📖 Passage
John 12:1–11 Read John 12:1–11 (NKJV)
🧠 Context & Background
Six days before the Passover, Jesus returns to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Lazarus has recently been raised from the dead, and this meal functions both as a celebration of life and a foreshadowing of Jesus’ own impending death. Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume demonstrates extravagant devotion and prophetic insight into His burial. Judas’ objection reveals his hypocrisy and foreshadows his betrayal. The crowds, hearing of Lazarus’s resurrection, are drawn to see both him and Jesus, prompting further hostility from the chief priests.
🌿 Key Themes
- Extravagant Worship — True devotion to Christ is generous and sacrificial.
- Foreshadowing the Cross — Mary’s act prefigures Jesus’ burial.
- Hypocrisy and Betrayal — Judas masks greed with false piety.
- Witness and Attraction — Lazarus’s testimony draws others to Christ.
- Opposition Intensified — The miracle leads to increased hostility from leaders.
📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
John 12:1–2
"Jesus… came to Bethany… they gave a dinner for Him there." - Passover Timing — The approach of the feast heightens the anticipation of messianic fulfillment. - Table Fellowship — A sign of friendship and celebration, contrasting the coming betrayal. - Service in Gratitude — Martha serves as an act of thanksgiving, Lazarus testifies simply by being alive.
John 12:3
"Mary… anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair." - Costly Devotion — The perfume’s great value reflects wholehearted love. - Humility — Wiping with her hair breaks social norms in reverence to Christ. - Prophetic Act — Anointing anticipates Jesus’ burial after His death.
John 12:4–6
"Why was this ointment not sold…?" - False Concern — Judas disguises greed with feigned charity. - Heart Exposure — His objection reveals self-interest over true worship. - Corruption of the Purse — He is entrusted with money but steals from it.
John 12:7–8
"Leave her alone… she has kept it for the day of My burial." - Defending Worship — Jesus affirms Mary’s act as spiritually significant. - Burial Preparation — Her devotion aligns with God’s timing and plan. - Prioritizing Christ — The poor will remain, but Christ’s physical presence is fleeting.
John 12:9–11
"The chief priests… planned to put Lazarus to death as well." - Power of Testimony — Lazarus’s life is living proof of Jesus’ divine authority. - Irrational Hostility — Instead of believing, leaders plot more murder. - Faith Spread — Many believe in Jesus because of Lazarus’s resurrection.
🔍 Trusted Insight
D.A. Carson observes that Mary’s act of anointing shows both love and spiritual perception, recognizing that Jesus’ death was imminent. Her act contrasts sharply with Judas’s self-serving nature, illustrating that the heart of worship is self-giving love, not calculation. Summary: Worship that costs much in earthly terms reveals the surpassing worth of Christ.
🧩 Review Questions
💡 Click a question to open the chatbot and explore the answer. Tap the chat bubble again to close it.
- How does Mary’s anointing reflect the heart of true worship?
- Why is costly devotion often criticized, even by those close to religious life?
- How does Lazarus’s testimony challenge unbelief?
- What does Judas’s objection reveal about the danger of hypocrisy?
- How should believers balance care for the poor with honoring Christ?
🔍 Definitions
- Nard — A fragrant, expensive oil extracted from a plant in the Himalayas, used for anointing.
- Anointing — The ceremonial pouring of oil, symbolizing consecration or honor.
- Passover — Jewish feast commemorating deliverance from Egypt, fulfilled in Christ.
- Burial Preparation — The anointing of a body before entombment.
🙋 Application Questions
- What is one way you can demonstrate sacrificial love for Christ this week?
- How can your testimony, like Lazarus’s, point others to Jesus?
- Are there areas where you disguise selfish motives as concern for others?
- How can worship be both public testimony and personal devotion?
🔤 Greek Keywords
- Muron (Ointment) — Perfumed oil used for anointing; in this case, costly and rare.
- Timē (Value, honor) — Denotes both worth and esteem, central to the act of devotion.
- Thēreō (To guard, keep) — Used here in the sense of keeping for burial purposes.
- Martyria (Testimony) — Public witness to truth, as Lazarus’s life testified to Jesus’ power.
📚 Cross References
- Matthew 26:6-13 — Parallel account of the anointing.
- Mark 14:3-9 — Emphasizes the beauty of Mary’s act.
- Luke 10:38-42 — Mary chooses the better portion.
- Philippians 3:8 — The surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
- Hebrews 13:15-16 — Sacrifice of praise and doing good.