Moments to Ponder

Episode 136: Fragrance of Faith (John 11:44-12:11)

• Betsy Marvin • Season 15 • Episode 136

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Step into a poignant exploration of Mary's anointing of Jesus, an act steeped in significance that transcends the boundaries of time. This episode draws listeners into a vivid picture of first-century Jerusalem, where political tension, military presence, and faith intersect in a powerful narrative. As we unpack this compelling story, we invite you to consider the complexities of sacrificial love represented through Mary's daring gesture—anointing Jesus with a costly perfume in an act that could have shunned her socially.

The essence of this episode transports you to a moment of divine intimacy, prompting reflection on how we, too, can emit the fragrance of Christ in our daily lives. With beautiful metaphors that resonate deeply, we ponder whether our actions reflect the rich aroma of Jesus’ grace and mercy in a broken world.

Together, let’s reflect on what it means to embody the essence of Christ, becoming living witnesses to His love and the transformative power it holds for everyone we encounter.

We encourage you to subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review. As we gather the fragrance of our stories towards the beauty of Christ, may it linger in the hearts of many.

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Speaker 1:

Hi friends, welcome to Moments to Ponder. This is a podcast designed to help you spend a few moments in God's Word, gain fresh perspectives and find meaningful takeaways to ponder throughout your week. I'm Betsy Marvin and this is episode 136. When I was in high school, I had the privilege of visiting the Holy Land. We visited Jericho and Bethlehem. We walked the streets of Jerusalem and had communion at the tomb.

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One of the things I'll never forget were the soldiers in Jordan. They were fully armed and spread out among the city, standing on street corners and things. There was a presence that couldn't be denied. I can remember the tension on the tour bus as we passed through that city. Military rule was so different from what we experienced in the US. For the Jews of Jesus' day soldiers in Jerusalem on the roads moving through the area well, they'd become part of their lives.

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Rome had taken over most of the Middle East about a century before Jesus was born. They built roads and stationed legions strategically throughout the area. Even though Rome allowed the Jews to practice their faith by meeting at the temple and observing their holy days, the threat was ever-present that it could all change. They had a fragile semi-freedom that could be taken away if any kind of revolution sprang up. So this was a real fear for the religious leaders in Jerusalem. By raising Lazarus from the dead, jesus was gaining followers and there was the possibility of him gathering so much support that they would march on Jerusalem and seek to put Jesus on a throne, declare him king. This would seriously mess with the Romans, who would call in troops and end any hope of ever becoming an independent nation again. Politics, such an influence, military power so strong, military power, so strong. Jesus doesn't want political power. He isn't mounting a revolution of military strength. He's a shepherd ready to lay his life down for his sheep. The victory that he sought would be won through sacrificial love. Yet the religious leaders don't know this. They just see a threat to their status quo, the stirring of fear, the influence of those in power. And although there wasn't social media back then, it was easy to spread the gossip. So word spread and people knew Jesus was gaining influence.

Speaker 1:

We'll pick it up in John 11, verse 45. And today we're using the message that was the turning point for many of the Jews who were with Mary, meaning the raising of Lazarus. They saw what Jesus did and believed in him. But some went back to the Pharisees and told on Jesus. The high priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Jewish ruling body. What do we do now? They asked. This man keeps on doing things, creating God signs. If we let him go on, pretty soon everyone will be believing in him and the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have. The Jewish ruling body was called the Sanhedrin. This council was made up of 70 men who judged Jewish religious matters.

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Their fear of an uprising because of Jesus was related to the temple. Remember, hanukkah reminded them of what it took to have this sacred place back in their care. The temple represented God's presence to them, the Holy of Holies deep within. It was sacred. I mean, what if Rome came and removed their temple again? What if Rome came and removed their temple again? Ironically, rome would come In 70 AD, less than 40 years in the future. A full-scale revolution did rise up and the Romans did come and they destroyed the temple, leaving no stone on top of another.

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Let's continue with verse 49. Then one of them. It was Caiaphas, the designated chief priest. That year, caiaphas spoke up. Don't you know anything? Can't you see that it's to our advantage that one man dies for the people rather than a whole nation be destroyed. He didn't say this of his own accord, but as chief priest that year, he unwittingly prophesied that Jesus was about to die sacrificially for the nation, and not only for the nation, but so that all God's exiled, scattered children might be gathered together into one people. From that day on, they plotted to kill him. So Jesus no longer went out in public among the Jews. He withdrew into the country bordering the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and he secluded himself there with his disciples. Jesus attracted more and more followers, and the religious leaders are afraid. They're afraid that the Romans would see this as a significant threat, wanting especially to keep their power and prestige. They wonder how to deal with this problem. Jesus, the other gospels record parables and teaching from his time in Ephraim. There's a story of the young ruler and the children coming to him. We continue in verse 55.

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The Jewish Passover was coming up. Crowds of people were making their way from the country up to Jerusalem to get themselves ready for the feast. They were curious about Jesus. There was a lot of talk of him among those standing around in the temple. What do you think? Do you think he'll show up at the feast or not. Meanwhile, the high priests and Pharisees gave out the word that anyone who knew his whereabouts should inform them. They were all set to arrest him.

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Six days before Passover, jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. There's two major storylines going on here the political scene, with the religious leaders plotting the murder of Jesus that we see at the end of chapter 11. And as we begin chapter 12, we see the building toward the climax to come. And chapter 12 opens with a family of siblings that we've already met. They live in Bethany. When we put all the Gospels together, we know that one served, one worshipped and one had been raised from the dead. And they're hosting a dinner party at Simon, the former leper's house, most likely to celebrate the life of Lazarus with Jesus.

