The LORD God is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He has established laws in nature which govern all the processes of life–planting, growth, cultivation and harvest. These principles give us insight on how to conduct our lives, families, churches, and societies (to continue reading this essay, click on image above).
The Absent Messiah, John 12.1-11
In John 12.1-11, Jesus returns to Bethany six days before Passover, where a dinner is given in his honor at the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. During this meal, Mary takes an expensive perfume—pure nard worth a year’s wages—and anoints Jesus’ feet, wiping them with her hair. When Judas Iscariot objects to this “waste,” claiming the perfume should have been sold to help the poor, Jesus defends Mary’s actions, stating she has kept the perfume for his burial. The passage concludes by noting that many Jews were coming to see both Jesus and Lazarus, prompting the chief priests to plot to kill Lazarus too, since his resurrection was causing many to believe in Jesus. This event foreshadows Jesus’ imminent death as the Messiah and highlights the responses to his identity and mission.
Invocation
Heavenly Father, open our hearts to receive the profound truth of Mary’s devotion and your coming sacrifice of the Messiah. He must die; he will depart from here, be absent physically, but he will be with us through his own Holy Spirit. Help us to silence the critical voices—both external and internal—that would measure our discipleship to you by worldly standards rather than by love. Grant us the courage to pour out our lives as a fragrant offering before you, holding nothing back from the One who held nothing back from us. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Chronological Scripture Readings for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the entire Bible in one year in chronological order.
Monday: Pss. 131; 133; 138-141; 143
Lectionary Readings for Today
Our readings from the Psalms, the Old Testament, the Gospels and the Epistles are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary for this Feast Day.
Psalm: Psalm 36.5-11
Old Testament (or Acts [during Eastertide]): Isaiah 42.1-9
Gospel: John 12.1-11
New Testament: Hebrews 9.11-15
Click here for all of this week’s Scripture readings
Chronological Holy Week Readings for Today
Each year we read through the Holy Week Scriptures chronologically, tracking the events of Jesus’ final week leading up to death, burial and resurrection.
Monday: Matt. 21.18-19; Mark 11.12-19
Psalms and Proverb for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Monday: Psalm 14, 44, 74, 104, 134 and Proverbs 14
Jesus’ anointing at Bethany–preparation for the Messiah’s sacrifice.
Mary’s anointing of Jesus at Bethany underscores the coming departure through death of the Messiah, John 12.1-11.
Reflection
Jesus’ anointing at Bethany reveals more clearly the coming departure of the Messiah through his death. It also displays the profound contrast between Mary’s sacrificial worship and Judas’ self-serving criticism, challenging us to examine our own motivations in serving Christ. Mary’s extravagant gift—pouring out something of immense value without reservation—exemplifies true devotion that recognizes the supreme worth of Jesus and the imminence of his sacrificial death. In defending Mary, Jesus affirms that genuine discipleship sometimes transcends practical utility, inviting us to consider whether our own expressions of devotion to Christ are measured by worldly standards or by love’s abundant logic. The religious leaders’ plot against both Jesus and Lazarus reminds us that authentic encounters with Christ’s transforming power will inevitably provoke opposition. Such opposition, however, cannot ultimately prevent the fulfillment of God’s purpose.
Engaging God’s Word Today
In what ways might you be holding back from “pouring out” your most valuable resources—time, talents, treasures, or testimony—in devotion to Christ? What would it look like for you to offer these to him with the same abandonment and love that Mary demonstrated?
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, The Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God,
Begotten of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,
Begotten not created, of the same essence as the Father,
through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became human.
Who for us too, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried.
The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Who together with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified.
Who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin,
and we look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the age to come. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Benediction
May you, dear Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, who received Mary’s extravagant gift with grace and defended her against criticism, empower us to worship you with wholehearted devotion in every aspect of our lives. For a time you must depart from us and be absent; yet you will give us the Holy Spirit to be with us always. May the fragrance of our sacrificial love for you permeate every place we go, drawing others to the beauty of your presence. And help us to find unshakable peace in knowing that what the world might consider waste, you receive as our fitting sacrifice offered from our hearts devoted to you. Amen.
Scripture Memory for this season
John 15.1-5 (ESV):
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Scripture Engagement
As disciples of Jesus, the Churches of Christ the King strongly seek to engage the Scriptures to discover the centrality of Christ and his Kingdom in the prophetic and apostolic writings. You will find a rich treasure of resources on engaging Scripture at the Center for Scripture Engagement of Taylor University.
Book Reading and Reflection
The implicit assumption behind any goal is this: “Once I reach my goal, then I’ll be happy.” The problem with a goals-first mentality is that you’re continually putting happiness off until the next milestone. I’ve slipped into this trap so many times I’ve lost count. For years, happiness was always something for my future self to enjoy. I promised myself that once I gained twenty pounds of muscle or after my business was featured in the New York Times, then I could finally relax. Furthermore, goals create an “either-or” conflict: either you achieve your goal and are successful or you fail and you are a disappointment. You mentally box yourself into a narrow version of happiness.
This is misguided. It is unlikely that your actual path through life will match the exact journey you had in mind when you set out. It makes no sense to restrict your satisfaction to one scenario when there are many paths to success. A systems-first mentality provides the antidote. When you fall in love with the process rather than the product, you don’t have to wait to give yourself permission to be happy. You can be satisfied anytime your system is running. And a system can be successful in many different forms, not just the one you first envision.
~ Clear, James, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Random House Business, London SW1V 2SA, 2018. Location 376.
Seedling Focus for the Season: The Vine and the Branches
Description: Pruning is a necessary part of growth, both in plans and in our spiritual lives. God’s discipline may seem painful, but it produces greater fruitfulness, John 15.1-5.
On Eagles Wings Prayer Focus: A Long Time Comin‘
But If It Dies: Die to bear fruit, John 12.20-36.
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