Chapter 12 begins at the start of Passion Week. The first 11 chapters in John’s Gospel are over a period of 3 years. The next 10 chapters cover 7 days. This obviously is a very important time period according to John.
Chapter 12 starts one month after Jesus raised Lazarus from his tomb. A dinner is given for Jesus and Lazarus was also invited. What do you think other guests were thinking when they saw both of them there? How could that have felt like just another dinner?
I wonder what Lazarus’ life was like that month? Could he just go back to business as usual? When God touches a life deeply, that witness is a powerful tool in God’s hand.
At this dinner, Lazarus’ sister Mary does an interesting thing in verse 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.” Then Judas shows his true heart in verses 4 and 5. John adds a comment in verse 6 that is very pointed.
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.
Jesus’ answer was pointing to the cross, but they did not understand. In 7 and 8 Jesus responds, “7Leave 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.” What do you think John was thought about when Jesus said it was for His burial? Imagine spending time with Jesus and often having Him make statements you don’t understand, and yet know they are true. We have that experience when we read Scripture that we don’t understand and yet know God’s Word is true.
The Pharisees show their spiritual blindness in verse 10 and 11, “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.” Can you imagine wanting to kill someone that had just been raised from the dead because it didn’t fit your plans?
During Passover Jerusalem grows from ¼ million people to around one million people. The day after the dinner we call the Triumphal Entry. Verses 12-15 tell the story.
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 (in Zachariah 9:9):
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
John says they didn’t understand what was happening but after Jesus was resurrected, they remembered. Jews that saw Jesus raise Lazarus continued to tell people. The crowd heard He had done this sign. The Pharisees said, “The whole world is gone after Him!” They needed to get rid of Him. It amazes me how the foolish people of this world are used by God to complete His plan, but salvation to those who would believe.
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