“Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for Him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with Him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.’
9 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that He was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 since it was on account of Him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus’” John 12:1-11.
The raising of Lazarus from the dead caused great hatred among the Pharisaic community and now it causes an act of love from Mary.
With the Sanhedrin having decided on Jesus’ death, in some ways this anointing by Mary serves as her anointing Jesus for burial. The dinner for Jesus is held at Lazarus’ home, and true to character Martha is serving, as we saw in Luke 10:40. That Mary anointed Jesus’ feet is very unusual, and her wiping with her hair even more unusual. Notice that Judas doesn’t mention this unusual behavior but instead complains about the cost of the oil. John identifies Judas as a thief, stealing the collections and offerings given to Jesus’ disciples to help Jesus and the disciples travel so that Jesus can teach and perform signs or miracles. How tragic that the chief priests now want to kill Lazarus in addition to Jesus — and why? Because “many of the Jews were deserting (the Pharisees) and were believing in Jesus” John 12:11. How pathetic and sad that both Lazarus and Jesus are sentenced to death because they are “stealing the thunder” of the Pharisees.
“12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is the one who
comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel!’
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: 15 ‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’ 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him’” John 12:12-16.
Notice how different John’s details of “Palm Sunday” differ from the synoptic Gospels. Only John mentions the branches of palm trees, reminiscent of celebrations of political victories of the Machabees:
“7 Therefore, carrying ivy-wreathed wands and beautiful branches and also fronds of palm, they offered hymns of thanksgiving to him who had given success to the purifying of his own holy place” 2 Machabees 10:7, at the very least suggesting that the great crowds saw Jesus as a political leader.
Jesus seems to know this and pushes back against this incorrect view of Him when He rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, pointing to a well-known Biblical prophecy from Zechariah:
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is He, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” Zechariah 9:9-10.
Jesus is the King who has come not to establish a political kingdom but to bring peace and salvation, something that will not be understood until His death and resurrection — His glorification. Even the disciples did not understand this until Jesus was glorified.
So dear friends, think long and hard — in prayer — about who Jesus is.
Consider deeply that He is who He says He is, and that His love is so deep and wide that we must all help one another to follow Him, no matter what.
Oh dear Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. Help me Lord to follow You and to welcome You into my life so that I may share You with others. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
From the Bible:
“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” Matthew 21:22.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ”
Romans 10:17.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”
Ephesians 2:8-9.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7.
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