Station of the Cross # 1

Mary Anoints Jesus

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Read John 12:1-8

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1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] 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.[b]” 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. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”

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Mary poured out expensive perfume onto Jesus' feet as an act of worship.  Place a spritz of your perfume onto your wrist or onto a cotton ball.  Smell its fragrance.  The fragrance may not be strong at first, but you will smell if for hours.  It's long-lasting.

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Mary's act of worship was pure...passionate...real...expensive...extravagant.  And it touched the heart of Jesus.

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Jesus knew he was headed to the cross and Mary's act of worship was a blessing to him.

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Think about how you can pour out your love to Jesus, extravagantly, in a way that will spread the beautiful fragrance of Jesus where you are?

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Let the smell of the fragrance remind you that we are called to live every moment of our lives in fragrant worship of Jesus.

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Suggested Song: Alabaster Box by Julie Meyer