John 12:1-8 (NRSV)
Read John 12:1-8 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 12Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. Verse 2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Verse 3Mary 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. Verse 4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, Verse 5"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" Verse 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.) Verse 7Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. Verse 8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
Devotion
With the memory of the manger and the scent of animals still in our nostrils, we are drawn to the fragrant aroma of pure nard that fills the home of Mary and Martha. The extravagant oil that Mary brings serves to anoint Jesus’ body beforehand for burial. The distance from the manger-cradle to the crucifixion-cross meets us in all its starkness on this first day of Christmas. The child Savior announced by the angels is the crucified Savior.
Prayer
Why lies he in such humble estate, where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading, Nails, spear shall pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you. Amen.