John 12:1-8
1Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him. 3Mary 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. 4But 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.) 7Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
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There have been times in my life and work when people want to know what I believe. Do you believe in the virgin birth? Do you believe in the resurrection? Do you believe Jesus is the only son of God? Do you believe every word of the Bible is true? But believing in John’s Gospel is far more often a verb, not a noun. No one “has” belief in John’s Gospel. No one “has” faith. For John, believing in Jesus means trusting that he comes from God.
So what does love look like when it’s a verb and not a noun? It’s a week before Passover, John says, Mary and Martha have decided to give a dinner for Jesus. Brother Lazarus is there, though he does not say a word. Judas Iscariot is there. After supper, Mary takes a pound of perfume, pours it on Jesus’ feet, and wipes his feet with her hair.
Whatever anyone else in the room thought about what Mary was doing, Jesus knew it could mean only one thing. The only man who had his feet anointed was a dead man, and Jesus knew it. “Leave her alone,” he said, “just leave her alone and let her do her job.”
Writing the scene down so long afterward, John chose the verb “wipe” to describe what Mary did with her hair. And when it came time, on the night before Jesus died, to choose the verb for what Jesus did to his disciples’ feet, John chose the same verb, “Jesus wiped.” “You don’t know what I’m doing,” he said to his disciples that night. But later… you will understand.” Here, the doing comes first. The understanding comes later. The love comes first. The belief follows.
Here is a good Lenten reminder: if you’re still waiting for complete understanding to come (and aren’t we all?), if you’re not sure what you believe, take heart. You have plenty of company, and you know what? There’s plenty to do. Feed my sheep. Wash one another’s feet. Receive whom I send. Love one another as I have loved you. Mary got the message. It’s a good word for us.
Prayer: “Eternal God, open our hearts to be transformed by the new thing you are doing, that our lives may proclaim the goodness of your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
–Pastor Mark Nelson