John 12 - Jesus is Anointed By Mary For His Burial

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Jesus Anointed at Bethany

It is now six days before Jesus will be going to the cross. Since it was six days from the Passover, it was a Saturday. Jesus went to one of his favorite homes, the residence of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead, so I'm sure it was quite a reunion. As usual Martha was serving the meal, and Mary was at Jesus' feet. She bought an expensive perfume, worth about a year's wages, which was a lot of money. She anointed Jesus feet as a matter of hospitality and honor.

 Mary’s gift was remarkably humble. When a guest entered the home, usually the guest’s feet were washed with water and the guest’s head was anointed with a dab of oil or perfume. Here, Mary used this precious ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus. She considered her precious ointment only good enough for His feet. “To attend to the feet was the task of the most lowly slave. Thus Mary’s action denoted great humility as well as great devotion.” (Morris)

But Judas complained that this money could have been given to the poor. You would think this was a valid point, but we now Judas did it just to have more money at his disposal, as the moneykeeper.  A little later, Judas would sell Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver. But Jesus commended Mary for her sacrificial. gift. Jesus added that this perfume was also appropriate for his burial. Jesus wasn't against giving money to the poor but in this instance Mary's gift was appropriate given He was the Son of God. 

It is always a balancing act giving to special needs, like the poor, and giving to the church, which is fulfilling the Great Commission. In a sense both are worthy of our generoisty, but the bible instructs us first to give our tithe to the church. But we also can be led by the Holy Spirit to give to special offerings to those in need. 

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

The other aspect of Mary's anointing of Jesus is that it was fitting for a king. There were many pilgrims that had come into Jerusalem for the festival, and the news had spread that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. The huge crowd lined up and raised palm branches, which were often used at a processional at key times in the life of the Jewish people. 

The many people (a great multitude) gathered for something that was like a patriotic parade. Palm branches were a symbol of Jewish nationalism since the time of the Maccabees. The crowd looked to Jesus as a political and national savior, but not so much as a spiritual savior.

The nature of their shouts like "Hosanna" and "Blessed is He who comes in the name of Lord", were all fitting for the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus rode a donkey instead of a "war-horse" showing that his kingdom would not be taken by force but by love. This was in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9

While the people were delighted with their future Messiah, the Pharisees saw it as another reason they would need quickly to get rid of Jesus. 

Jesus Predicts His Death

If anyone wonders if Jesus knew he was going to die, they only need to read these verses. There were Greek speaking Jews who came to the festival. They knew Philip, who was also from their town of Bethsaida. They wanted to me Jesus. so Philip told Andrew and Andrew told Jesus. This is why Andrew was nicknamed the "bringer", because he brought people to Jesus.

This is really what we are called to do, bring people to Jesus. We are not responsible to convert people, we only need to share the Good News and introduce people to Jesus. Jesus gave these Greeks the metaphor of a seed falling into the ground and dying. This resulted in many more seeds being produced. In the same way as believers, when we die to ourselves and follow Jesus, we will also bear much more fruit. 

Though Jesus knew he was going to the cross, it didn't mean he thought it would be easy for him. He is so troubled he asks God if  He could possibly spare Him from the hour. But then quickly he adds, "No it was for this hour I came." If Jesus wasn't fully human, he wouldn't be in this kind of inner turmoil. 

Jesus' faith was rewarded by hearing the Father's voice from heaven affirming He would indeed glorify His name in all of the earth. The thunderous voice startled the crowd. They could only assume it was the voice of angel, since they had never heard God speak audibly before. Jesus then told them about the nature of how he would die. He said, "I will be lifted up from the earth and draw all poeple to myself." This referred to being crucified on a cross.

Jesus also mentioned that his death on the cross would defeat his and our enemy, the devil, once and for all. 

Satan, the great adversary, was in some sense cast out by what Jesus accomplished at the cross. Satan was cast out of any rightful authority over God’s people. - Guzik

The crowd did not understand the nature of his kingship. They still thought the Messiah would never die. Jesus told them to believe in the light while he was in their midst, because the light would be gone soon. 

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

Though Jesus had performed so many signs, including raising someone from the dead, the people still did not believe in him. This fulfilled the prophecy from Isaiah that the people would be blinded from seeing Jesus. It makes me want to ask the question, "Why would God want some people to be blinded and not see His Son?"

Two highly respected New Testament scholars F.F. Bruce and Leon Morris say this about this dilemma, 

“Not one of them was fated to be incapable of belief; it is made plain below (John 12:42) that some did in fact believe. But the OT prediction had to be fulfilled, and fulfilled it was in those who, as matter of fact, did not believe.” (Bruce)

“He does not mean that the blinding takes place without the will or against the will of these people. So with the hardening of their heart. These men chose evil. It was their own deliberate choice, their own fault.” (Morris)

But there were also many who did believe, including some leaders. But, in fear of the Pharisees, they kept it to themselves. John doesn't pull any punches when he says that these men desired the praise of men more than praise from God. It is sometimes hard to please God and disappoint people. We are often called to choose and not be ashamed of Jesus and the Gospel. 

Jesus equated belief in Him with belief in God the Father. Another statement about himself showing he believed himself to be truly man but also truly God. The fact that Jesus has shared these words freely and openly left the judgment up to the person to either receive him or reject him. In a sense people judge themselves by there response to Jesus. 

We know God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. He so loved His Son that He allowed him to die on the cross shows the full extent of His love for ALL PEOPLE. Also 2 Peter 3:9 states, "God does not want any to perish but all to come to eternal life!" 

God wants all people saved. Do you?