It’s time for Wednesday morning’s daily devotional. John 12 tells the story of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet. Again, we see Mary focusing on Jesus while Martha serves, and Lazarus sits down. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are followers of Jesus, but they’re also good friends. In today’s daily devotional, Jesus wants to be your friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Jesus Joins His Friends
In verse 1, the passover is only six days away, and Jesus is back in Bethany, where He raised Lazarus from the dead. Jesus and His disciples are invited to a feast, and they attend. They’re celebrating Lazarus’ restoration after being dead for four days. Lazarus, the honored guest, sits at the table with Jesus.
With a harrowing week ahead, He could’ve easily declined this social gathering; however, He attends as a friend. As the One who raised Lazarus, He has cause to attend, so He joins His friends in celebration. In your daily devotional, rather than focusing on yourself, rejoice with those who rejoice.
Love for the Master
Martha is seen serving once again, and Mary shows her devotion in verse 3: “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair.” Mary displays her deep love for the Master, the true guest of honor.
He’s delivered her from grief and restored her faith. Mary anoints Jesus, honoring Him as Lord and King. Her gift and humility will be remembered throughout time. In this daily devotional, how do you show your gratitude to the Master for delivering your life from destruction?
Always With You
As soon as Mary begins this act of gratitude, Judas Iscariot complains. He argues that the ointment could’ve been sold and the money given to the poor. Verse 6 gives some crucial information. Judas is a thief who doesn’t care about the poor. As the treasurer, Judas has the bag and steals money from it. Money is Judas’ preoccupation, for he goes to the Pharisees asking, “What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?”
However, Jesus diffuses Judas’ argument: “Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.” Jesus has been telling them that His time with them will end soon. In your daily devotional, praise the Master, who is with you always, and He will never leave you.
They Believed on Jesus
Even though this feast is a celebration, verse 9 says that many Jews knew Jesus was there, and they came to see Him and Lazarus. The chief priests and Pharisees had commanded that anyone who knew Jesus’ whereabouts should report it to them.
They were plotting to kill Him, and “the chief priest consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death.” Why? Verse 11 says that because of Lazarus’s resurrection, many Jews began to believe in Jesus. In this daily devotional, the Son of God, sent by the Father to save the world, was being hunted by Jewish leaders who claimed to know God.
Jesus Sticks Closer Than a Brother
In Wednesday’s daily devotional, Jesus’ ministry threatened the religious elite’s leadership, and they were jealous of His growing popularity. They wanted to arrest Jesus and kill Him before the Passover. Jesus doesn’t hide but attends a social gathering where He’s seen by many. In today’s daily devotional, Jesus is a friend who shows up, sticking closer than a brother.
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