Lent Devotional - Day 23

Read John 12:1-36.

Jesus begins his final week with a big bang: a banquet is held in Jesus’ honour, after he raises Lazarus from the dead and he is welcomed as king into Jerusalem. For those following Jesus, hopes are high that perhaps at this time Jesus would be revealed as the Messiah to the rest of Israel and there would a big turn around.

Even as hopes are high, Jesus talks about his death. This is where we begin to see that people have a different expectation of Jesus, and they are projecting what they want onto Jesus rather than really listening to what he is saying. There is a great danger in following Jesus that rather than conforming to the image of Christ, we try to conform Jesus to our own image.

As Mary loves on Jesus lavishly, Judas chides her action, but Jesus defends her action as preparation for his burial. Here we see two examples of loving Jesus: 1) Mary loves Jesus extravagantly, with no thought to cost. 2) Judas loves Jesus religiously, in a very calculated manner. In fact, Judas’ love wasn’t love at all because he actually only cared for himself. Even as he talked about the money being given to the poor, it is revealed that he used to help himself to the funds.

Words are cheap. Our actions truly reveal what we really believe about Jesus. What are your actions revealing to the world about your relationship with Jesus? We can have every intention to do amazing things for God or to be devoted to God, but what really matters is not just the intention, but what you really do about it.

This week, walk closely with Jesus. Walk in the light, so that may know where you are going and love Jesus extravagantly.