Lent @ EBC - Part 2: The Anointing

This Sunday, Rob Lea brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC Online services. Once you have watched the video, we encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.

To listen to the talk click here.
 
Readings:

John chapter 12 verses 1 - 8 (New Living Translation)

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 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.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 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.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”


 

Prayer & Reflection

Father God we confess that often our response to your love and extravagant generosity is one of ingratitude. This we demonstrate by words and deeds that are more like Judas than Mary. For this we are sorry, please forgive us.

Lord God we ask that by the power of your Holy Spirit you transform us into extravagantly generous people, not motivated by money but by Jesus’ great sacrifice on the cross for us, the supreme act of love.

We ask this in his name.
AMEN



Questions to Consider

1. Judas spent 3 years listening to Jesus and watching him closely, and yet he regularly betrayed him. How would you explain this betrayal, and what was his motivation?
2. What do you think was Mary’s prime motivation for her strange and extravagant gesture when she anointed Jesus?
3. Both Mary and Judas heard Jesus words, and yet they responded quite differently. How would you explain this?
4. What more can you do to ensure that you read your bible regularly and intentionally?
5. If you are reading your bible regularly and intentionally, do the words of James apply to you? (‘Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourself, do what it says.’)
6. What is your motivation, and where is your focus; is it in money or is it in Jesus?