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The Gospel of John, The Period of Crisis, Chapter 11:54 to 12:36a, First Part, The Return to Bethany, Part I, John 12:1,2 - Lesson 98
Read Verses John 12:1-11: Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
John 12:1, Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
As we enter chapter twelve we enter the last week before the crucifixion death of Jesus Christ.
This is a period of crisis.
The hour is approaching when he willingly lays down his life for his sheep.
John in chapter eleven has related to us in a figure the passing of one of God's elect from death unto life.
We have seen in the raising of Lazarus a picture of the new birth and the progressive removal of the grave clothes.
This removal of the grave clothes is a picture of the sanctification of the believer.
It is a picture of growing in grace by a child of God.
John continues this instruction by relating to us an occasion involving Martha, Mary and Lazarus in Bethany.
Jesus came to Bethany for fellowship with his friends.
It is six days before the Passover.
John 12:2, There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Jesus came for supper. A very normal event with friends.
Lazarus, a picture of the new born one, sat at the table with Christ.
He was eating supper with the Lord Jesus Christ.
A picture of the sinner, no longer sitting afar off but now made nigh by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Most likely he was being instructed by Christ as they dined together.
We need to be instructed by Christ.
We need to be a Lazarus.
Martha served as is necessary for the child of God.
We need to serve Christ.
We need to be a Martha.
And lastly we see Mary in a position of devotion and worship of the Lord.
According to Jewish custom she had no right to be there.
Her proper place would have been serving with Martha.
But instead she anointed his feet with a sweet smelling sacrifice.
She anointed him with a very costly ointment of spikenard, an oriental perfume, one pound, perhaps a half of a liter.
She poured this out on his feet, not counting the cost, not keeping some back for herself, and then she wiped his feet with her hair, a woman's glory.
Her worship was a public display of her devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Her hair was filled even more so.
She is filled with the essence of Jesus.
Everyone in the house was aware of what she had done.
For a woman to let her hair down and to wipe a man's feet with it was as extraordinary in that day as it would be in our day.
Would not we have been embarrassed by witnessing such a scene.
My carnal mind would have overtaken me and been astounded at such a scene.
It would have shocked my sense of propriety.
A woman wiping a man's feet with her hair!
Would it not shock you if you had been there?
Serving is one thing and learning of him is another but worship, bold worship, lavish worship and spontaneous worship by this woman Mary!
The disciples were embarrassed it was so unique!
Mark, in his Gospel tells us that there were some that had indignation within themselves.
Later we hear Judas express that indignation but he was not the only one whose heart had showed itself.
But the lesson is clear.
Mary leads us in a display of true worship and devotion.
She was filled with the odor of Christ.
Everyone knew she had been with Christ, the odor of her devotion proclaimed it to all the house.
We also are to be as devoted to him.
We ought to give all of our life to him regardless of the cost of the ointment of our life.
We are to worship as Mary worshipped, giving all to the Savior.
We need to be a Mary.
All three of the individuals at this scene in Bethany show a picture of the believer as he is to live this life.
We ought to serve.
We are created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
We are to study his word.
We are to receive instruction from him.
And most important of all we are to be fully devoted and worship him as we learn of him and serve him.
It is interesting to note that Mary, the one of the three which worshipped him was the one to be criticized.
The server kept serving and the learner kept learning but the worshipper of Jesus Christ was the one upon whom came persecution and reproach. |