| The Rev. Catharine Montgomery | 5 Lent |
| Grace Memorial Episcopal Church | Year C |
| March 25, 2007 |
| Isaiah 43:16-21 | Psalm 126 | Philippians 3:4b-14 | John 12:1-8 |
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? We hear so many interpretations of discipleship. It is easy to get a little confused about how we as modern 21st Century people can be disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in a conversation with Peter, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me.” (Matt. 16:24)
As we continue our journey through Lent, we are acutely aware of Jesus taking up his cross and being executed. How can we do something like that? To be a disciple, are we supposed to die like the Christian martyrs or the Christians who are being murdered in Sudan? Does being a disciple mean going on foreign mission trips? Will our acts of self-denial in Lent make us disciples? How can we follow him down that road? Today let’s see what Saint John would have us understand about being a disciple of Jesus.
Our story opens in Bethany, a little town just outside Jerusalem. Jesus is at the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. (John 12:3)
You remember Mary and Martha and Lazarus – they are Jesus' best friends. Martha was the one who slaved in the kitchen trying to be the perfect hostess whenever Jesus came to visit. Mary is one who often sat at Jesus’ feet to hear what he was teaching. And of course you remember their brother, Lazarus.
If you go back to Chapter 11 in John’s gospel, you find a well known miracle story about Lazarus. One day Lazarus got sick. Mary and Martha sent for Jesus because they knew he would want to know. But Lazarus died before Jesus arrived. He was put in a tomb, and a stone was rolled across the opening. Four days later Jesus showed up. “Take away the stone,” said Jesus. And all practical Martha could think about was how bad the stench of death would be after four days. But Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out of that cold, stinking tomb back to life.
Needless to say the news traveled fast. The crowds got really excited when they heard about Lazarus, and if they had not been too sure about Jesus before… they began to be believers. Some of the people went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. John’s gospel tells us that the Pharisees and chief priests, who were devout religious people, were afraid that if the Romans heard about the excitement of the crowds, they would come and destroy the Temple and the Jewish nation. And so from that day on they planned to put Jesus to death. It was fear – cold hard fear that started everything in motion!
According to John, Jesus went to a secluded place with his disciples and stayed until six days before the Passover when he decided to go back and visit his friends again in Bethany. Can you imagine how excited and grateful Lazarus and Mary and Martha were to be back together and then have their beloved friend visit again. So they decided to throw a dinner party in Jesus’ honor. The disciples were there, and suddenly we can see what John wanted us to see. There is Jesus with Lazarus whose new life sets in motion the forces that result in Jesus death…and Judas is there too.
When Mary rubs the costly perfume on Jesus’ feet, Judas objects and says the money could have been used for the poor. We find out more about this man who would betray Jesus, we find out about his greed…his selfishness his fear that he will not get what he wants for himself – even stealing from the disciples. Later, he too has set in motion the forces that will result in Jesus’ death.
And there is Mary. It has been said that “through Mary’s act, the stench of death that once lingered over this household has been replaced by the fragrance of love and devotion.” (NIB Commentary Vol. IX, John, pg. 701) And so together in the same room, we have the best example of failed discipleship in Judas and the best example of perfect discipleship in Mary of Bethany.
What can we learn about denying oneself, taking up the cross and following Jesus from Mary? Theologians Carol Newsome and Sharon Ringe say Mary’s act of extravagant love gives us three clues to what will happen next in John’s Gospel. First of all the anointing anticipates Jesus’ death and burial as it anticipates the anointing he will receive again when he is laid in the tomb. Mary’s loving action provides an example of what it means to be a servant.
Secondly…her anointing of Jesus’ feet and wiping them with her hair anticipates Jesus washing the feet of his disciples and wiping them with a towel at the Last Supper. In that loving action, Jesus is modeling what it means to be a servant for his disciples. Likewise, we will hear this story and participate in the foot washing on Maundy Thursday. On that night, Jesus says a disciple must be willing to serve others if he is to share in - to have a part in - the life that Jesus gives.
Third…Mary’s anointing of Jesus anticipates what Jesus will say to his disciples about love. “I give you a new commandment that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (13:34-35). Mary’s love was extravagant, abundant, overflowing, and fragrant. Mary has been called the first person to live out Jesus’ love commandment even before he said it. (The Women’s Bible Commentary, 387-388) Others have called Mary the first Christian…the perfect disciple.
Deny yourself…take up your cross and follow me. How did Mary of Bethany do that? How can we? To deny self means to put aside the fear that kills life…turn away from…resist that part of our human nature that thinks only of what we want to preserve for ourselves. When we deny fear - deny self, we are able to love and serve others – to see Christ in them.
Deny yourself…When the tornados hit Arkansas a few weeks ago and destroyed a school and killed those children…I remember reading what one of the survivors said about the experience. He said he and some other students were huddled in a closet with a teacher. When the tornado struck and they heard the building being torn apart, all he could remember was the teacher throwing his body across them to shield them.
To take up one’s cross is often interpreted as meaning having a cross to bear as in trouble and suffering…and indeed it can mean that. But I think there is another meaning illustrated by this story. Mary of Bethany demonstrates the kind of love that Jesus shows for others. To take up one’s cross is to do the kinds of things Jesus did. To forgive people, serve them, heal them and yes, walk the road and die with Jesus.
We do that in our baptism…we take Jesus’ cross on our bodies and we die to an old life, and we are born to a new life in Christ. And we follow him…we promise to do that in our baptismal covenant. “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? I will with God’s help.” (BCP 305)
Mary of Bethany may not have realized at the time all the implications of what she did for Jesus… but God did. Sometimes we just do what seems to be called for at the time or what seems right. Like the teacher sheltering the students….the food taken to a sick friend…the hugs and words of sympathy at a funeral….the grass cut for a neighbor…a smile to a stranger. The God who brought our Lord Jesus Christ back from the dead takes these loving actions like one of those Hallmark Card moments, and gives them power far beyond the original intention.
We do not hear any more about Mary of Bethany after she anointed Jesus and he was arrested. Later when he was executed, Luke’s gospel says all of Jesus’ acquaintances, including the women, went to the crucifixion and stayed to keep watch. I imagine Mary was there. He also says there were women who prepared spices and ointments for his body. Mary is bound to have been there and surely the perfume for his burial brought back memories of that night in Bethany when she knelt at Jesus’ feet in loving gratitude and thanksgiving. When Mark tells the story of the anointing in his gospel he writes, “Wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” (14:9) As we continue on the road to Jerusalem with Jesus, O Lord help us remember:
Life is short And we do not have much time To gladden the hearts and minds Of those who travel with us So be swift to love And make haste to be kind Go in peace to love And serve the God of Compassion. Amen (Author Unknown )