Commemorating Christ’s Death and Resurrection
HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2025
GRACE JAMES - WOMEN’S MINISTER
As we enter Holy Week, the time in which we commemorate Christ’s death and resurrection, we begin this series of devotionals with the story of the anointing of Jesus by Mary as found in John 12:1-8. To give some context before we go into our scripture reading for today, before his anointing, in John 11:1-44, John the Apostle provides us with an account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. This account was given to prepare all the people to see the greater miracle of Christ’s power over death, as he will eventually be the one who will die and rise again, providing the gift of eternal life for all those who believe in him. In light of this greatest of all miracles, how do we prepare ourselves to remember this most important event in history that has offered us a path towards eternal life? First, let’s read John 12:1-8 and take a closer look at our sister, Mary of Bethany, and her devotion to Jesus as our example.
John 12:1-8
Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
Having raised Lazarus from the dead, six days before Passover, Jesus entered the home of Lazarus, where a dinner was given in honor of Him. I can only imagine the tremendous gratitude they had for Jesus after witnessing the miracle of their brother being raised from the dead. A dinner given to him in honor was certainly appropriate. Then Mary takes a pound of expensive ointment from pure nard and anoints the feet of Jesus. This pure nard ointment is known as Spikenard, was highly valued. Judas indicated that its value was worth three hundred denarii, which in modern terms equates to over $30,000. The spikenard was symbolized as the very best of the best. Mary takes the ointment and anoints the feet of Jesus and wipes his feet with her hair. In the ancient Jewish culture, foot washing was a despicable, slave-worthy task which was looked down upon, and only non-Jewish slaves would do the foot washing.
As we reflect on Mary’s devotion to Jesus, let’s follow her example and see how we can apply the same type of devotion to Christ this week as we commemorate Christ’s death and resurrection:
Mary anointing Jesus’ feet was an act of celebratory worship to express joy and gratitude for what he has done in raising her brother from the dead.
Read Ephesians 2:1-8. Reflect on how you were once dead in your sins and how Christ has made you alive when you placed your faith in Him as your personal Savior.
In your time of reflection, express your joy and gratitude to Jesus for what He has done for you.
Pray to the Lord that He will bring you someone you can share your joy with.
If you’ve always had a personal relationship with Jesus from a very young age, give praise to Jesus for His grace over your life and share with someone what a life of obedience looks like.
Mary embodied self-sacrifice by using all her expensive ointment to anoint Jesus’ feet. The love and gratitude Mary had for Jesus surpassed the value of the ointment.
Read 1 John 2:15-17. As the scripture says, do not love the world or things of the world.
Are there areas within your life that have taken precedence over what you offer to Jesus?
What is your most valued possession that you can honor God with?
Regardless of the cultural norms concerning foot washing, Mary unapologetically wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair as she was fully devoted to him.
Read Romans 12:1-2. As children of God, we are to live holy and set apart from this world.
Pray and ask the Lord to reveal areas in your life that you may feel pressured to follow the cultural norms and ask God to guide you towards living an uncompromised life.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, as we journey through this Holy Week, let me encourage you to gather with either friends or family over a celebratory meal to honor Christ through your conversations while sharing what Christ has done for you through His death and resurrection. May your time spent this week commemorating Christ’s death and resurrection be a blessing to you and others!