June 2, 2021
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Reading along with us in John? Here’s today’s reading:
John 12 (NIV)
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
1 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..........Continue Reading
I guess this is the first glimpse of the evil in Judas’ heart. He is offended by Mary using the oil to anoint Jesus’ head claiming it could be sold and used for the poor but you get the impression it was more that they could have made money off of the oil. It becomes apparent that he finds another way to make some quick money at the expense of Jesus’ life!
Jesus knows what is coming for Him and knows Judas will be a crucial part in that but still takes the time to explain why this oil wasn’t wasted because He would soon die but that did not change what Judas did.
Then comes the people cheering for Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem only to cheer cries to crucify Him a week later. Their belief in Him was short lived!
John 12
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” – this verse gives me comfort. There are so many forces in the world and from life in general that can bring darkness into our lives but if we are in Jesus it is possible to extinguish that darkness with his light. This makes me feel hopeful.
John 11
John 12
Spiritual eyes see the worth of Jesus and sacrifices things on His behalf. Physical eyes see the value of material things and sees the greater value to be for secular endeavors. Jesus uses the beautiful expression of love and worship that comes from Mary to emphasize the fact that He will die and need the perfume for burial. He has been alluding to His death all along, but He will ramp that up because it is around the corner. And you gotta figure that Jesus knows what Judas is doing skimming money, but He keeps him around for the part he will play in the plan. And how the Jewish leaders cannot see the evil in their heart that if stopping Jesus means we have to kill Lazarus, they are good with that. That illogical disconnect can be in all of us and it is certainly in our world today. But for those who recognize who Jesus is and the glory of what He has done, the worship continues in the triumphal entry. But crowds are fickle and turn heroes to villains quickly.
As Jesus talks about the hour that is coming, He admits that His heart is troubled. But is He going to ask the Father to rescue Him? No, it is for this hour that He has come so Jesus asks that the Father will be glorified by what Jesus does. What a great perspective for us to have when our hearts are troubled by the challenges of life. Jesus offers us light to live our lives by. We need to choose to live in that light that expresses the truth of God and allow it to drive out the darkness in the world so it doesn’t penetrate our hearts.
And Jesus is not speaking on His own, but sharing only what the Father tells Him. And similarly, God is expediting the blindness of the Jewish leaders and will use them in HIs plan as well. Let us not be the ones who believe but stay in the shadows because of fear of other’s opinions or the negative consequences that may come.
25Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.26Whoever 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.28Father, glorify your name!”
The resurrection of Lazarus sure throws a wrench in the chief priests’ plans. It is so very ironic that they plot to kill Lazarus because Jesus raised him from the dead.
So many are coming to see, and many believe because of the resurrection of Lazarus:
“Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.”
“Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”
There were even Greeks who sought to speak with Him.
Another thing that really struck me was the voice. If you were sitting with someone who performed miracles and fulfilled prophesies and he spoke and a VOICE returned saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” wouldn’t you be shook to the very core?
I do understand why they are confused about Him saying He is going to die and go away, because they are assuming the end prophesy where the Christ stays. I guess this is a good lesson to us in our interpretation of Revelation and end-times prophesies to be careful to pay attention to the Word, but be sure not to come with our pre-conceived ideas about how it will be fulfilled.