Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany ... So they gave a dinner for Him there. ... Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot ... said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me." (John 12:1a, 2a, 3-4a, 5-8)

I wonder how Mary felt, listening to Jesus defend her. All she had wanted to do was to thank Him, to express the love she felt for Him after He raised her brother from the dead. She didn't expect Jesus' own disciples to put her to shame!

But Jesus defends her. He sees the love in her heart and the beauty of what she did. And He speaks up for her, even though He knows that He's signing His own death warrant. Because Jesus' defense of Mary is the last straw for Judas. Angry and hurt, he goes to arrange to betray Jesus to His enemies right away (see Matthew 26:14-16).

Nothing will stop Jesus from protecting the ones He loves—not even His own suffering and death. And you and I are among the ones He loves, for Jesus died and rose to save everyone in danger from the powers of evil. He loves you that much.

WE PRAY: Thank You, Lord, my Protector. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

* When have you done something good that was misunderstood?

* Did anyone defend you?

* Does it help to know that Jesus understands and cares for you?

Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Today's Bible Readings: Numbers 23-25    Mark 16

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