Friday, April 5
John 12:1-8 accounts Jesus’ return to the home of Lazarus for a dinner honoring Jesus, six days before the Passover celebration. After dinner, Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume, and Judas Iscariot remarked it would have been better to sell it and give the money to the poor.

This situation recalls the values we place on the material wealth and how we may view helping the poor. Mary gave from her heart because she loved and appreciated the Lord to the extent that she gave a prized possession and applied a human touch. In our modern society we often use money as a solution to a problem, but what about the human touch? I am not convinced that money or stuff will bring ultimate peace when a friend is sick or needy; only person-to-person interaction can still the soul.

When Jesus replied to Judas to leave Mary alone, I think he was saying that her act came from a loving heart, showing appreciation and was not based on the expense of the perfume. She also showed her belief in Jesus’ power of resurrection through his raising Lazarus. Unknowingly, she honored Jesus in his coming crucifixion.

As we approach Easter, let us be encouraged to live for Jesus through our daily interactions with each other, applying our expensive spiritual perfume on all we meet.

Prayer: Dear God, help us to understand your Word and to give our very best as our Savior Jesus has, and still does. Amen.

Byron Cotton

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