Friday, April 15: Laurie Anderson

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief…) - John 12:1-10

To my mind, John here seems to be layering symbol on symbol, building our emotional response. Jesus is getting ready, and getting us ready, for his death at the hands of his enemies, which will fulfill the prophecy of a coming Savior’s death and resurrection. Unlike this story as told in Matthew and Mark, Lazarus, who was raised from the dead, is in this house, not a leper. Judas, who betrays Jesus, is the one here complaining about the cost of the nard or perfume, not just unnamed disciples. Mary pours it not on his head as in other scriptures, but lavishly pours it on his feet and wipes them with her hair. She is perfuming his body as if for burial, foreshadowing his death.

John uses the risen Lazarus, the deceitful Judas, and Mary’s act of complete humility and love to inform and build the crescendo for the next part of the story. As I enter the story with my heart and mind, I yearn for what is abiding, what is sustaining. For me, that is the image of Jesus himself, breathing in the perfume and drawing close to God, resting in Mary’s love, and telling us to wait, even in helping the poor, and dwell in God’s presence, keeping our faith first.

—Laurie Anderson