It is the evening of the 28th March, the year 33 AD. The Feast of Passover is just days away. Every Jewish male is required to be in Jerusalem. Jesus has arrived in Bethany, on the south side of the Mount of Olives, a short walk from the Temple which is just over the hill. Bethany is the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, close friends of Jesus. Their home is his when he is in Jerusalem. A few days ago Jesus performed one of his most spectacular miracles.
After three days in the tomb he brought Lazarus back to life simply by the power of his spoken word. Many people believe Jesus is the Messiah because Lazarus is alive again but the religious leaders are plotting to kill him. A dinner is being prepared for Jesus at the home of Simon the Leper. The custom is for the men to eat together, reclining on thin mats around a low table. They are leaning on their left arms with their feet spread out from the table. Martha is serving the food and Lazarus is one of the guests.
As they recline around the table, Mary, the other sister of Lazarus, brings out an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. She kneels behind Jesus, breaks the neck of the bottle and pours the perfume all over Jesus feet and over his head. The conversations cease as the smell of the food is overwhelmed by the intoxicating smell of pure nard. The whole house is filled with the powerful fragrance. Immediately one of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, reprimands her, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.” (John 12:5). The other’s join in and rebuke her sharply.
But Jesus does not condemn. Instead he defends her. "Leave her alone … Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.” The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.” (Mark 14:6-8)
So yeah. Jesus sure sticks up for the poor and destitute. "The meek shall inherit the earth" as he always says, right? But they still come second to him. You'll always have the poor, who cares if they're starving and destitute and suffering? I need that perfume cuz I'm gonna die soon. It's all really about ME. Me, me me me me, little spoiled-brat Jesus.
Jesus was a bitch.
After three days in the tomb he brought Lazarus back to life simply by the power of his spoken word. Many people believe Jesus is the Messiah because Lazarus is alive again but the religious leaders are plotting to kill him. A dinner is being prepared for Jesus at the home of Simon the Leper. The custom is for the men to eat together, reclining on thin mats around a low table. They are leaning on their left arms with their feet spread out from the table. Martha is serving the food and Lazarus is one of the guests.
As they recline around the table, Mary, the other sister of Lazarus, brings out an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. She kneels behind Jesus, breaks the neck of the bottle and pours the perfume all over Jesus feet and over his head. The conversations cease as the smell of the food is overwhelmed by the intoxicating smell of pure nard. The whole house is filled with the powerful fragrance. Immediately one of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, reprimands her, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.” (John 12:5). The other’s join in and rebuke her sharply.
But Jesus does not condemn. Instead he defends her. "Leave her alone … Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.” The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.” (Mark 14:6-8)
So yeah. Jesus sure sticks up for the poor and destitute. "The meek shall inherit the earth" as he always says, right? But they still come second to him. You'll always have the poor, who cares if they're starving and destitute and suffering? I need that perfume cuz I'm gonna die soon. It's all really about ME. Me, me me me me, little spoiled-brat Jesus.
Jesus was a bitch.
