Mary Anoints Jesus’ Feet
TRANSLATION
(1) Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus lived, the one whom Jesus had raised from the dead. (2) There his family gave a dinner in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at the table. (3) Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume, and anointed Jesus’ feet, wiping his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (4) Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, asked, (5) “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii (a year’s wages) and given to the poor?” (6) Now he did not say this because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief. He was also in charge of the purse and helped himself to what was put into it. (7) Jesus said, “Leave her alone! She has saved this perfume for the day of my burial. (8) The poor you have with you always, but you will not always have me.”
(9) When a large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead. (10) So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well (11) since, on account of him, many Jews were coming to Jesus and believing on him.
OBSERVATIONS
The raising of Lazarus from the dead was the event that signaled the beginning of the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry. This segment which opens with a celebratory feast is filled with important repetitions: “Jesus” six times (vss. 1, 3, 7, 9, & 11), “Martha” & “Lazarus” (vs. 1), “Mary” (vs. 3), “Judas Iscariot” (vs. 4) in the first paragraph and “Lazarus” twice more in the second (vss. 9 & 10). Other repeated words included “perfume” (vss. 3 & 5) and “the poor” (vss. 5, 6, & 8).
OUTLINE
I. Jesus was the special guest at a dinner celebrating the return of Lazarus from the dead. (1 & 2)
II. Mary lavishly anointed Jesus’ feet with nard while Judas objected to the waste. (3-8)
III. The chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus in addition to Jesus. (9-11)
IDEA STATEMENT
While Lazarus’ family expressed their gratitude to Jesus, those opposed to Jesus’ ministry were plotting not only his death but also the death of the one whom he had miraculously raised to life.
APPLICATION
This opening segment of John 12 lets us know what happened immediately after Jesus’ display of dazzling power in raising Lazarus from the dead. The first segment recounted how Lazarus and his family gratefully hosted a special banquet for Jesus and his disciples during which Martha presided and Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with nard, an expensive perfume. It was at this banquet that Judas’ true character was revealed in his critique of her generosity. Jesus immediately rose to defend the one who had so lavishly honored him.
In the following paragraph John recounted how a large crowd had gathered in Bethany to see the one Jesus had raised to life after four days in a grave. The notoriety this miracle gave Jesus aroused even more animosity among those who had already been plotting his death. Now they discussed how to do away with Lazarus as well. How ironic it was that they thought themselves able to destroy the one who had already brought others back from the grave! In just a few days, they would find themselves not just dealing with Lazarus’ resurrection but with the empty tomb of the Lord of Life.