“A Journey with John” Day 21: An anointing and a parade (John 12:1-19)
Last time, we got to see Lazarus raised from the dead! We heard Jesus saying that He was the resurrection and the life, as well. We also saw Jesus cry over the situation with Lazarus. We came to find out that the raising of Lazarus from the dead, has put the religious leaders into high gear in terms of wanting to kill Jesus!
Before heading out on today’s adventure with our guide, let’s see the new people to whom we were introduced last time:
>Martha and Mary – although we had already been introduced to them by name, last time, we were able to actually see their interaction with Jesus
>Lazarus – We had already been introduced to him by name as well, but last time, we got to see him being raised from the dead
>Caiaphas – the high priest for the year who pronounced that Jesus should die for the nation
Having caught ourselves up, let’s head out to see what this anointing is going to look like. On Day 19 our guide told us that Lazarus’ sister, Mary, is the one who would anoint Jesus feet at some point. That point must be today!
It’s six days before the Passover and we find ourselves again in Bethany at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Jesus is here to eat a meal that Martha is preparing. While Martha is preparing the food, Mary brings a very expensive container of perfume oil, and breaks it over the feet of Jesus, then dries His feet with her hair. Seeing this, Judas remarks that the perfume would have been better used by selling it and giving the money to the poor. (Our guide informs us that Judas didn’t say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief who often helped himself to some of the money in the money box over which he had charge.) Jesus remarked that Mary had saved this for His burial, and that the poor would always be among them, but that He would not always be among them. There are many other Jews here who have come not only to see Jesus, but to see Lazarus, who was raised from the dead. (Our guide, tells us that the Jews are now plotting to kill Lazarus, as his being raised from the dead, is causing many people to cross over to believe in Jesus.) The next day, we see a multitude gathering. They have heard that Jesus is coming, so they go to meet him with palm branches, and are shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” Jesus, having found a young donkey, rides on it into the city. (Our guide tells us that this is fulfilling prophecy but he and the other disciples wouldn’t realize this until after Jesus was glorified!) It seems that many of the people who had seen, or come to know, that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, are in this enthusiastic group. But of course, this whole display has made the Pharisees redouble their efforts to get rid of Jesus for good.
Our highlighted verses for today:
“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus. The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!””
John 12:1-3, 7-8, 10-14, 16, 19 NKJV
Question for reflection:
Why did Jesus say that Mary had saved this perfume for His burial?
Next time, it seems we are going to hear Jesus say that His time has come. This sounds very ominous.