John 12:1-8
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 reclining with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s 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 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[b] 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.”
Many important events in the life of Jesus took place around a dinner table. As the Passover (and the death of Jesus) was approaching, Jesus was invited to be the guest of honor at a dinner in the home of his dear friend, Lazarus. Lazarus played the host/friend role and reclined with Jesus at the table. Martha did what Martha did best and worked at serving them all. And at that dinner, Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with some precious and costly perfume. And from what happened at that dinner, the ministry of Jesus moved one step closer to its conclusion and the start of our life with Him.
Prayer
Remind us of the roles we all play when we gather with friends in Christ at the dinner table. And make our mealtime encounters holy episodes in the life of discipleship. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
