The Life of Jesus Advent Calendar - Day 16: Jesus is Anointed by Mary

Introduction

I've followed John's Gospel for the chronology of Jesus's anointing. The event recorded in Mark and Matthew's Gospels could either be the same event not recorded in chronology, or a separate one altogether - there are different views, but this doesn't mean the Gospels are contradicting themselves, as nothing in either event contradicts the other directly. Each writer selects and emphasises details according to their purpose, and while the accounts differ in perspective, they agree in meaning and message.

What can we take away from this rather striking event? Can you imagine worshipping someone so deeply that you would give up your most expensive possession, and do so in a way that risks public shame? That is precisely what Mary does in John 12:1-8. She takes a pound of costly ointment, pours it on Jesus’s feet, and wipes them with her hair - an act of extraordinary humility and devotion. Jewish women did not let their hair down in public, and Mary is clearly unconcerned with social propriety when weighed against her love for Christ.

How would you respond if you witnessed an act such as this? Would you rejoice, or would you judge, as Judas does?  His objection sounds pious - concern for the poor - but Jesus knows the true state of his heart. How easily we can cloak jealousy, pride, or bitterness in language that appears righteous, particularly when confronted by wholehearted devotion that quietly reveals the poverty of our own.

Jesus rebukes Judas, saying:

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.

In doing so, Jesus affirms that Mary’s act is not wasteful or misguided, but fitting and faithful. She is, perhaps without fully realising it, preparing him for his burial—the death he knows is imminent. Far from diminishing care for the poor, Jesus places this moment within the unique and unrepeatable context of his saving work, reminding us that true worship flows from recognising who he is and what he has come to do.

Assembling your stocking

You'll want to begin by laying out your disciples and figuring our how the table will sit over those sat behind it. I didn't include all of the disciples, but made sure to include Judas as he is named in the Bible passage. You can view this stocking as practice for the Last Supper one (no. 19), when you will be fitting twelve disciples and Jesus around the same table!

Once you're happy you know how everything will fit together, stitch your back row characters down. I have Martha standing at the end of the table as the Bible notes she was serving at the meal.

Then, stitch the table down over these, and then stitch Judas, Jesus and Mary in front of the table. I gave those sat behind the table faces looking forward, and then made Judas's and Jesus's face towards Mary.

• 

• 

• 

The most complicated part of this stocking is Mary's hair. You don't have to include this if you don't want to, but I do think it adds a nice detail to the stocking, and helps with telling the story.

I took a long piece of dark brown thread and folded it in half a few times to make shorter lengths. I fold each length in half and thread it through the needle. I then feed the needle through Mary's head, and feed the eye of the needle through the thread loop, and pull the thread through tight. I've tried to show this with pictures, but you can see a video on my social channels too. You might have a more efficient way of doing this, so go ahead and use whatever tricks you have up your sleeve!

I finished off the scene by using two beads to form an ointment bottle, and stitch this next to Mary. Complete your stocking by blanket stitching it together, and that's it!

You can watch a brief video of this stocking being assembled on my Facebook or Instagram.

Please support me

Don't forget that you can support me by buying products from my Etsy Store, or buying me a coffee. Every single like, comment or share on social media is also a great boost.