John’s Gospel account invites us to enter into this journey to the Passover feast following after Jesus. When hearing this character-packed story we tend to put ourselves in the place of one or more of the characters. We, as human beings, have a great gift to put ourselves in the place of someone else. We can sympathize, empathize, and even project what a potential outcome would be if we were in another’s place. So with what character do you most identify? Who are you? What does this say about how you follow Jesus?
As John brings us to Bethany we first hear of Lazarus. How does Lazarus follow Jesus? Almost immediately preceding this reading Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. This is one instance in which we might have a difficult time empathizing with a character for who among us has ever tasted death and come back to talk about it. And yet, in our lives we experience many small deaths. The death of someone we love, the death of a job, or the death of a dream are three examples. If we find ourselves in Lazarus’ place, then following Jesus means dying and allowing the Word of God to bring us through this death.
We do not hear of the Chief Priests until late in this passage, but they concern themselves with forcibly standing against Jesus. The Chief Priests react towards this Galilean Rabbi. They not only do not follow him, but they desire to wipe away any evidence of his life and ministry, even seeking out Lazarus to put him to death once more. While we may sharply deny our hostility towards those with different beliefs, yet this Holy Week ask when we have found ourselves in the place of the Chief Priests? When have we not only been dead in our following of Jesus, but also attempted to kill someone’s attempt to follow him?
These questions bring us fittingly to Judas. The Narrator in John’s account lets us know that Judas will betray Jesus and he has even taken money from the common purse lying of his intentions to give something to the poor. The pain that this disciple of Jesus inflicts may prevent us from putting ourselves in his place. Still honestly we must admit that we fail Jesus. We do the right action for the wrong reason. We teem with jealous of others’ seemingly higher favor with Jesus. We betray Jesus because things do not go as we plan. Strangely those not named as Jesus’ disciples are the ones we do best to emulate in following Jesus
Martha went out to meet Jesus when her brother had died. She actively looked for him as he approached the lifeless Lazarus. Then on this night, Martha served those gathered to dine with Jesus. Her sister Mary went even further.
Mary spent a year’s worth of earnings to buy a pound of nard. This substance typically used to make incense, perfume, and medicines so filled the house that no one could deny Mary’s devotion to Jesus. Unlike the Chief Priests who wanted to wipe away the memory of Jesus, Mary wanted to wipe Jesus’ feet in a display of pure devotion. Mary’s self-sacrifice, giving up a large sum of money to purchase the nard, and her show of dedication, cleansing Jesus’ feet, presupposes Jesus’ own show of service washing his disciples’ feet. Clearly, we must look to the sisters Martha and Mary for the epitome of following Jesus.
This Holy Week lose yourself in the story of Jesus. Wonder who you are in this story. Courageously place yourself in the sandals of the Chief Priests and Judas and at the feet of Jesus rubbing off the nard with your hair. For we are not simply one character or another. We have a choice in following Jesus. What does it mean to follow Jesus? How do you follow him?
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