Lent 5                                  John 12:1-8                                        3/25/07
 

                                  "The Road Of Anticipation"

 

Anticipation is an interesting word. It can have either a positive or a negative connotation. We may anticipate good news when we do our income tax or we may anticipate having to write a big check to the IRS. We may anticipate a report that we are healthy as a thirty year old or have the body of an eighty year old - the latter not a happy anticipation if you are only forty. We may anticipate the coming visit of a relative with either joy or dread, depending on our relationship with the person. We may anticipate the person at the door is a spouse home early from a business trip or a burglar who will take our money and our lives.

 

Thus, being on the road of anticipation can make us feel really good or it can make us wish we’d never been born. It can raise our blood pressure and tie our stomachs up in knots or it can cause us to feel at peace. It can mean welcome or dread.

 

There was a lot of anticipation at Lazarus’ house the night Jesus came to dinner with his disciples. The disciples were anticipating a time of rest and relaxation away from the crowds and the constant demands of Jesus’ ministry as they lounged on their couches. And, with Martha’s dedication to homemaking, there was surely anticipation of a good meal.

 

Also, Passover was on the way and this year the disciples would celebrate the holiday in Jerusalem. Since they still didn’t get what Jesus had been saying about what was to happen there, they probably were anticipating a wonderful religious feast in the City of God in just six days.

 

Did Judas know that Mary had this greatly valued jar of nard based perfume? Nard came from a special plant that grew in what is today India. A pound of it would have cost the equivalent of a years pay for a laborer’s family. Might Judas have been anticipating talking Mary into selling it and giving him the money, supposedly for Jesus’ ministry to the poor?

Since Mary’s time at Jesus’ feet, learning from him, had helped her develop deep spiritual insight, Mary was on the road of anticipation too...but anticipation of a very different, a much sadder kind. Mary’s act shows that she was anticipating Jesus’ death.

 

Finally, what about Jesus. He knew what was ahead. Was he feeling anticipation? Being human, there surely could be no pleasure in anticipating the bite of the lash, the pain of the nails and the agony of hanging on the cross.

 

On the other hand, in His divinity, Jesus also knew that death would not be the victor, that Easter would follow a not very good Friday as He would rise from the grave. Did Jesus anticipate the overwhelming joy of Mary Magdalene when she discover he was not the cemetery gardener, the wonder of his other disciples when he appeared among them or the awe of Thomas when he was invited to touch the wounds of his risen Lord?

 

What kind of "Road of Anticipation" are we on? Are there those among us who haven’t done their taxes yet and are unsure whether to anticipate April 17 with joy or dread? Are there some who are awaiting test results from the doctor and anticipate the report with great anxiety?

 

Are there others who anticipate the coming days with joy because the holiday means visits from family members seldom seen? Might any here be anticipating our once a year early service, waiting with much delight at the thought of one of my sparkling sermons - not, of course, the great breakfast that comes after.

 

Might I suggest that we all use Mary of Bethany as our model. Let us be found sitting at Jesus’ feet, especially during these last two weeks. Let us drink deeply of Scripture, meditation, prayer, confession and worship, so that we too can gain the spiritual insight she had, so that we too can discern the sorrow ahead, and why this sorrow is so necessary.

 

We must concentrate more seriously than she did, because we’ve known for so long what the end of the story will be. The old rugged cross may not convey the painful meaning it once did. The words of Holy Communion, "The body of Christ given for you" may be less moving as we anticipate all that we must do the rest of our Sunday.

 

And sadly, for a few at least, the gathering around the basement breakfast tables after worship may be looked forward to with greater joy than our sung alleluia’s before. Yes, Mary’s anticipation may take some effort to achieve. It is worth it though.

 

Remember, we must be willing to suffer like Mary. We must be willing to let down our hair in grief over our sins and perhaps break free of convention like she did when she wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair. It may even seem shameful to put Jesus ahead of other obligations, including those we have to others in need.

 

Let’s face who we are and how much in need we are of a Savior. Do we remember the ashes smudged on our foreheads almost five weeks ago? What did we anticipate then? Do we remember the words, "From dust you came and to dust you shall return"? Did they give us a chill of anticipation for what lay ahead - hopefully, far ahead? Do we still carry those ashes spiritually or do they need to be renewed in these last days of Lent, so we can fully anticipate what is to come both on Easter and when we meet Christ face to face?

 

Are you on the "Road of Anticipation"? What are you anticipating as I say, "Amen".