21/3/10 Lent 5

Perfumes

BIBLE READING

John chapter 12 verses 1-8  - Mary washes Jesus’ feet – this story is a lead in to the events of Holy Week and Easter.

PREPARATION

You need to have the effect of perfume filling the assembly hall – set up an aromatherapy burner or incense sticks before the children arrive.  OHT / OHP.

INTRODUCTION

What kind of presents do people give to show others that they love them?  Collect some ideas of the gifts children have given parents and carers at Christmas and birthdays and list some on the OHP.  Did perfume products figure on the list?  Draw attention to the perfume filling the hall (they should have noticed that already!)

See if they can remember a very famous story about Jesus when he was given gifts of perfume – if this causes problems ask the three kings from your last nativity play!

(For info: traditionally myrrh is seen as a gift symbolising Jesus’ death – it was one of the strong perfumes used to cover the smell of a decaying corpse.)

THE MESSAGE

At the beginning of Jesus’ life he was given a gift of two special perfumes – frankincense and myrrh.  The Church is now remembering the last few days of Jesus’ life, and once again Jesus was given a special gift of perfume. 

Jesus was at the home of his friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  They knew that he was soon going to be arrested and killed, and Mary wanted to do something special for him.  In those days when people had walked a long way on dusty roads and they arrived at a friend’s house a servant would wash their feet for them, to make them feel more comfortable.   Mary decided not just to wash Jesus’ feet but to cover them in perfume – she poured a whole bottle of perfume over them, and then she used her long hair like a towel to dry Jesus’ feet!  Jesus knew that when people died and were buried their bodies were covered with perfume, so it was like Mary was getting him ready for his death.

So this is a sad story and a kind story.  Over the next few days we shall be remembering the rest of the story. 

Let’s think about this perfume now – test how many people in the hall can smell it, and estimate how far away the furthest is from the source.  Can you think of other things which are “smelly” – both pleasant smells and unpleasant ones? (This could be amusing!)  You can identify items which smell from a distance, and already you have an idea about whether you are going to like them or not, and whether you want to get closer to them, they are sending you a “message”.  It’s something like that with people too – you see how they behave, you hear them talk, and you know whether you want to be friends with them and get closer to them  - they are sending you “messages”.  But what about us?  Take time to reflect : “If I was a smell what kind of a smell would I be?”  “What messages do I send out by my words and behaviour?

PRAYER

Pray that we may be the type of people who are like sweet perfume, not the reverse.