Sermon based on John 12: 1-8. As you may remember, the Gospel of John begins with a story of divine extravagance the first miracle of Jesus --- the equivalent of 600 bottles of the best wine created out of water at the wedding in Cana. This was the "first sign" that Jesus did, said John.
This week the Gospel of John book ends his gospel with another story of extravagance --- Mary anoints Jesus with perfume that's worth a year's wages. This anointing of Jesus at Bethany is the last event in John's gospel before Jesus's "triumphal entry" and the ensuing death and resurrection of Jesus.
If our gospel today seems suspiciously familiar, that may be because the anointing of Jesus by a woman is one of the rare stories told in all four gospels. And how's this for unintended irony --- Matthew and Mark never name this person; they simply call her "a woman." Luke describes her as "a sinful woman" leading a few to speculate that an additional Mary was behind this event. John alone tells us that it was Mary of Bethany, the sibling of Martha and Lazarus. John even introduces us to Mary in Chapter 11 "as "the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair."
So although familiar, let us put this episode in context. During the last week of his life, Jesus stayed in Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem. And as you may remember, before this event, Jesus had just raised Mary and Martha's brother Lazarus after he had died. From that earlier event we also know that Mary is loved by Jesus and believes in him.
Now after the raising of Lazarus, we are at a dinner to honor Jesus where we are told Mary poured an expensive pint of pure nard imported from India on his feet. Then she wiped his feet with her hair at which the aroma filled the house. Her outpouring of this elaborate gift is undoubtedly an act of extravagant thanksgiving for the gift of life.
This act during the meal however, was not well received. Mark and Matthew's gospel says the disciples were indignant; John's gospel suggests it is Judas who says: "Why this waste? We could have sold this perfume and given the money to the poor."
Although we learn in John why Judas said these words, it is an understandable point and criticism of Mary, for after three years with Jesus, all of them had learned that care for the poor characterizes the people of God.
But believe it or not, and although there's never an excuse to ignore them, there's something more important than care for the poor. For Jesus responds with "Leave her alone, she's done a beautiful thing."
So what can we learn from this? The Gospel of John's language indicates that this event is much more than a discussion on poverty or a reminder of what Judas will later do. There is as some have pointed out … the sexual tension. A woman lies down beside Jesus, lets down her hair, and caresses his feet with outrageously expensive oil.
Although sex is perhaps an interesting line of thought, it is not helpful for us to learn about our lives as disciples.
The obvious point in that in this episode, we know now and Jesus confirmed that Mary did more than perhaps she knew. Anointing Jesus was more than a gesture of personal devotion; it was also a prophetic act for Jesus tells us that "When she poured this perfume on my body, she prepared me for my burial." Jesus was not just a wandering sage or renegade rabbi; he's the Anointed One, anointed by Mary at his feet, yes, but especially by God. In Hebrew, he's "the Messiah." "She did what she could," said Jesus. Shortly after this point, Jesus prepares for his ride into Jerusalem, washes the disciple's feet, has a meal around the table, dies on the cross and is buried.
But there is more to ask and ponder than the passion that is to follow because here we actually see what Jesus does for Mary and through her for the disciples and for us. It begins with a command to all in the room. It begins with: Leave her alone, Jesus says.
I like that sentence --- "Leave her alone" --- so I studied it a bit. In Greek the verb is an elastic one, with many uses and meanings. For example, in some contexts Jesus' words could mean "Divorce her." In other contexts these words can mean "Send her away." But in this episode Jesus is not saying either.
Martin Luther interpreted it in German as "Leave her in peace." When translated into French, the phrase includes the word tranquille, as in "Leave her in tranquility." But in English, the words "leave her alone" seems to imply that those around the table, by picking on her as they did, had caused her to be caught, at least in the imaginations of those present. You could say they had targeted Mary, she was being accused, and Jesus was standing up for her "Hold your fire."
Regardless of how you translate the Biblical Greek, we see at least three ways that this phrase, "this beautiful thing" may be teaching us something for our lives as disciples.
