She Bought It!

She Bought It!

John 12: 1-8, NRSV

12 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them[a] with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But 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[b] 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.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it[c] so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

Sermonic Moves:

1. To provide extravagant hospitality to an honored guest because she could - she has agency regarding her money.
2. To demonstrate intentional humility and worship for the sake of gratitude - she has a testimony of triumph in the resurrection of her dead brother.
3. To alter the scent of the room from the stench of death to the smell of life - a transformation has occurred in Bethany which foreshadows the transformation that will occur in a Garden within 8 days.
4. And according to Jesus to baffle those who don’t understand this anointing coronation is not for an earthly monarch, but for a soon to be “slain Lamb” who will take away the sin of the world! Jesus is anointed to die.