Lent 2025 Day 22: Sat 29 Mar
John 12:3-7
3 Then Mary took about half a litre of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’ 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 ‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
Judas’ words are perfectly reasonable, on the face of it: giving money to the poor is good, and there are better uses for funds than a one off jar of ointment. However there is more than extravagance at stake here: whether she knows it or not, Mary’s action is prophetic, as it foreshadows how Joseph and Nicodemus will prepare Christ’s body for burial (John 19:38-40). They are also deeply symbolic: someone who likely had little had her life so changed by Jesus that she saved up for this action of thanksgiving; even when she has something rich to give, she does not make it a point of pride — rather, she uses her own tears and hair to wash his feet.
Sadly, this passage has been abused by those who would choose opulence over charity, often depicting people who have good reasons to question extravagance as followers of Judas, the betrayer.
If only there was an example of a position somewhere in the middle of the two extremes… Perhaps if we focused on Mary more, we would realise that position was there all along. Her gift comes not out of a desire to further her own status, nor is it throwing money at something to expiate guilt with no real repentance or feeling. She gives out of her pocket, but also so much more out of her own heart, and her tears are more precious than the nard.
Lord, grant that when we bring you our offerings of money, the giving of our souls and bodies as living sacrifices may not be far behind.
1:22:01 Er is des Totes schuldig (Chor)
36b. Chorus I & II He is worthy of death!
36c. Evangelist Then they spit in his face and struck him with fists. Some of them, however, struck him in the face and said:
36d. Chorus I & II Prophesy to us, Christ, who is it who strikes you?
37. Chorale
Who has struck you thus,
my Saviour, and with torments
so evilly used you?
You are not at all a sinner
like us and our children;
you know nothing of transgressions.
38a. Evangelist Peter, however, sat outside of the palace; and a maid came up to him and said:
Maid I And you were also with that Jesus of Galilee
Evangelist He denied it however before them all and said:
Peter I don't know what you are saying.
Evangelist As he was going out of the door, however, another one saw him and said to those who were near:
Maid II This one was also with that Jesus from Nazareth.
Evangelist And he denied again, and swore to it:
Peter I do not know the man.
Evangelist And after a little while people standing around came up and said to Peter:
38b. Chorus II Truly you are also one of them; your speech gives you away.
38c. Evangelist Then he began to curse and swear:
Peter I do not know the man.
Evangelist And just then the cock crew. Then Peter remembered the words of Jesus, when he said to him: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Ends at 1:26:19
Paul