The Thanksgiving of Martha and Mary

Thanksgiving

November 26, 2015

John 12:1-3

The Thanksgiving of Martha and Mary

In the name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever been to a family gathering after you or a relative has had a brush with death? Maybe the youngest nephew was in the NICU or you almost had a car accident or an aunt who survived cancer. Knowing that someone could have been missing from the family table, but is there, makes it special.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus weren't celebrating Thanksgiving, but it was a time of gathering and eating during the time leading up to the Passover. And they invited Jesus and His disciples into their house for a dinner given in His honor. They had had Jesus over to supper before, but this was the first time after Lazarus had been raised from the dead.

Lazarus hadn't had a brush with death; he'd been dead for four days. And Jesus had the stone rolled away and called to the rotting Lazarus and told him to come out of his tomb. When God speaks, things happen, so Lazarus came out. Now Lazarus was eating with Jesus, His Savior, at his own table.

Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:1-3)

Those three remarkable siblings were each giving thanksgiving to Jesus in different wonderful ways.

Lazarus was enjoying the gift of life and relishing the delicious meal prepared by his sister. Since we equate thanksgiving mostly with having a thankful feeling, it might be strange to think of Lazarus' eating as thanksgiving. But for someone who had gone through the extraordinary journey of coming back from death to life, eating itself is a miracle. In defiance to the Devil, who wishes to steal away our food and happiness, eating is a confession of trust and thanks to the One who bring us our life and daily bread.

Thank you, Jesus, for my hands that are no longer cold and dead, but instead holding bread.

Martha was making food for her Savior. Her thanksgiving probably is easier to relate to, although Mary's bold act certainly grabbed the spotlight. But notice there is no objection from Martha this time. At an earlier dinner she had complained about Mary's failure to help in the kitchen. This time Martha doesn't kick up a fuss about the money her sister spent or how this anointing was a distraction. No, this time, she says nothing. I believe her trust in Christ saw her sister's act with approval and clarity. Jesus was soon to die. Why not thank and anoint the Great Lion of Judah before He goes to die as the willing Lamb? But for six more days, He needs to eat. And she feeds Him.

Thank you, Jesus, for my hands that are skilled at preparing food for You and my family and friends.

Mary poured perfume on Jesus. When did she start saving the money for this nard? Was this her widow's mite, all her savings, her dowry that should have been for marriage? Did the three siblings pool their money together for this lavish gift? We don't know, but she spent a year's wages on Jesus' feet. When others tried to mock her thanksgiving, Jesus replied,

“[Leave] her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.” (John 12:7)

She was thanking her Savior for His death that was days away. No one was able to anoint then, but Mary did it before the thorns and nails and spear pierced Him through. She did not wait to show her gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice.

Thank you, Jesus, for hands that can anoint You with oil and honor You as my gracious Lord, who forgives my miserable hands, which are made righteous through Your cross and Baptism.

Blessed are You, dear fellow siblings in Christ!

Blessed are the hands that are warm and alive and display His care.

Blessed are the hands that are skilled and used in service to the needs of others.

Blessed are the hands that honor Him with our treasure and adoration.

Let us pray.

O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners―of whom I am the worst. Alleluia! Amen!