A Tour Through John, Lesson 23

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.The clock is ticking. There is a bounty on Jesus' head, and in less than a week he will be taking the Last Supper with his disciples. Here we find him at another meal, this time in Bethany.A dinner is held in Jesus' honor in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.As in Luke 10:38-42, Martha is working, while Mary takes advantage of some special time with the Lord.Lazarus, we may take it, is just happy to be alive!12:1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped themwith her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denariiand the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”Mary anoints Jesus. For details, see Matthew 26-A or Mark 14-A, which seem to recount the same event. Jesus' body was prepared for death time in 19:38-40.Judas Iscariot is not happy about this "waste." 300 denarii (days' wages) was what a workingman would make in a year. The ointment was worth a year's salary!Jesus replies that what she has done will be forever remembered.The poor are always with us, and we can help them at any time we like, but this was a unique opportunity. Mary did a good thing.9 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.Lazarus was having a huge impact on many people (vv.9-11)! The text suggests that many others went to the house where the dinner was taking place -- or perhaps they came the following day.Lazarus' name has been entered on the priest's hit list.Jesus enters Jerusalem (v.12ff). This is the Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21; Mark 11; Luke 19).In verses 17-19 we see that interest in Lazarus led many to greet Jesus as he entered the city.12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,“Hosanna!Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—    the King of Israel!”14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:15 “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.Look, your king is coming,    sitting on a donkey’s colt!”Note: Whereas in the Synoptic Gospels, the crowd accompanies Jesus in his Triumphal Entry, in John it is emphasized that they go out to meet him (v.12) as he enters Jerusalem.Historical note: There is an enormous contrast between Jesus' entry and that of Simon Maccabaeus nearly two centuries earlier: "On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the year one hundred and seventy-one [3 June 141 BC], the Jews entered the citadel with shouts of jubilation, waving of palm branches, the music of harps and cymbals and lyres, and the singing of hymns and canticles, because a great enemy of Israel had been destroyed" (1 Macc. 13:51). How far Jesus was in spirit from the Zealots, the nationalist Jews who were willing to embrace violence as a means to political ends!16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. 17 So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify.18 It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. 19 The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.Some Gentiles (Greeks) have come to the Temple and want to meet Jesus (v.20ff).They would have been allowed no farther than the Court of the Gentiles.But they do not approach him directly. Rather, they first go Philip, who was from a Gentile area (Galilee).Philip apparently feels more comfortable going to Andrew, and through him to Jesus.It is implied that this coterie then met Jesus, and in light of verse 23 this meeting is highlighted as truly significant. Jesus is soon to bring about salvation for all men, not just the Jewish people.Verse 24 clearly refers to the impact of Jesus' death, but also to the impact of our dying to ourselves for Christ. We can affect the entire world. (See 14:12.)Death takes place on two levels: physical (for Jesus and the martyrs), and volitional (in terms of our will to obey God, as we die to ourselves).Jesus is preparing to die.12:24-25 is paralleled in the Synoptic gospels by Matthew 16:24-25; Mark 8:34-35; and Luke 9:23-24.Let us honor the Lord -- by following him (v.26), not through idle ceremony. As the ancient rabbis wrote, "Good anointing oil goes from the inner chamber right into the dining hall; but a good name goes from one end of the world to another" (Midr. Qoh. 7:1 [31a]).Thought questions:When it comes to money, is my attitude closer to that of Mary, or of Judas?The gospel is for all nations, that all men and women might be drawn to Jesus. How's your international vision? Do you follow current events so that you know what to pray for around the world? Do you financially support missions? Would you be willing to move to another city or country for the cause of Christ?As I mediate on 12:24, am I conscious of any area of my life in which I am reluctant to obey God?Am I more moved by human opinion (peer pressure, the desire to be accepted, and so forth) or by my desire to please God?Since I will be judged by the word of Christ, how motivated am I to know Christ and know his word? Am I well described by such adjectives as diligent, studious, avid, conscientious, thorough, careful, industrious, assiduous, reflective, and focused?