John 12:1-8
Vs 1-2
Six
days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was,
whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner
for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him
at table.
The time was six days before the Passover. This was the
final week in Jesus ‘life before going to the cross. Jesus spent several nights
in Bethany, east of Jerusalem. He and
his disciples went back to Bethany, where Lazarus lived and attended a dinner
in Jesus’ honor. According to Mark
14:1-11, they were in the home of Simon the Leper. Simon came to Jesus when he was Galilee and
asked him to heal him. (A bold move for
a person with leprosy. The skin disease
itself was incurable causing a person to be ritually unclean, socially
untouchable and unapproachable because it was contagious. Leprosy was
considered a visible illustration of sin) Jesus, moved with compassion for him,
cross the line touched him and healed immediately. Needless to say, Jesus was
more than welcomed to be a guest in Simon’s home. (mark 1:40). Mary, Martha and Lazarus were also
there. They were siblings. This was the Lazarus that took ill and his
sisters sent word for Jesus to heal him, but Jesus decided to show up two days
later than requested and Lazarus died. He delay his rescue so those who would
witness the miracle would be believe.
The disciples didn’t understand.
Mary and Martha certainly didn’t understand and seemed that all hope was
lost. But then Jesus arrives, enters
their pain and deepens their faith. They were certainly glad to share this meal
with Jesus. They were close to him. This was joyous occasion.
Is he welcomed in
your home? (Do you have a story to tell of how Jesus rescued you and now your
home is a place where his presence is honored)
Vs 3
3 Mary therefore took a
pound[a] of expensive ointment made from pure nard,
and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was
filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
The pure nard was a fragrant oil prepared from the roots and
stems of an aromatic herb from northern India.
It was expensive perfume imported and sealed in alabaster boxes or
flasks that were opened only on special occasions. Mary’s expensive gift (a pint) expressed her
love and gratitude for Jesus for resurrecting Lazarus’ life. The fragrance filled the house. John mentions this because he wants us to
know that he was an eyewitness to this occasion.
Does your home have
the fragrance that honors Jesus? How do
you show your gratitude for Jesus? How has his love impacted your life?
Vs 4-6
4 But Judas Iscariot,
one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why
was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and given to the poor?” 6 He
said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and
having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Here’s the turning point of joyous occasion. Judas is offended. He calls Mary’s gift a
waste. The disciples agree with
him! The truth is Judas doesn’t care
about the poor. He was upset because he was a thief who couldn’t profit from
Mary’s gift. He was the group treasurer
who was accustomed to taking a whatever he pleased. Mary’s gift had to be one of the most
expensive gifts he had ever seen. The
value of the perfume was a year’s wages, a lifetime of savings. 300 denarii
would be about 6000 dollars to us.
The contrast of Judas and Mary is interesting, in that Mary
openly sacrificed her expensive gift to Jesus, while Judas did his dirt in
secret. Her heart exposed his. Later we will discover that Judas will betray
Jesus for far less than the value of this gift, 30 pieces of silver (the price
of a gored slave) In today’s value, 30 pieces of silver would have been about
400-500 dollars (Exodus 21:32, Zech 11:12-13)
Where is your
heart? Would you have joined Judas in
rebuking this gift as a waste or would you have celebrated with Jesus?
Vs 7-8
7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so
that she may keep it[c] for the day of my burial. 8 For
the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
Normally anointing someone was something festive. To anoint someone means to bless them, the
application of the oil is implying the God has chosen to bless a person for
God’s purpose. This anointing was in
preparation for Jesus burial.
Jesus defends Mary by pointing out that there will always be
opportunity to help the poor, but his time before his death was limited.
What Judas considered
a waste, Jesus accepted as worship.
Consider giving Jesus
your greatest gift: Your Life.
Imagine what how fulfilling your life would be as a love
offering to Jesus. People who don’t
understand may consider your offering a waste, but those who can see beyond the
30 pieces of silver can gaze into eternal life and realize how precious that
life can truly be. Let your heart be a
fragrance that fills the room!
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