Washing Jesus' Feet
Scripture Reading — John 12:1-8
The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
—John 12:3
It was “six days before the Passover,” and Jesus knew he would soon lay down his life as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He would spend much of his time that final week with his closest followers, talking to them, preparing them for what was soon coming. Among all that happened during those final days, John tells us about two special dinners.
The first dinner was hosted by Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. This dinner was given to honor Jesus.
While the guests reclined at the table, Mary took some expen-sive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet. She then loosened her hair, thinking only of Jesus and all he had done, and without saying a word, wiped the excess perfume off his feet with her hair. The fragrance of that loving gesture filled the house.
At this dinner Jesus is honored and loved, and he accepts Mary’s extravagant love, genuinely given. What an intensely beautiful moment that must have been for both of them!
There is a time to wash the feet of Jesus, isn’t there? A time to express our gratitude, our love, our devotion—extravagantly! There is a time to fill the whole house with the fragrance of our love.
Ask yourself today, What might I do that would express my love for Jesus?
Holy Spirit, what gift can I give Jesus today to express my gratitude and love? Lord, may I give you my life, my all. Amen.
About the author — Harvey Stob
Rev. Harvey Stob and his wife, Audrey, served as missionaries in Argentina for eleven years. They then served churches in Cincinnati, Ohio; Ridgewood, New Jersey; and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Harvey retired from full-time pastoral work in 2009. He and Audrey have three children and seven grandchildren.
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