There’s a silly Veggie Tale song that says “We’re busy, busy, dreadfully busy/ You’ve no idea what we have to do./ Busy, busy, shockingly busy/ Much, much too busy for you.”
Lots of us could relate to these lyrics.
All year round we are dreadfully busy. Good or bad, time is spoken for. We are working, running errands, paying bills, visiting hospitals (for some of us), traveling, studying, taking care of others, attending all sorts of events. We’re always running, but not on a treadmill losing weight… just losing our mind.
How most prepare for Easter today?
Around big holidays, you’d think we’d slow down. But, no! We add more on our calendar in oder to properly get ready to celebrate something big. And if we’d only do it right.
Some prep by changing their diet in keeping lent or just losing weight so they could only gain some more. Some prep their homes by giving it a thorough spring cleaning. Some focus on food prep and painting eggs. Others, are just chasing bunnies, literally and figuratively.
Lots of people find comfort in keeping outward traditions, yet their hearts are not getting busy pondering upon what’s at the core of the celebration. We take such great care of the emergencies in our life, that the most significant matters get brushed aside.
What was Jesus up to before the Passover?
Context:
- Jesus goes from Jerusalem to a village called Ephraim because some of the Jews wanted to stone Jesus for declaring He is the Messiah.
- Jesus has to go back near Jerusalem, in Bethany, a town about 2 miles away. Jesus takes the risk to go bring Lazarus back to life.
- People in Jerusalem find out about Jesus’ glorious miracle. The end result because He came back? The Sanhedrin led by the High Priest plot to kill Jesus.
“Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.” John 11:45-46
***The Sanhedrin = the High Court of the Jews. It had authority even under Roman Empire, but could not give capital punishment. It was formed of 71 people. It included chief priests, elders, and teachers of the law. It was led by the High Priest.
- Jesus goes back to Ephraim to stay protected “Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea…” John 11:54
- Jesus returns to Bethany, close to Jerusalem, for a special dinner with Lazarus, Mary, Martha and many others (in Simon- the- leper’s home).
What did Mary do to get ready for Jesus’ burial?
Mary had no idea how meaningful her acts were in preparing the Lamb of the ultimate Passover. Let’s take a look at John 12:1-11.
*In red are my own comments, not part of the verse.
“Six days before the Passover (At Passover the whole country was coming up to Jerusalem, to the temple), Jesus came to Bethany (2 miles away from Jerusalem), where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, (as always) while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair (Not to be confused with the anointing in Galilee from the ‘sinful woman’ Luke 7:37-38 ). And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (This detail shows that John was an eyewitness.)
… Judas Iscariot…objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages…He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the moneybag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. (John says this looking in hindsight, at how he was willing to sell Jesus for 30 pieces of silver)
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.”
Jesus’ anointing, celebration or burial preparation?
Anointing was used to be something festive. In a casual way, anointing was used to show respect and gratitude from a host to the guest. In a more official way, anointing was done sometimes to inaugurate a prophet, priest, or king. In the Old Testament the Messiah is referred to as the Anointed One. Jesus was anointed as the ultimate Prophet, High Priest, and King. (The high priest of that generation, Caiaphas, was the one who decided to put to death the real High Priest.)
*It might be the only sad anointing found in the Bible. It was supposed to be a celebration, yet it was a burial preparation.
In conclusion…
Mary saw Jesus’ power. Mary showed gratitude.
Judas saw Jesus’ power. Judas showed his selfish heart.
We have alarms and notifications for birthdays, events, phone calls, meetings, deadlines… we might need to seriously consider setting reminders for taking time to look back at what Jesus endured before He went to the cross, so we could more appreciate the price paid, so we could be adopted into His family.
Things I need to work on:
- Am I taking care only of emergencies, rather than the most significant things?
- Set up reminders to stop and ponder upon Christ’ last week of public ministry. So much to learn.
- How am I showing gratitude for what Jesus did on the cross and what He does for me daily?Like Mary, by giving the most precious thing she had? Or, are we selfish like Judas?