First in verse 7 we can read "Leave her alone … so that she may keep the perfume for the day of my burial." This relates to how Mary and the disciples will be in grief. Although Jesus is telling her to keep the perfume handy, she had already opened and used it. Remember, Mary is thrilled with Jesus as the resurrection and the life. Jesus had just raised her brother from the dead. She is feeling this. She is showing this lavishly. But the time will come for Mary; it will come for all of them, when his death will lead to intense grief and abandonment. How do we react in grief?
I shall never forget a visit years ago. Someone came in with a story to tell, something sad and heartfelt. I ushered him in, and after a few moments, I thought I should be steering our conversation to its purpose. "Was there something you wanted to talk about?" And with that, I heard something about "doctor…" "my partner…" "someone…" "a man" "sorry…" A few words here and there, almost inaudible, disconnected, because what was really happening was weeping, deep, gut wrenching, crying. I had the good sense to do two things. One was to keep my mouth shut and listen and leave him alone. The other was to have a fresh box of Kleenex on the table in front of him, which I pushed toward him.
This went on for about fifteen minutes. Him weeping, me sitting and watching, and frankly feeling kind of misty myself at the sadness he was feeling. Eventually, he kind of got himself together, took several deep breaths, apologized for falling apart on me like this, and shook my hand as he left.
About three days later I received a note from him. "I shall never forget what you did." But that was the point; I did little other than to take him seriously, and leave his alone and to gather up his tears in the wadded up Kleenex. Today's gospel, Jesus is reminding all of us that there are times when all we can do is let the emotions happen ….let them flow as powerful as perfume.
The second relates to Judas' and the disciples in their priorities. In verse 8a we see … "leave her alone, because the poor you always have with you." When Judas refers to the poor, it was a cover. Unlike Mary's intention, Judas's secret motivations are made known to the reader. His concern for the poor is merely a ruse to cover his own greed.
Today's gospel prepares us for that fact that Jesus is handed over not by an enemy or stranger but by one of his intimate associates. John's gospel is a reminder for us that loyalty and honesty are not prerequisites for discipleship.
Rather, being a disciple of Jesus is not based on loyalty primarily, but on following Christ… sometimes those are not the same. For example, the Quakers sometimes allow a symbol to be displayed in their barren meeting-halls. It is the picture of an ox between an altar and a plow. And underneath are the words: "Prepared for either. Sacrifice or service." King David thought of himself as a servant of God, and no more; Mary the mother of Jesus thought of herself as a servant of God, and no more; the Apostle Paul thought of himself as a servant of Christ, and no more. What was in it for them --- betrayals, abuse, suffering, death - and the joy of serving the Lord. Loyalty alone will not help us carry through our lives as disciples.
And finally, in verse 8b … leave her alone, because you do not always have me with you. The presence of Jesus in the body --- to see and hear and touch and eat with --- we know will only be for a short time longer. Mary perhaps sensing something or feels the preciousness of Jesus' presence and what it has meant for her and Martha and Lazarus leads to a wordless but powerful response.
This stands in contrast to the idea of many of us that what matters most is belief in Jesus --- and by belief I mean conscious, verbal understanding of Jesus. Mary's faithful action is different. The Gospel of John does not tell us what she believes; only that she has faith, that he is the resurrection and life.
It seems beyond human comprehension that she could understand all that will happen to Jesus, and all that her actions evoke. Regardless, we see her enact a wordless faithful response that resonates deeply with what we know of Jesus' kingship and his death.
Mary transgressed cultural norms in this act of love, trembling in thanksgiving, knowing that the King must be anointed. In one faithful, wordless act, she broke open the mystery of the moment. Her nard spread and its aroma filled that room. It was a momentary act, and I am sure she herself was surprised by Jesus' words that her act would be remembered, that she would leave a lasting legacy.
What about us? If Jesus had not died, we would not be here. Because he did we are. Jesus has spoken to us about the way of life and the way of death. Mary of Bethany in a wordless, faithful and yes--- sensual--- action proclaimed her love. Mary of Bethany is a model of faith to whom Jesus championed with the command to "Leave her alone." Let us open our hearts because when the hour comes let us not be as concerned about others as our own response to our love for the anointed one. Amen.