SATURDAY 4th
“The Lull Before the Storm”
Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath. Jesus rests. All day he thinks and prays, talks to friends, eats and drinks. In resting he is pausing, building up spiritual psychological strength for what is to come. While Jesus rests, the enemy is plotting.
John 12:1-11
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 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. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
9 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. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
On the previous night there was a special meal between friends. Perhaps this meal in some way is a foretaste of the Last Supper. At the meal Jesus is anointed by Mary. Is is an anointing for death and burial. The words of Caiaphas from John 11:50 hang in the shadows: “It is better for one man to die for the people, than for the whole nation to perish.”
Why don’t you find time today to anoint yourself to ‘Walk the Week’?
…a simple dab of ordinary olive oil (perhaps mixed with one or two of your own tears) on your forehead…You can do it privately or perhaps as a couple, or family involving the children, or with a friend.
Throughout the day Jesus is nervous, perhaps silent, wondering, frightened, yet also with a sense of awe and anticipation. He is on the verge…
