This house had known the smell of death.
Lazarus had died, had been buried.
His body had been washed, anointed, wrapped in linen and placed in a tomb.
Mary and Martha had lost their brother.
They knew the smell of death
The smell of the spices used to prepare the body
The smell, the terrible smell, if the tomb wasn’t sealed.
From that tomb, Lazarus had walked.
Still wrapped in linen
Still smelling of the spices Mary and Martha had prepared his body with.
But alive, fully alive
Because Jesus had come.
And given them back their brother.
They wanted to celebrate
Celebrate life given back
Celebrate in having a feast for Jesus
A feast with Jesus.
The smell
Of warm bread
of wine
of fine meats
of cooking
filled the house
The wonderful smell of celebration
celebration of life, in all its wonder and glory
given to them by Jesus
What more could Mary do in gratitude
in worship of Jesus?
Nothing, nothing was too much for him.
Nothing at all.
He was worth everything she and Martha and Lazarus had
Even that nard, worth so much.
It was for a special occasion.
What was more special than this?
Than celebrating life given back.
The smell
as Mary poured the nard over Jesus’ feet
overwhelming smell
overpowering smell
the smell of death was no more
for Jesus had overpowered it
The smell of beauty filled the air
Changed the atmosphere
Judas did not like to see the waste.
Waste of money.
But it wasn’t a waste of money.
What was a year’s wages compared to life given back to one who was dead?
But Jesus wasn’t dead
this was for his burial
How, why?
Once more, the smell of death was in the air