Salt and Light

John 12:1-11

This account takes place in the home of Martha and Mary with their brother Lazarus and others.  You may recall that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and this causes many to believe in Jesus.  At this dinner Martha was serving.  This was consistent with her temperament  Mary, being consistent with her temperament, worshipped in the form of pour an expensive ointment on Jesus' feet and then wiped them with her hair.  Given that Mary possessed this quantity of expensive ointment it is probably safe to assume that the home was very nice.

Interesting points noted about some who were at this dinner.

• Lazarus seems to be a low key kind of individual.  We understand that the chief priests were planning to kill Lazarus because of his being raised from the dead.

• Judas, the one who would betray Jesus, was the one who raised concern about Mary wasting this expensive oil on anointing Jesus' feet when it could have been sold for about a years worth of wages and given to the poor.  The oil may have been worth 300 pieces of silver yet he was willing to betray the Lord for 30 pieces of silver.  The scriptures also state that he helped himself to the money bag he was responsible for.

The Anointing of Jesus.

• The first anointing of the Lord is recorded in Luke 7:36.  The women who anoints Jesus seems to be the least of this world.  Her anointing His feet points to the redemption of sinners.

• The second anointing of Jesus feet is in today's message from John 12:3.  Her anointing is an act or worship.

• The third anointing of Jesus is recording in Matthew 26:7.  Here, a women anoints Jesus head with an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil.  This anointing was for His burial.

Remember to seize the day.  We do not know how many remain.  Focus on what is important.