Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: Psalm 36:5-11 and John 12:1-11

This week we pause on our journey through 1 Samuel and Psalms to focus on moments from the final week before Jesus’ crucifixion.

John 12 records a beautiful encounter between Mary and Jesus at a feast held in His honour in Bethany. Most likely they were celebrating Jesus having raised Lazarus from the dead. Yet while everyone’s minds would have been firmly focussed on His recent miracle, Jesus’ own thoughts would surely have been preoccupied with the future that was about to unfold for Him in Jerusalem in the next few days. He knew all too clearly the trauma and pain that lay ahead.

What Mary did at that meal was a profound act of love towards Jesus. If we will ponder it carefully, it will reveal a number of important aspects of Christian love to which we should aspire. So perhaps, before you read any further, take a few moments of silence to contemplate what this scene whispers to you about the way we ought to love others.

Firstly, love is attentive. No one else noticed Jesus’ inner turmoil, but Mary was clearly paying attention. It’s sobering to consider how many ministry opportunities we miss because we simply aren’t paying attention. Ask the Lord: Help me to be particularly attentive today? Help me to notice those who need my undivided attention? Lord give me the grace to offer it to them.

Secondly, love is humble. It would have been an even greater honour to Jesus to have had His head anointed (Remember Psalm 23:5, “You anoint my head with oil”?) But Mary would not allow herself the honour of standing before Him to anoint His head. Instead, she humbled herself and knelt to anoint His feet, and then dirtied her hair in drying them. She brought herself low, and loved Jesus with a servant-hearted love. Ask the Lord: Is there someone who will need my humble service today? When I meet them, help me to see how I can serve them, and give me the grace to serve them well.

Thirdly, love is generous. This half litre of pure nard probably represented the greater part of Mary’s life savings, yet she held nothing back. She poured it all out on Jesus’ feet. She took what she had and she met a need no one else had even noticed. As Jesus defends Mary’s actions, He interprets them as having been intended by God to prepare Him for burial. Were it not for the extent of Mary’s generosity, the aroma would have worn off quickly. But one imagines that the fragrance of a half litre of powerfully aromatic nard would still have lingered on Jesus’ skin for days on end. Perhaps as Jesus hung on the cross He would occasionally have noticed, between the smell of blood and sweat, the aroma of Mary’s love carried on a breeze, wafting up fom his bleeding feet into His nostrils. And if so, then even on the cross, Mary’s generous love was still ministering to Him. Ask the Lord: To whom shall I show the generosity of Your love today? Help me to see their need and how I can meet it; and please give me the grace to dig deep and meet their needs in Your love.

Lord Jesus, as I enter this week of reflection, prayer and worship, please draw close to Me and give me the grace to encounter You in the people I meet, to hear You in the conversations I have, and to find You in the silence of my solitary moments. In Your holy Name I pray. Amen.