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Multimedia Lent Devotional – Monday of Holy Week

April 13, 2025

2025:

Monday of Holy Week:

  • Scripture (Michael Sculley) – John 12:1-11
  • Reflection (Karen Sculley)
  • Prayer (Mariana Dannelley)
  • Videos: John 12:1-11
  • Music: “Always With Me” (IAMSON) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GouoFzbNug

Reflection on 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 at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ 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.”

We all want to be blessed. To be blessed is to be happy. To be blessed is to be in a state of spiritual well-being and prosperity. To be blessed is to live from the place of deep, abiding joy and contentment that comes from a right relationship with God. To be blessed is to experience God’s grace and favor.

In today’s passage, Mary blesses Jesus. Usually, hosts anointed the heads of their important guests with water. Mary’s actions were shocking. Not only did she anoint Jesus’ feet; Mary used a perfume so costly that it would have taken an average worker nearly a year to earn enough wages to buy it. What kind of extravagant blessing was this?

Jesus’ reply to those who were shocked in the room was his way of reminding us of God’s heart for the poor. Jesus’ reminder that “You always have the poor with you” is not a license for any of us to act with apathy, coldness, stinginess, or selfishness towards those in need. It was Jesus’ way of reminding us that God will bless us if we care for the poor. Deuteronomy 15:11 – “Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.’”

Following Jesus is costly. Jesus calls us to love God and people with the same kind of extravagance as Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet. May we open our hearts to God and our hands to the poor and needy neighbors in our land. May we long to bless God and people more than we desire to be blessed. May our love for God and for people be extravagant, so that God’s grace and favor can better be received and experienced by others.

2024:

Monday of Holy Week:

2023:

Monday of Holy Week:

  • Scripture (Theresa Mayhue) – Isaiah 42:1-7
  • Reflection (John Trotter)
  • Prayer (Ron Wilkinson)
  • Videos: John
  • Music: “Jesus, Only Jesus” (Matt Redman)

Each short Multimedia Lent Devotional is an invitation to set aside time each day during the season preceding Easter. Lent is a solemn 40-day period we observe as we seek to draw near to God prior to the great celebration of Easter. During Lent,

  • we intentionally practice sober reflection, serious repentance, and sincere restitution, in which we more fully recognize our brokenness as humans, looking always to Jesus Christ as our Savior and sanctifier;
  • we seek to live lives marked by simplicity, self-denial, and surrender, in imitation of Christ Jesus, who fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before He began His public ministry;
  • we look for ways in which we express love for neighbors and nations in need in practical ways through generously giving of our time, talents, and treasures.

This collaboration is brought to you by Liberty Vineyard Church

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