Post by Fletch on Apr 17, 2009 0:38:26 GMT -8
John 12:1-8 NIV
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at 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.
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.
7 "Leave 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."
Jesus . . . came to Bethany—Among those who loved him were his friends at Bethany. In a world that would not receive him, among his own people who would not own him (moreover, who were intending to kill him), how comforting it must have been for him to have a place of rest and love, a home to which he could resort. Bethany—was a place of sweetness and supply (Bethany means “a house of figs”). His friends were there to receive him and serve him. Whenever Jesus came to Jerusalem he did not lodge there, but he would go to Bethany to lodge with his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. six days before the passover—Jesus came to Bethany. This would be his last visit, for Jesus was on his way to be sacrificed as the Passover Lamb at Calvary. We do not know if anyone was truly aware of this. According to the other Gospels as well as John’s, Jesus had given his disciples plenty of warning. But his word about his death did not penetrate. Who, among his loved ones, realized that Jesus was about to die? Did his disciples, absorbed as they were with the coming glory? Did Lazarus, recently raised from the dead? Did Martha, obsessed with her serving? It seems that only Mary perceived that Jesus’ death was imminent. Perhaps she realized that evening would be her last with him. This would be her last chance to demonstrate her love to him.
She had been keeping a very costly precious ointment for just such an occasion. When supper was ended, she took the spikenard . . . and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled—with the fragrance!
The disciples were offended that Mary would waste this ointment, and Judas Iscariot . . . a thief—would have liked to pocket the money for which it could have been sold.
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.— Jesus pointed out that this ointment was not wasted on him. Certainly, the money could have been given to the poor, but there would always be the poor. Yet they would not always have Jesus. Mary had perceived the preciousness of having him with them. And besides, her anointing would serve as a burial ointment. The ointment that Mary had kept for this occasion would keep until the day of his burial and, in effect, serve as the burial unguent.
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at 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.
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.
7 "Leave 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."
Jesus . . . came to Bethany—Among those who loved him were his friends at Bethany. In a world that would not receive him, among his own people who would not own him (moreover, who were intending to kill him), how comforting it must have been for him to have a place of rest and love, a home to which he could resort. Bethany—was a place of sweetness and supply (Bethany means “a house of figs”). His friends were there to receive him and serve him. Whenever Jesus came to Jerusalem he did not lodge there, but he would go to Bethany to lodge with his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. six days before the passover—Jesus came to Bethany. This would be his last visit, for Jesus was on his way to be sacrificed as the Passover Lamb at Calvary. We do not know if anyone was truly aware of this. According to the other Gospels as well as John’s, Jesus had given his disciples plenty of warning. But his word about his death did not penetrate. Who, among his loved ones, realized that Jesus was about to die? Did his disciples, absorbed as they were with the coming glory? Did Lazarus, recently raised from the dead? Did Martha, obsessed with her serving? It seems that only Mary perceived that Jesus’ death was imminent. Perhaps she realized that evening would be her last with him. This would be her last chance to demonstrate her love to him.
She had been keeping a very costly precious ointment for just such an occasion. When supper was ended, she took the spikenard . . . and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled—with the fragrance!
The disciples were offended that Mary would waste this ointment, and Judas Iscariot . . . a thief—would have liked to pocket the money for which it could have been sold.
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.— Jesus pointed out that this ointment was not wasted on him. Certainly, the money could have been given to the poor, but there would always be the poor. Yet they would not always have Jesus. Mary had perceived the preciousness of having him with them. And besides, her anointing would serve as a burial ointment. The ointment that Mary had kept for this occasion would keep until the day of his burial and, in effect, serve as the burial unguent.