Lesson Learned: Mary honors Jesus by pouring perfume on his feet
Materials Needed: 2 bowls of water, towel
Bible Verse:
John 12: 1-8
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
Talking Points: Mary loved and honored Jesus so much that she poured a whole bottle of perfume on His feet. The disciples were not very happy that she had done this because the perfume was worth a lot of money. One of the disciples even thought that they could have sold the perfume and gotten money to give to the poor. However, when Mary poured the perfume all over Jesus’ feet, she did it because she loved Him so much. Jesus knew this, and it pleased Jesus because He wants us to honor and love Him.
Questions: What do you think it means to honor someone? Who is someone that you honor?
Activity: Either in a bathtub or outside, take off your shoes. Take 2 bowls of water and let your child pour one of them on your feet. Then, pour the other bowl of water on the child’s feet.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we love and honor You. Amen!