February 24, 2008: Come Die With Me (4 of 8) – Michael Hidalgo

Jesus has continually called his disciples to follow him. He continually says to them, “Pick up your cross …” “Whoever wants to be first must be last …” Jesus is giving these instructions to his disciples in the midst of his telling them that he is going to be killed. They don’t get it. All they care about is their place in all of this. Enter a woman who does the unthinkable. She anoints Jesus with perfume that is worth a years wages. The disciples begin to question this. Jesus then says, “She gets it.” She has anointed me … she is serving. She is entering into my death with me. Jesus speaks toward the attitude toward the poor, and seems to compare himself with the poor. Judas stands as the contrast to the woman. He is the ultimate in failed discipleship. Jesus’ call is to enter his death. So our choice, according to this story, is simple … we will either be like Judas and fail or like the woman and serve.