A Morning Cup of Tea: Jesus is Anointed

 Good morning! How are you today? I hope you are doing well. I am enjoying the quiet as my family sits together in the kitchen. I'm not sure how long the quiet will last, as J is not one to be silent for long, but it's nice.
  Today we begin chapter twelve of John. John says that six days before the Passover Jesus had returned to Bethany. He is at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Martha was serving and Lazarus was sitting at the table with Jesus. Mary came to sit at Jesus' feet, and anointed his feet with a pound of spikenard, a very costly oil, and wiped his feet with her hair. 
  Judas was watching this and he was rather dismayed at what he considered a waste of money. "Why wasn't the oil sold, and the money given to the poor?" John notes that he said this not because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief. Judas was in charge of the money that Jesus and his disciples had.
  But Jesus told Judas to leave Mary alone. She had done a good thing, she had done this to prepare him for burial. 
  There were many who came around at this time, not only to see Jesus but to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  Because of this miracle many Jews believed, and the chief priests decided that they wanted Lazarus dead as well. If he was gone, maybe the people would "come to their senses" and stop believing on Jesus.  
  Do you think Mary realized the significance of what she had done for Jesus? She was preparing him for death but she was also an example to us of women's ministry. Caring for others is no less important than the roles the men take on. We each have things we can do in the church, and that is a lesson for another day. Have a great day.

 Good morning! How are you today? I hope you are doing well. I am enjoying the quiet as my family sits together in the kitchen. I'm not sure how long the quiet will last, as J is not one to be silent for long, but it's nice.
  Today we begin chapter twelve of John. John says that six days before the Passover Jesus had returned to Bethany. He is at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Martha was serving and Lazarus was sitting at the table with Jesus. Mary came to sit at Jesus' feet, and anointed his feet with a pound of spikenard, a very costly oil, and wiped his feet with her hair. 
  Judas was watching this and he was rather dismayed at what he considered a waste of money. "Why wasn't the oil sold, and the money given to the poor?" John notes that he said this not because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief. Judas was in charge of the money that Jesus and his disciples had.
  But Jesus told Judas to leave Mary alone. She had done a good thing, she had done this to prepare him for burial. 
  There were many who came around at this time, not only to see Jesus but to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  Because of this miracle many Jews believed, and the chief priests decided that they wanted Lazarus dead as well. If he was gone, maybe the people would "come to their senses" and stop believing on Jesus.  
  Do you think Mary realized the significance of what she had done for Jesus? She was preparing him for death but she was also an example to us of women's ministry. Caring for others is no less important than the roles the men take on. We each have things we can do in the church, and that is a lesson for another day. Have a great day.