- Short Address: ‘Jesus – the anointed one’
- The journey of Lent this year has been overshadowed by the horrific invasion of Ukraine
- The world feels a darker and more fragile place
- So we turn to the story of Jesus that can speak powerfully into our situation today
- He lived in an occupied nation where a brutal regime imposed its power by force, crucifying thousands as a demonstration of strength
- People of faith questioned why God had not liberated them Injustice and corruption were rife Into this chaos came Jesus, his integrity shone through confronting the authorities, challenging the religious leaders.
- For many, God was a small tribal God but Jesus introduced a God whose love knew no limit
- Sometimes the weight of that ministry must have been too heavy to bear - sometimes he withdrew to Bethany to the homes of friends Martha and Mary.
- According to John it was here he was anointed with precious oil.
- In Luke the story appears earlier
- For John, the anointing of Jesus, preparing him for all that is to come happens in a safe space in the home of friends.
- Jesus stands up for Mary, refusing to allow her to be bullied by Judas. "You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me"
- Today, we need to stand up for those who are bullied or oppressed.
- That is what Jesus does for each one of us, for all humanity
