intuitiveness.  Mary, it seems, is a listener.  Somehow, in all her interactions with Jesus, she understands what’s really about to happen to him.  She knows he’s going to die, so she does something drastic; she anoints Jesus with a very expensive jar of perfume.  This boggles my mind.  There are all of these followers, spiritual leaders, priests, and disciples following Jesus, hanging on his every word.  And yet Mary seems to be the only one who actually believes him when he says he’s about to die.  What did she know or understand that most of his other followers didn’t?  All I can guess is that she was drinking in every one of Jesus’ words. And by doing this, she understood better than most, that their friend, their teacher, their Messiah, was about to die, and she took action.

This makes me wonder how close I’m really listening to God in my life.  I whole-heartedly believe that God speaks to each and every one of us through scripture, nature, worship, music, friends, strangers, work and more.  I just have to pay attention and listen. 

Reflection by Becky Hansell