Skip to content

Commentaries
English
John
  
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.2There they made a supper; Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at table with him.3Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.


Jesus had no fear of his enemies’ cunning, but kept on his way to Jerusalem in accord with his Father’s will. He did not seek reclusion, but returned to Jerusalem a week before the Feast. He passed through Bethany, three kilometers from the Capital. He came to the house where he had demonstrated his power and glorified his Father by overcoming death. Lazarus lived on to eat, drink and walk through the market. People saw him, were amazed yet fearful of the prospect of death and the sight of phantoms.
Mary, Martha and Lazarus had experienced God’s glory, and bore witness to it, despite threats from the Council. He welcomed Jesus and his disciples and offered him a banquet with great joy. Lazarus was a friend of Jesus, and he sat beside the One who had raised him from the dead. Does not this picture tell us something about Paradise? God will not be afar, but we shall sit with him in glory.
Martha, an accomplished house keeper, opened up the treasures of her home, offering what she had, knowing Jesus was the true Messiah, victor over death.
Mary, more mystical, honored Jesus in her own way, bringing a flask of costly perfume worth almost a year’s wages of a laborer. She longed to give Jesus what she most treasured. But she felt unworthy to anoint his head; she did instead anoint his feet with her life’s treasures. Love is not mean, but sacrifices amply. Afterwards she wiped his feet with her hair. This act of love, sincere and holy, filled the house with a pervasive perfume. All who were present were filled with the scent of Mary’s sacrifice.