Holy Week Devotional | Day 1
Take some time each day to prepare your heart for Easter and reflect on the beauty and mystery of Holy Week. Each devotional will provide you with a reading, a reflection, and a prayer for the day.
DAY 1
READ: John 12:1-11 (NIV)
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 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.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 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.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
REFLECT: Take a moment to read the passage again, perhaps out loud. Is there some word, phrase or some way the Spirit of God has moved your heart today? What Mary did was very extravagant. She probably gave her most treasured possession to show her gratitude and love to Jesus. On this first day of Holy Week, is there some way that you can show your gratitude to Jesus for His extravagant gift to you?
PRAY:
Almighty God,
Your name is glorified
even in the anguish of your Son's death.
Grant us the courage
to receive your anointed servant
who embodies a wisdom and love
that is foolishness to the world.
empower us in witness
so that all the world may recognize
in the scandal of the cross the mystery of reconciliation. Amen.
Devotional: "Reprinted from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts"
Image: Stevns, Niels Larsen, 1864-1941. Mary Anoints Christ’s Feet, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.