Sunday, March 17, 2013: John 12:1-8

When our congregation celebrates communion by intinction, the pastor invites members to “Come. Take off a large piece of bread. See how large and great God’s love is for you. Dip your bread into the cup.” The congregation then responds with “Thanks be to God.”

The pastor’s words are pedagogical and practical. Big pieces of bread keep fingers out of the cup, while the response teaches people to speak gratitude.

Surely the celebration included a “Thanks be to God” when Martha, Mary and Lazarus sat down to dinner with Jesus. The sisters had accepted that their brother was dead; they had seen Christ weep openly for him. Then suddenly they heard the words, “Unbind him and let him go.”