Embarrassing Love
By Debbonnaire Kovacs, posted March 9, 2016.
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.
Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)
Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” John 12:1-8
Just questions this week.
In what ways do you identify with Judas? Have you looked on someone’s act of love as embarrassing? Have you thought that person went just a little overboard, or was just a little fanatical? Or have you burdened your own soul with such judgment? Or refrained from doing something because it might be seen that way? Have you even had motives of selfishness that you tried to keep hidden even from yourself?
In what ways do you identify with Jesus? Has someone acted out their love for you in a public and potentially embarrassing way? Have you blushed and turned the other way, pretending not to notice, or thanked the person, but privately and with hesitation?
In what ways do you identify with Mary? Have you ever tried to list all that Jesus has done for you? When you do that, what feelings well up? What act that could be embarrassing or even humiliating, that costs a lot to you, one way or another, could you do or have you done for your Lord?