Artwork by Wayne Forte
Welcome to Week 5 – The Passion of Jesus
We’re now stepping into Week 5 of Lent—which means we’re past the halfway mark! If you’ve made it this far, well done! It’s been a journey of reflection, discovery, and deeper connection with Jesus. Whether you’ve been following along daily or just jumping in now, I pray this week draws you even closer to Him.
This week, we shift our focus to the Passion of Jesus. Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored the 7 Signs and 7 "I AM" Statements of John’s Gospel, seeing how they reveal who Jesus is. Now, we move into the next chapter of the story—one that leads us to the cross.
Each day, we’ll look at key moments leading up to Jesus’s death, exploring their significance and what they teach us about His love, sacrifice, and mission.
Here’s a glimpse of what’s ahead:
1️⃣ Anointing (John 12:1-8) – Jesus is anointed by Mary, a powerful act of devotion that points to His coming death.
2️⃣ The Triumphal Entry (John 12:12-19) – Jesus enters Jerusalem as a King—but not the kind of king people expected.
3️⃣ Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet (John 13:1-11) – A stunning display of humility, love, and servant-hearted leadership.
4️⃣ A New Commandment (John 13:31-35) – Jesus calls His followers to love as He has loved.
5️⃣ The Arrest of Jesus (John 18:1-14) – The moment of betrayal and the beginning of His suffering.
6️⃣ Peter’s Denial (John 18:15-27) – The heartbreak of failure, but also the promise of restoration.
Through these passages, we will see who Jesus is, what He came to do, and what it means for us as His followers.
Let’s continue this sacred journey together. 💜
The Beauty and Weight of Anointing
There are moments in Scripture that demand our attention—moments where something so profound and deeply symbolic happens that we almost have to pause and take it all in.
Mary’s anointing of Jesus in John 12 is one of those moments.
At first glance, it’s a deeply personal and intimate act—Mary kneeling at Jesus’s feet, breaking open a jar of costly perfume, and pouring it out in an extravagant display of love. The fragrance fills the house. Some, like Judas, scoff at the ‘waste.’ But Jesus defends her.
“Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.” (John 12:7)
This wasn’t just a beautiful moment—it was a prophetic one. Anointing in Scripture is no small thing. It signifies being set apart, consecrated, and made holy for God’s purposes. And in this moment, Mary anoints the Anointed One Himself—for His burial, His sacrifice, His mission to bring salvation.
Let’s take a step back and look at the deeper meaning of anointing, how it connects Jesus to the Old Testament, and what it means for us today.
Anointing: Set Apart and Made Holy
Throughout Scripture, anointing is a significant act—it’s not just about oil, but about consecration, being chosen for a purpose, and being filled with God’s Spirit.
Who Was Anointed?
👑 Priests & Kings
In 1 Samuel 16, David is anointed by Samuel, marking him as God’s chosen king.
Priests like Aaron were also anointed (Leviticus 8), set apart to minister before God.
Jesus fulfills both roles—He is our King and our High Priest.
🗣️ Prophets
While not always anointed with oil, prophets were anointed by the Spirit to proclaim God’s truth.
Jesus is the ultimate Prophet, the Word made flesh, speaking God’s final and fullest revelation.
🏺 Objects & Places
Even inanimate things were anointed to be made holy. The Tabernacle, its vessels, and even stones—like the one in Jacob’s dream—were set apart (Genesis 28, Exodus 30).
Mary’s act of anointing Jesus’s body reminds us that this was a holy moment—His body, set apart for burial, would be the vessel of our salvation.
The Old Testament Foundations of Anointing
🌄 Jacob’s Dream: Bethel, the House of God (Genesis 28:10-22)
After his dream of the ladder to heaven, Jacob took the stone he slept on and anointed it with oil, consecrating the place as holy. He named the place Bethel—meaning “House of God.”
This foreshadows Jesus, the ultimate dwelling place of God among us (John 1:14).
Just as Jacob anointed the stone, Mary anoints Jesus—the true Bethel, the place where heaven and earth meet.
💦 Water, Spirit, and Anointing in Creation
From the beginning, water and the Spirit work together:
Genesis 2:6-7 – “Streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.” Then God breathed life into Adam—just as the Spirit anoints Jesus.
Jesus was baptised in water, and then the Spirit descended upon Him (John 1:32-34). Water and Spirit go hand in hand in God’s work of renewal.
Isaiah 44:3 – “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring.”
The Spirit and water are poured out, bringing life and renewal—a foreshadowing of Jesus’s mission.
Isaiah 32:15 – “until a spirit from on high is poured out on us, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.”
The Spirit is poured out, transforming the wilderness into a fruitful place—a picture of the new life and justice that Jesus brings.
🔥 Pentecost (Acts 2)
The Spirit comes in wind and fire, anointing the disciples—just as Israel was once guided by cloud and fire in the wilderness.
Jesus was anointed at His baptism, the disciples were anointed at Pentecost, and we too are anointed by the Spirit today.
Mary’s Act of Anointing (John 12:3-8)
In John 12:3, we read:
“Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
The Profound Significance of This Act
✨ A Symbol of Devotion & Worship
The costly perfume was worth a year’s wages—Mary’s love was extravagant and costly.
This challenges us: Do we worship Jesus with our best, or only with what’s convenient?
🕊️ Foreshadowing Jesus’s Death & Burial
Jesus Himself says, “She has kept it for the day of my burial.”
Just as bodies were anointed for burial, Mary’s act prepares Jesus for His sacrifice.
🌿 The Fragrance Fills the Room
The scent of the perfume lingers—just as Jesus’s sacrifice leaves an everlasting impact.
Paul later writes in 2 Corinthians 2:15, “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ.”
Are we spreading the fragrance of Christ in our lives?
The Kingdom Vision: Justice, Righteousness & Peace
Mary’s anointing isn’t just personal—it’s prophetic.
In Isaiah 32:15-18, we read:
“Until a spirit from on high is poured out on us, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.”
The Characteristics of Jesus’s Reign
✅ Justice – He came to make things right.
Jesus confronted oppression, lifted the broken, and called for righteousness.
His reign brings true justice, not worldly power.
✅ Righteousness – His life fulfilled God’s will.
Jesus lived a perfect life, fulfilling all righteousness (Matthew 3:15).
Through Him, we are made righteous before God.
✅ Peace – His death reconciled us to God.
True peace isn’t just the absence of conflict—it’s wholeness, restoration, and unity with God.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and through Him, we are brought near to God.
Mary’s act foreshadows the moment the world changes. She anoints Jesus for His greatest act—the cross.
🫗Lenten Reflection: A Life Poured Out
Mary’s anointing of Jesus was an act of extravagant love—giving all she had to honour Him.
As we journey through Lent, we are reminded that following Jesus is costly. It calls us to surrender to selfish desires, to pour out our lives in worship, and to trust Him completely.
Judas saw Mary’s act as a waste, but Jesus saw it as worship.
Are there areas of our lives where we hold back, afraid of “wasting” too much on Jesus?
Are we willing to be poured out for Him, knowing that nothing done for Christ is ever wasted?
✅ Reflection Questions:
What does extravagant love for Jesus look like in your life?
Are there areas where you feel hesitant to give fully to Christ—your time, resources, or devotion?
What would it mean for you to “break open” your own alabaster jar and pour it out in worship?
🙏 Closing Prayer:
"Jesus, You are worthy of my all. Help me to worship You with my whole heart, to pour out my life for You, and to trust that nothing given in love for You is ever wasted. May my life be a fragrant offering that brings You glory. Amen."