2026 Lent Devotions
Monday of Holy Week, March 30
John 12:1-11
1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
9 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.
“… 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. …”
For years now, many of my colleagues in the mainline churches have been lamenting the fact that more and more people seem to be flocking to the nondenominational churches. For many, this serves as sign that the traditional churches are dying while the unaffiliated churches are thriving. Their response is often to decry those “other” churches for anything from watering down the Gospel to heresy.
As you read the story from John for the Monday of Holy Week, you get the impression that the Jewish authorities were seeing Jesus’ ministry in much the same way. What our Lord offered was a new and novel way to present the Good News. Rather than the old law-oriented protocols, Jesus offered another way – one that resonated with the people. The authorities’ response was to accuse Jesus of watering down the Torah and outright heresy. In short, they seem to be jealous of Jesus because he was able to reach the people they could not.
Sometimes, we can only see our way of faith. We think that ours is the only way to truly know, understand, and grasp the Gospel. Others are often seen as interlopers, or worse, heretics. Yet, as Jesus showed the Jewish authorities then, there is another way that leads to faith in God. Perhaps, as we reflect on the story of Jesus and the jealousy of the Jewish authorities, we may reconsider our own limited understanding of faith and be open to and grateful for those who experience Christ in a non-traditional way.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the wide variety of ways we honor, praise, and worship You. Remind me that there is no “only” way; and that following You in faith takes many forms. Amen.