lenten blog | March 16, 2024

Mary changed and so did Judas

Throughout the year, the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ reproduces the Daily Lectionary for use by churches.  These are the suggested readings for March 16th:  Psalm 51:1-12; Habakkuk 3:2-13; and John 12:1-11.  I would encourage you to read these short selections as part of your Lenten practice.

In today’s Gospel selection, we hear a uniquely Johannine story.  It is six days before Jesus’ final Passover.  He is at the home of Lazarus.  Earlier in this Gospel, in another uniquely Johannine story, Jesus raises Lazarus from the tomb.  As he emerges, he remains wrapped in his burial garments, which becomes important when John tells his Easter account, but that’s for another time.  Lazarus is raised from the dead, but he remains mortal.  He will die again eventually.  He has been returned to his old life.  As Jesus is but five days away from His own death (John, again uniquely, recounts that Jesus is crucified on the Day of Preparation, the day before Passover), the setting is intentional.  Jesus restored Lazarus to life, but Jesus will also sacrifice His own as testimony of God’s ineffable love for us all.

From that earlier story, we had learned that Lazarus has two sisters, Martha and Mary.  Martha had come out to meet Jesus when He finally arrived four days after Lazarus’ death.  Mary refused.  She stayed at home.  The text leaves the impression that she was angry or at least greatly disappointed that Jesus had not rushed to the aid of His friend Lazarus.  When Jesus raises her brother from the tomb, Mary must have been overcome with guilt.

It seems that her previous behaviour was behind her current extravagance.  Mary’s perfume was valued at 300 denarii by Judas.  A denarius would be equal to a worker’s daily wage so we’re talking about a rather expensive anointing.  Jesus further credits Mary with the prophetic insight that this act prepared His body for burial.  While Jesus praises her extravagance, Judas protests that rather than such a luxury the money could have been better spent on the poor. 

I only throw this out as a possible consideration.  What if the editorial comment about Judas as a thief is shared because in John Judas is known from the start as the traitor?  What then if Judas’ complaint is sincere?  Throughout the Gospel, wouldn’t the poor take precedence over luxury?  When Jesus accepts the act and answers Judas saying, “‘You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me,’” was this the tipping point toward Judas’ treachery?

Is this John’s reminder that Jesus is more than a social activist and this too must be recognized by a follower of Jesus?  Jesus’ ministry is most definitely to raise up those pushed down, the bring in those pushed out, to elevate compassion to ministry, but is this last Gospel’s story of anointing a late reminder that Jesus is still Jesus?  What Jesus does is gospel, and who Jesus is is gospel.  Service does not replace worship, the two complement each other.

With this possibility offered, I invite you to join us as church tomorrow for our worship Service.  Whoever you are, you are welcome among us.  If you cannot or choose not to worship in person, send an email to [email protected] for the Zoom login.
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If you’d like, here is the link to the Southern New England Conference’s daily reading schedule:  www.sneucc.org/lectionary.