Bible Reading
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” 35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. 42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. 47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” 35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. 42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. 47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
Devotional
Chapter 12 begins where chapter 11 ended, though some time apart. About a week before Jesus would be arrested and eventually crucified, He came with His disciples to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus for a dinner held in His honor. Almost one-half of John’s gospel is dedicated to this last week of Jesus’ life, known as Holy week. It is as if time slows down during this final week leading up to the crucifixion, and special attention is paid to details otherwise skipped over.
How strange it must have been for the disciples to once again be in the presence of Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead and was now alive and well and eating dinner with them. What an awe inspiring moment to know that your Rabbi displayed power over even death. In a sacrificial act of love, devotion and gratitude, Mary approached Jesus, poured valuable anointing oil on His feet and wiped His feet with her hair. It wasn’t unusual to wash the feet of a guest, but it was unusual to do it during the meal itself, to use very costly oil of spikenard to do it, and to wipe the feet with her hair. Mary’s gift was not only generous and sacrificial, but also 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 - a task often given to the most lowly slave. Thus, Mary’s action denoted great humility as well as great devotion. In all of this, Mary is a study of devotion to Jesus. The life of Mary is painted for us, in three memorable pictures, in each of which she is at the feet of Jesus. This display may have been what led to Jesus in turn washing the disciples feet in the following chapter, as a showing that He Himself was also a servant to all, as they should be as well. Not only should they follow His example, but Mary’s as well.
Judas’ objection to the act and the fact Judas would later betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver fall in a reasonable line. Both actions have, as its central theme, the prioritizing of the physical world and physical wealth over the spiritual wealth that was right in front of Him. He was blind to the pure worship that was taking place in front of his eyes. In the same way that it would be rude to loudly object to funeral expenses at the service for the deceased, so it was inappropriate for Judas or anyone else to put a price on Mary’s love and devotion to Jesus while He was still alive. Judas may also have taken Jesus’ rebuke personally, further spurring his upcoming betrayal.
We read that the Chief Priests were plotting to find a way to also put Lazarus to death. The Chief Priests were mostly Sadducees, and the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection. Lazarus was a living example of life after death, and having him around was an embarrassment to their theological system. For them, there was only one solution to this embarrassing problem – to put Lazarus to death as well as Jesus. The fact that the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead drew many people to Jesus was another problem for both the Pharisees and Sadducees… It was also the catalyst for the chain of events which would come next, beginning with the triumphal entry.
There were large crowds in Jerusalem who had come to celebrate the greatest holiday of Judaism – Passover. Many of them came from Galilee and had heard news of this Jesus. When they came, they came with lambs. Jewish law required that the Passover lamb live with the family for at least three days before sacrifice. When Jesus came and went into Jerusalem, lambs for sacrifice would surround Him and everyone else. Josephus, the Jewish historian, tells us that one year a census was taken of the number of lambs slain for Passover and that figure was 256,500. In other words, with numbers this large, lambs must literally be driven up to Jerusalem throughout the entire day. Consequently, whenever Jesus entered the city, He must have done so surrounded by lambs. Imagine Jesus entering the city surrounded by sacrificial lambs, Himself being the greatest and most spotless of them all.
The people took up palm branches, a symbol of Jewish nationalism since the time of the Maccabees, and cheered Jesus on. The crowd now believed Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, they just didn’t understand what that meant. They looked to Jesus as a political and national savior, but not so much as a spiritual savior. Humans often do this, we see things in the physical realm when Jesus always has His mind set on the spiritual. They greeted Jesus as a king, though ignorant of the nature of His kingship. It would seem that they looked upon Him as a potential nationalist leader, with whose help they might be able to become wholly independent of foreign powers and Roman occupation. The common thought was that one who could summon a dead man back to life would certainly be able to deliver the holy city from the yoke of Caesar.