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Verse 3. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus's feet and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house. Mary, the one who worships, the one who sits at Jesus' feet, she now does something outlandish she lets her hair down. We have no concept of what a big deal this was. To uncover her hair in public and around men and then using her hair to wipe Jesus's feet. It was unheard of, it was crazy. Martha may have been completely embarrassed by this, and Lazarus may have looked on with tears, while the disciples well, they probably dropped their eyes in the presence of her immodesty. Yet for Mary, she's only concerned with one thing anointing her Lord, the one who returned her brother to them, the one who allowed her to sit at his feet and learn the Messiah. Her humility and risk is such a statement of love and devotion, and her actions speak of an obedience to something I'm not sure she fully understood Anointing Jesus with a perfume that is often used during burial.

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So let's talk about the perfume. Matthew and Mark leave Mary's name out of this story, most likely to protect her, but each gospel mentions the expensive perfume. It's called nard or spike nard, and it was a perfume made from the root and spike of the nard plant, which was found in northern India, and it was usually associated with a king. The alabaster jar alone was expensive, but within it it held about a liter, which would have cost a year's salary. Think about that. This is no small bottle of Chanel no 5. It's an amazing and extravagantly sacrificial move on her part, and the fragrance it must have been wonderful. And as the men watch her bow at the feet of Jesus and pour this oil on him, I can't even imagine the shock on their faces.

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Chapter 12, verse 4. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus's disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said why wasn't this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It could have easily brought 300 pieces of silver. He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor, but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds but also embezzled them. Jesus said let her alone. She's anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don't always have me. You always have the poor with you, you don't always have me.

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Word got out among the Jews that he was back in town, meaning Jesus. The people came to take a look not only at Jesus but also at Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead. So the high priest plotted to kill Lazarus, because so many of the Jews were going over and believing in Jesus. On account of him, lazarus was a living witness to the power of Jesus, so much so that it threatened his life. I hadn't noticed that detail before, but it makes it more clear why the other gospel writers don't even share this story. Like we spoke of in the last episode, it would have put Lazarus' life in more danger. This is the first threat on a follower of Jesus that we see.

Speaker 1:

There are a lot of things we could focus on from this little section. Lot of things we could focus on from this little section. We could talk about politics and our views allowing the government to influence how we walk. But for me, what stands out is Mary's anointing of Jesus, but in a unique way, just like Lazarus. As followers of Jesus, we are living witnesses. Lazarus pointed to Jesus with his life and we are to do the same so that others can know who we know. But how do we do that? There are many ways, but one way we see through Mary and what she offered An aroma. Okay, stay with me here. Just think about this.

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As the scent of that exquisite perfume filled the room that day in Bethany, I have to wonder did that smell become a core memory for those who were there? I mean, the next time they wore the robes that they wore that day in Bethany, did they still smell Jesus? I mean, did they? Every time they caught its fragrance, whether in the marketplace or in a gathering, did they think of that day of anointing? But the people in Jerusalem wonder at the scent. When he rode past them on a donkey, would the disciples still smell a hint of the oil as they sat down to Passover in a few days? Would the soldier who put the nails in Jesus' feet smell the anointing of Mary? Did that fragrance become the aroma of Christ to those who were there that day? Christ, to those who were there that day? Have you ever given someone a hug or had someone walk by and you caught a hint of their perfume or cologne and it just tickles your nose a bit and if you've ever smelled the smell before, your mind will bring you back to when you did Smell. Has that effect on us? Or maybe you've been in a small space like an elevator and someone gets in that's wearing so much perfume that you're overwhelmed with it and it gets in your nose and it permeates your clothes so much so that you can smell it much later in the day, maybe not such a great memory, but when you're with other people they smell it on you.

Speaker 1:

In his second letter to Corinthians, paul speaks of the aroma of Christ permeating those who follow him. He says through us, god brings knowledge of Christ. God brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ we give off a sweet scent rising to God which is recognized by those on the way of salvation, an aroma redolent with life. That's from 2 Corinthians 2. God has brought us the story of Jesus through John. We know John walked with Jesus. He calls himself the one Jesus loved and I wonder if when people were with John, it was as obvious as an elevator full of perfume. It was as obvious as an elevator full of perfume. They knew he had been with Jesus by just being around him. Are we as obvious? Do we give off the exquisite fragrance of Jesus' love, grace and mercy to those around us? Are your actions a sweet scent rising to God? I may be taking the metaphor a bit too far here, but I know that when I'm not smelling real sweet, that's when I'm reminded that Jesus washes me with his love and mercy, helping his fragrance within me to rise once again. Dear one, may people breathe in the exquisite fragrance of Jesus. Wherever you go, fragrance of Jesus wherever you go. May his love and mercy so permeate your life that all who come near you know that you are his Amen.

Speaker 1:

As I record this episode, the season of Lent is upon us. Lent is a 40-day period of preparation that leads up to Easter. It's a time of fasting and prayer as we remember the sacrifice of Jesus. We begin on Ash Wednesday and it ends on Holy Thursday. On Ash Wednesday and it ends on Holy Thursday. In timing, only God can do. This series has aligned with Lent as we begin next week with the final time of Jesus before the crucifixion. I hope you'll join me as we focus a bit differently on these next few chapters.