1 24 2016 “An Anointing, Another Plot, and a Parade” John 12: 1-19
In our last study we saw the Plot of the Pompous High Priest Caiaphas as well as his unknowing but true prophecy in John 11:49-50: "You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." The leaders plotted to put Jesus to Death, and so Jesus no longer walked openly until John 12. This most likely was only been a short period of time because the Passover was near.
Today we begin John 12:1: Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 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.” Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5 "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."
The anointing of Jesus by Mary is related in Matt. 26:6-12 and Mark 14:3-9 with some variations. There is another anointing recounted in Luke 7:35-50 which is a different incident. For our study, I am not going to make a synoptic comparison of the event, but rather, examine what John tells us. John is known for his historical, chronological consistency, so there is no reason to think that his account of the anointing at Bethany is anything other than accurate.
Mary anoints Jesus with expensive oil.
What a celebration this must have been: the family and friends of Lazarus, whom Jesus had resurrected from the dead, gathered together to celebrate the miracle of Life which had been given to Lazarus. Jesus was the guest of honor, and Mary, the sister of Lazarus cracks open a large and expensive vile of spikenard, and we are told that she anoints the feet of Jesus. Spikenard was from a plant which was crushed and distilled into an intensely aromatic amber-colored essential oil, which was very thick in consistency. Mary let her hair down in order to wipe Jesus’ feet, which would have been an unusual thing for a woman of stature to do: It would be an act of an somewhat unsavory female, but here it demonstrates a sign of extreme humility and devotion by Mary to Jesus; the more common method of anointing was recorded in Matthew and Mark, namely, that Mary poured the perfume on Jesus’ head.
There is no doubt that Mary’s action is a precursor to the death of the Lord Jesus within the next week during the time of Passover; the cross no doubt looms large in Jesus’ mind as Jesus mentions “the day of His burial”. The practice of “anointing” was done in Jewish culture many times as a gesture of welcome and courtesy, but more importantly it was practiced when a person was called by God to the offices of prophet, priest or king. Jesus had demonstrated that He indeed was a prophet like none other because He had fulfilled the message of every prophet of God who had preceded Him. He would soon fulfill the office of priest in BECOMING the sacrifice for sin. In a few days, the crowds following Him down the hill into Jerusalem would sing: “Blessed is the King of Israel,” heralding the correct message but with a misunderstanding of the nature of Jesus’ Kingdom.
The fragrance emanating from the costly perfume filled the entire house much like the glory of God filled the temple in Isaiah 6 and how the prayers and praises of God’s people are like a sweet fragrance being lifted to our God, but of course Judas did not see it that way. We see a clear picture of the self-serving character of the soon-to-be betrayer of the Lord Jesus.
The chief priests hatch a plot to kill Lazarus.
We continue in verse 9: “Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.”
The effect that the resurrection of Lazarus had on Jesus’ notoriety was immense and it is not surprising: Who else could raise people from the dead? Who had the power to call people from the grave after their bodies had begun the decaying process? And so, many came to believe and follow Jesus because of this great miracle which had been lavished upon Lazarus. (Remember that the name Lazarus means “whom God helps.” God had given new life to Lazarus in a most miraculous way; faith to believe in Jesus, to hear His voice, and to be raised to new life.)
Lazarus as living, walking, breathing evidence of Jesus’ power over death is a serious threat to the Jewish leaders and so rather than reevaluate their views toward Jesus, the authorities harden their hearts even more and hatch a plot, not only to murder Jesus, but a double murder to include Lazarus. Their motive is to kill Jesus and any evidence of His Miracles along with Him. I found that Lazarus is never mentioned again after this chapter nor in the other Gospels, although Mary and Martha come into the picture after Jesus’ resurrection, and so we can only speculate that the plan to kill Lazarus was successful as well. It wasn’t difficult in the first century to conduct such an assassination.
Jesus is the guest of honor at a Jerusalem parade.
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 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!" 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 "Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt." 16 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. 17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!"
John 11 and 12 is rich with ironies as we see God’s mighty providential plan for salvation through the Eternal Son coming near to completion. Days before, Jesus is the guest of honor at a gathering hosted by Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus. Now the next day, the Sunday before Good Friday (the day of Jesus’ death), Jesus is the guest of honor at a parade which forms by people who are in route to the Passover and along the way they became part of an entourage which honors Jesus, becoming witnesses of His ministry and miracle.
With the crowd’s waving of palm branches and the exclamations of “Hosanna! Save NOW!” the crowds are honoring Jesus as a victor, but His greatest victory would not be realized until after His death. “Hosanna” was a common and familiar word sung at the feasts of Tabernacles, Dedication, and Passover from the Hallel of Psalms 113-118, but the people most likely are exhibiting a nationalistic hope of the Messiah as a liberator from Roman bondage not as the Savior from sin, the Lamb of God sacrificed for His Chosen People.
Jesus comes on a donkey, not on a royal stallion. He comes not as a conquering king and monarch but as the lowly Prince of Peace, the gentle King, riding on a donkey, a beast of burden. He comes as Messiah in a totally different sense. Before they can become the King’s people, the enmity between a perfect and Holy God and His rebellious creation must be accounted for. Before He comes as King, He must come to fulfill God’s righteous demands, since what God demands only God can fulfill. (See Gen. 3:15, Eph. 2:14-16, Col. 1:20)
The excitement of the crowds adds to the Pharisaic pessimism toward the Son of God, the Lord Jesus. The Sadducees, by way of the Sanhedrin, had already decided to do away with Jesus, and now, the Pharisees are wondering if maybe Jesus will fulfill the Jewish expectation of Messiah as conqueror and deliverer. Will He possibly lead the people to the Roman citadel in Jerusalem as they paraded and cheered?
Verse 19 shows their dismay through an exaggeration, a hyperbole, as they look at one another and say: "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!" The Pharisees are just as pessimistic as the Sadducees and Sanhedrin so that all of the Jewish and religious leaders feel desperate to stop the growing popularity of Jesus. “You are not doing any good” is like saying, “We are in a real mess here and everybody is following Jesus. Everybody’s doing it!”
This of course was not the case; The entire world did not go after Jesus; in actuality the Gentiles are coming in verse 20 to earnestly seek Him and the entire leadership of Israel is trying to kill Jesus. God used His people of promise to keep His promise of Redemption. If the “whole world” had gone after Jesus, He would never have been crucified. SOME of the World went after Him and followed Him, but some of the world pursued Him to kill Him, not to love and serve Him.
Let those of us who have believed and followed Him be diligent to live lives of holiness to God. Let us be faithful in sharing the message of His love and grace to those who do not know Him. May our life motto be that of Paul, who said: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Rom. 1 :16)
I. Mary anoints Jesus with expensive oil. (vs. 1-8)
II. The chief priests hatch a plot to kill Lazarus. (vs. 9-11)
III. Jesus is the guest of honor at a Jerusalem parade. (12-19)