Jesus demonstrated his true intentions when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9. He could have rode a war horse, or carried a spear or a rams horn as a call to revolution. Instead, He chose the most lowly and humble mode of transportation as a symbol of peace. The time was drawing near when Jesus would make the ultimate sacrifice for you and I. Even while He rode into Jerusalem to cries of Hosanna, the Pharisees plotted to kill Him, and even one of his own disciples was a part of this plot.
How strange it must have been for the disciples to once again be in the presence of Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead and was now alive and well and eating dinner with them. What an awe inspiring moment to know that your Rabbi displayed power over even death. In a sacrificial act of love, devotion and gratitude, Mary approached Jesus, poured valuable anointing oil on His feet and wiped His feet with her hair. It wasn’t unusual to wash the feet of a guest, but it was unusual to do it during the meal itself, to use very costly oil of spikenard to do it, and to wipe the feet with her hair. Mary’s gift was not only generous and sacrificial, but also 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 - a task often given to the most lowly slave. Thus, Mary’s action denoted great humility as well as great devotion. In all of this, Mary is a study of devotion to Jesus. The life of Mary is painted for us, in three memorable pictures, in each of which she is at the feet of Jesus. This display may have been what led to Jesus in turn washing the disciples feet in the following chapter, as a showing that He Himself was also a servant to all, as they should be as well. Not only should they follow His example, but Mary’s as well.
Judas’ objection to the act and the fact Judas would later betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver fall in a reasonable line. Both actions have, as its central theme, the prioritizing of the physical world and physical wealth over the spiritual wealth that was right in front of Him. He was blind to the pure worship that was taking place in front of his eyes. In the same way that it would be rude to loudly object to funeral expenses at the service for the deceased, so it was inappropriate for Judas or anyone else to put a price on Mary’s love and devotion to Jesus while He was still alive. Judas may also have taken Jesus’ rebuke personally, further spurring his upcoming betrayal.
We read that the Chief Priests were plotting to find a way to also put Lazarus to death. The Chief Priests were mostly Sadducees, and the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection. Lazarus was a living example of life after death, and having him around was an embarrassment to their theological system. For them, there was only one solution to this embarrassing problem – to put Lazarus to death as well as Jesus. The fact that the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead drew many people to Jesus was another problem for both the Pharisees and Sadducees… It was also the catalyst for the chain of events which would come next, beginning with the triumphal entry.
There were large crowds in Jerusalem who had come to celebrate the greatest holiday of Judaism – Passover. Many of them came from Galilee and had heard news of this Jesus. When they came, they came with lambs. Jewish law required that the Passover lamb live with the family for at least three days before sacrifice. When Jesus came and went into Jerusalem, lambs for sacrifice would surround Him and everyone else. Josephus, the Jewish historian, tells us that one year a census was taken of the number of lambs slain for Passover and that figure was 256,500. In other words, with numbers this large, lambs must literally be driven up to Jerusalem throughout the entire day. Consequently, whenever Jesus entered the city, He must have done so surrounded by lambs. Imagine Jesus entering the city surrounded by sacrificial lambs, Himself being the greatest and most spotless of them all.
The people took up palm branches, a symbol of Jewish nationalism since the time of the Maccabees, and cheered Jesus on. The crowd now believed Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, they just didn’t understand what that meant. They looked to Jesus as a political and national savior, but not so much as a spiritual savior. Humans often do this, we see things in the physical realm when Jesus always has His mind set on the spiritual. They greeted Jesus as a king, though ignorant of the nature of His kingship. It would seem that they looked upon Him as a potential nationalist leader, with whose help they might be able to become wholly independent of foreign powers and Roman occupation. The common thought was that one who could summon a dead man back to life would certainly be able to deliver the holy city from the yoke of Caesar.
Jesus demonstrated his true intentions when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9. He could have rode a war horse, or carried a spear or a rams horn as a call to revolution. Instead, He chose the most lowly and humble mode of transportation as a symbol of peace. The time was drawing near when Jesus would make the ultimate sacrifice for you and I. Even while He rode into Jerusalem to cries of Hosanna, the Pharisees plotted to kill Him, and even one of his own disciples was a part of this plot.