Jesus’ Feet
John 12.1-11
The English word Christ. The English word Christ is from the Greek word Christos. And the Greek word Christos is a translation of the Hebrew word Messiah.
That Hebrew word Messiah means anointed one, one who is anointed, anointed with oil.
And the ancient Hebrew people anointed their kings. Upon his coronation, upon his ascension, his ascending to the throne, the ancient Hebrew people would pour oil, maybe olive oil, upon the head of their new king.
The oil, made aromatic, perfumed with spices and resins, would flow through the hair and onto the face, causing the face of the new Hebrew king, causing that royal face to glisten, to shine, to shine with the glory of God.
The king. The anointed one. The ancient Hebrew word is Messiah. In Greek, in the original language of the New Testament, the word is Christos. And today, we who speak English, we say, we still say Christ.
We say Christ, anointed one, a king. We say Jesus Christ. We say still Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one, king.
And here we see it. Here in the reading from the Gospel of John we see Jesus anointed. The anointing of Jesus as Christ.
Mary, the sister of Lazarus, takes a pound of expensive perfume extracted from the nard plant. Pure, faithful, and true is this aromatic oil. She anoints Jesus. She anoints his feet. The oil is poured on Jesus’ feet and Mary wipes those feet with her hair. The house is filled with the fragrance.
Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, the one who will betray him. Judas, keeper of the common purse, complains. He complains about the expense, that the money could have had a better use.
The anointed one responds: Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.
This is what we see. This is the anointing. This, according to the Gospel of John, is how it happened, what took place, how Jesus was anointed.
And we still, even today, say Christ. We say Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one, king.
We still say Christ. We still say Jesus Christ.
Even though it was the head, the head of a Hebrew king that was anointed, the oil flowing onto his face and his face shining, the glory of God.
Even though Mary pours the aromatic oil of the nard plant on his feet, on Jesus’ feet. Even though it is his feet that Mary anoints and wipes with her hair. Still we say.
Even though and as soon as the fragrance begins filling that house, one Judas Iscariot complains about the expense, that the funds could’ve been better spent.
Even though the keeper of the common purse, one Judas Iscariot, the one who will betray him. Even though already there is intrigue in his royal court. Still we say.
And even though it was to a throne that those ancient kings ascended, the anointed one, the one anointed, ascending to sit upon a throne in glory.
Even though Jesus speaks here of his burial, his death. Even though he ascends, is high and lifted up, ascending, ascending to his throne, not to sit, not to sit, but to hang. Still we say.
We still say Christ. We still say Jesus Christ.
Why? Sometimes I just have to sit myself down and wonder why. Why? Why is everything is backward?
Why? Why was it that Mary, the sister of Lazarus, why was it that Mary anointed his feet when everyone knows it is the head, the other end, that is properly anointed? Seems backward, this does.
And that isn’t the end of it. Everything, everything is backward, is turned on its head.
Two copper coins, two pennies, placed on the stacks of gold in the temple treasury by some poor widow are worth more than the gold. So says Jesus. Really? I think I’d rather have a stack of gold. Wouldn’t you?
Let the little children come to me, he tells his disciples who think he has important things to do and important people to see. Well, doesn’t he? I mean a bunch of noisy kids running around.
And a good shepherd with one hundred sheep will leave the ninety-nine and go look for the one that is lost. So says Jesus. A good shepherd leaves the ninety-nine, to, what, wander around? Besides, ninety-nine is still an awfully lot of sheep.
And blessed are you who are poor. Blessed are you who are hungry. Blessed are you who weep. So says Jesus.
And even that isn’t the end of it. Everything is backward and upside down.
And Mary, with a pound of expensive perfume extracted from the nard plant, anoints his, his feet.
Why? Sometimes I can only wonder. Why is everything so, so backward?
I can only wonder. And sometimes it seizes me. Why, the thought, the very thought of it overcomes and overwhelms; it seizes me.
I try to understand. With my thoughts, I try to understand, to circumscribe, to comprehend.
But they cannot, my thoughts cannot. Thus far you may go, but no further. My thoughts cannot comprehend or circumscribe or describe this, this height, this, this depth, this, this depth. And my thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways.
And it seizes me. Why, the very thought of it…
The very thought of it, of this glory shining brighter than ten thousand suns. This, this goodness. The very thought of it, of this goodness pure, faithful, and true. This goodness far exceeding. Goodness, indeed. Goodness complete and perfect.
This very thought overcomes and overwhelms and pushes me, pushes me back, back past those stacks, those shining stacks of gold. And, yes, a poor widow with two copper coins. I see.
This very thought seizes me and pushes me, pushes me backwards, backwards past princes and presidents, mere grasshoppers. And, yes, a bunch of noisy kids. I think I see now.
Again, the thought overcomes and overwhelms and pushes. Backwards am I pushed past the ninety-nine, past that large number, that large number of sheep. And, yes, of course, just one. One that is lost. I think I get it now.
The thought, with the very thought of it, and I say blessed are the poor, blessed are the hungry, blessed are those who weep and mourn.
My thoughts are not your thoughts. And my ways are not your ways. Watch as he is anointed. Watch as Mary anoints his feet, anoints him for his burial.
Watch, my friends, watch. Watch as betrayal, denial, and treachery become the occasion, the occastion of a great faithfulness. Betrayal, denial, treachery are seized and turned upside down.
Watch, my friends, as greed—thirty pieces of silver—as greed becomes the occasion of an overwhelming generosity. Greed, overcome, is seized and is turned upside down.
Watch, my friends, watch as violence and death are seized, overcome, and overwhelmed, turned upside down and become the occasion…Ah, this goodness perfect and complete and far, far exceeding, shining brighter than ten thousand suns.
Watch, my friends, watch. Watch as Mary takes a pound of expensive perfume and anoints him, his feet.
The anointed one. The ancient Hebrew word is Messiah. In Greek, the original language of the New Testament, the word is Christos. And even now, even now we say Christ, even Jesus Christ.
Neal Kentch, Salem United Church of Christ and Corydon Christian, March 28, 2004