Volume 11 · Chapter 62

JESUS ANOINTED BY MARIA. THE FIRST BETRAYAL OF JUDAS. WHEN we were all silently sitting there after Judas’ speech and each one of them was in deep thought, the door opened, and Maria, the sister of Lazarus, came in. With her eyes fixed on Me she came to Me without being concerned about those who were present. She fell down at My feet and covered them with kisses. Then she took a bottle of expensive nard oil1, opened it and anointed My feet with the oil while drying them again with her long hair. While she was loudly crying she asked Me with an emotional voice to allow this anointing. [1 Made from an aromatic herb of the Himalaya Mountains, having rose-purple flowers.]

[GGJ.11_62,2] It is little known that only very prominent people could afford such luxury, for just as the frequent washing of the feet was in that time an absolute necessity – since the wearing of shoes was scorned by most people who were not so wealthy – also the frequent anointing of the feet was necessary in order to keep the skin supple.

[GGJ.11_62,3] Nard oil had special stimulating qualities, smelled lovely and was very refreshing, but because of its favorite and rare qualities it was very expensive so that such foot washing was a very exceptional luxury which only very rich people could afford.

[GGJ.11_62,4] The house became completely filled with the smell of the oil which was a sign of its exceptional quality, so that Judas, who was always very much concerned about the money, could not refrain from saying: “Would it not have been better to sell this ointment and with its benefit give many poor people to eat? Why does the Lord need such oil, for He possesses the power to refresh Himself at each moment even without such oil?”

[GGJ.11_62,5] But he only said this out of stinginess because Lazarus’ riches always irritated him and he often took the opportunity to point out that the rich were guzzling while the righteous Israelites had to suffer need.

[GGJ.11_62,6] But I answered to that, pointing to Maria who was still kneeling there: “What she has done, she did it out of love, and every offering that comes from a loving heart is pleasant to me. With this deed she not only strengthened My body but also My soul, for when so much love is given, I will return that love by giving still more love to humanity. By that she acquired the right to give Me at the day of My burial the necessary strength which My soul still needs to conquer the heaviest. And therefore, her deed of love will never be forgotten, and wherever you will preach My gospel you should also not forget her. So leave her in peace.”

[GGJ.11_62,7] I lifted the still heavily crying Maria, blessed her and said: “Maria, your sins are forgiven by My Father. And what you have done for Me, the Son, I will testify before My Father, and in His house it will be rewarded to you a thousandfold upon a thousandfold.

[GGJ.11_62,8] Now come and sit with us, strengthen your body and stay with us, for the one who gave Me strength by her love will not leave My side.”

[GGJ.11_62,9] This deed, which is similar to the one of Maria Magdalena, gave reason to confusion. But it was Maria, the sister of Lazarus, who was devoted in pure love for Me, her Lord and Master – not with some earthly love. This is why her deed has a total different meaning than the one of Maria Magdalena.

[GGJ.11_62,10] Now I turned to My disciples and continued: “He who is truly rich in his heart can also give of his riches without becoming poor himself. Yes, the more he gives, the richer he will become, but the one who is poor in himself, from him will be taken away the little that he has, because this is what he has to lose by himself. You always have physical and spiritual poor people around you now and you give them always of your abundance. But you do not always have Me with you, and therefore you soon will not be able to give Me anything anymore, also not for what concerns My body.”

[GGJ.11_62,11] This I said to prepare My disciples for My departure because their soul did not realize that this would happen soon.

[GGJ.11_62,12] Now Peter asked Me if I planned to go to the city tomorrow to preach in the temple. When I confirmed this he strongly advised against it because he already saw several temple Jews in the inn who observed Me with hateful looks and were certainly planning bad things against Me.

[GGJ.11_62,13] On this, I said to him: “I have to go there for the sake of the people and no one will prevent Me, for I only came here for their sake so that they may be saved.”

[GGJ.11_62,14] When Judas heard that, he silently stood up and disappeared without anyone noticing it except Me.

[GGJ.11_62,15] He went outside to the people that crowded together in and around the inn and he told everyone that I was there and that I would go to the city tomorrow. They had to make it known: the Savior of Nazareth would come to the Feast.

[GGJ.11_62,16] Among the strangers in the city there were many who went to the Feast especially for Me because they thought that they would certainly see Me then. Since it was known that I always stayed with Lazarus, they sent messengers to find out whether I was there and what I decided to do. Now they heard by the first betrayal of Judas what I planned to do and they very quickly spread the news in the city.

[GGJ.11_62,17] He himself went also to Jerusalem to the different inns where he tried to convince the strangers and inhabitants to come to meet Me when I would come tomorrow at the Feast.

[GGJ.11_62,18] Since there were a great number of My followers, the news became soon known everywhere, especially because there was nothing more important to the people in Jerusalem than My appearance in the city.

[GGJ.11_62,19] While this was being prepared in the city we sat peacefully in Lazarus’ house and talked about less important things. Then Peter finally noticed that Judas was no longer present. He first informed the other brothers and then asked Me directly to where Judas had gone.

[GGJ.11_62,20] On this I answered that he should not be worried about him. What he did, he did out of a free urge, and this had nothing to do 237 with what concerned the disciples.

[GGJ.11_62,21] He did not ask any further but only expressed his discontentment about the fact that this man always returned anyway while they were all often hoping to never see him again.

[GGJ.11_62,22] Lazarus thought: “If the Lord wanted to do away with him, then this would certainly not be difficult for Him. But since He always allows him to stay in His presence, he also is certainly chosen for great things, and therefore we should not express a judgment about this but refrain from it.”