Anointing of Jesus (April 3, 2022)

READ: On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus stayed nearby in Bethany with his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. As Martha was serving dinner to Jesus and his disciples, Mary came over to Jesus. She wanted to do something special for him. So she took a beautiful jar of perfume, poured it all over his hot and dusty feet, and then dried his feet with her hair.
The sweet smell filled the room, and everyone turned to see what had happened. Judas, one of the disciples, was not happy, “Why are you wasting such an expensive perfume? You could have sold it, and given the money to the poor!” Judas wasn’t really concerned about the poor; he wanted the money for himself.
Jesus smiled at Mary and said, “She has done something beautiful. It is like a blessing for me. She has anointed me for my burial to come. Leave her alone.” (John 12:1-8)    

WONDER: I wonder how Martha, Lazarus, and Mary felt to have Jesus stay with them? I wonder why Jesus chose to stay with them? I wonder what special meal Martha may have prepared for Jesus? I wonder how Mary felt as she emptied the perfume on Jesus’s feet? I wonder what Jesus thought as Mary poured out the whole bottle? I wonder what the other disciples thought about what Jesus said? I wonder which part of this story you like the best?

SAY: In this story we see Mary showing her great love for Jesus by pouring out her perfume on his feet. She knows he won’t always be there, and she gives the best of what she has to him.

PRAY: Let’s pray. Dear God, thank you for the people around us who give gifts of beauty, love, and kindness to others. Help us to share our gifts with others. Amen.

​EXTEND

• Affirmation prompt: I share love and beauty. Using the clay of your choice, make a pinch pot. See this Art for Kids Hub video for directions. As you make your pot, talk about Mary’s gift to Jesus. What gifts of love would you put inside your jar? (Prompt is from A Sanctified Art, Full to the Brim children's resources.)
• ​Read Thank You Bear by Greg Foley. Bear finds a gift for his friend Mouse, but on his way to give the gift, others tell him it’s not a great gift. What makes a good gift? I wonder why we give gifts to others?