Conversation between Jesus and his treasurer

Not a year’s disposable income, nor even a year’s savings, but all the money a working man could earn in a whole year. That was the value of the perfume in the jar that Mary carried into the room where Jesus was dining. At the table with Jesus was Lazarus, her brother, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Martha, her sister was serving the meal. Mary brought the perfume and performed an impromptu worship ceremony. As Jesus reclined, in a half sitting, half laying posture, Mary poured the whole jar of precious ointment over his feet; the perfume filled the whole house. Then kneeling at his feet she wiped his feet with her hair.

This is the way people worship God, expressing their thanks publicly, bring a gift of something valuable, and taking up a physical position of trust and humility. Jews, Muslims and Christians worship the same God in this way, which surely is a reason for us to love each other.

Into this reverent atmosphere bursts the voice of Judas, one of the group of people Jesus was training to repeat his words to the whole world. Outraged at what he considered extravagance, he demands to know why the perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor. Not only did Judas intend to gain a little benefit for himself whilst performing the religious act of giving to the poor, but he was angry that he had not been able to control the money obtained by the sale of the perfume.

Jesus defends Mary with words that in English are familiar to many of us, it’s the phrase parents use when one sibling is verbally attacking another sibling. “Leave her alone. “ This is easy to understand, Jesus accepts the worship of Mary. The explanation he gives is much harder to understand and Judas didn’t. "You will always have the poor with you, you will not always have me with you. Mary has done this to prepare for my burial."

We who have read the gospel of John up to this point are suddenly less inclined to continue. Up to now everything has been getting better and better; the way it should when we respond to the call of God. We have had glimpses of the ultimate reign of God where there is no evil, and where the good purposes of God become the avowed intentions of all people. We have been carried along on the crest of a great wave of hope. Now the story is going to change and we are going to have to read about death, deceit, cruelty, injustice, and fear. We do not want to read about such things. I heard someone ask a young person why Christian churches place replicas of the crucifixion cross in the place where they worship. She replied that she was shocked that any church would allow a symbol of torture to be placed in their sacred space.

Mary could bear the knowledge that Jesus was going to die; she was able to accept the intentions of Jesus with trust. How about us? We are not sure whether we can tolerate the story. And we fear its meaning.