Week 16, John 12:1 11. Hook. Main Point: Jesus is the one who is worthy. Main Application: Be willing to sacrifice everything for Jesus.

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1 Week 16, John 12:1 11 Hook Main Point: Jesus is the one who is worthy. Main Application: Be willing to sacrifice everything for Jesus. Current Event: Some things aren t worth it. In May of 2013 at a carnival in Manchester, N.H., 30-year-old Henry Gribbohm lost his life savings to a game titled Tubs of Fun. Gribbohm was attempting to win one of the prizes offered, an Xbox Kinect (a video game console). Before the day was over, the man had lost $2,600. You just get caught up in the whole I ve got to win my money back, Gribbohm told CBS. You re expecting the kids to win a few things, let the kids have a good time, Gribbohm said. It just didn t turn out that way. 1 The man returned to the carnival the day after the incident to attempt to negotiate in hopes of recovering his loss. The carnival refused to reimburse the $2,600 loss; instead, Gribbohm returned home with $600 and one large, stuffed, Rastafarian-themed banana. Discussion Questions: Is there a particular goal for which you sacrificed? Do you know of someone who sacrificed significantly for his or her faith? 1

2 John 12:1 11 Book Main Point: Jesus is the one who is worthy. Main Application: Be willing to sacrifice everything for Jesus. Text Summary: After Lazarus resurrection, Mary, Martha, Lazarus and Jesus are set to have a meal together. Mary pours out expensive ointment on Jesus feet, to which Judas responds with a complaint, due to the costly nature of the perfume. Jesus defends Mary s act and insists that Judas leave her alone. This section of verses closes with the Jews on the hunt for Jesus, as well as Lazarus, to put an end to Jesus social and cultural influence. John 12:1 3 (Read) Sub Application: Choose Jesus over all other things. Jesus has dinner with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Mary anoints Jesus feet with expensive oil. After Lazarus s resurrection, Jesus now sits down to dine with him, Mary and Martha. In these opening verses, John shows what each is doing in the presence of Jesus. In verse 2, we see Lazarus sitting at the table with Jesus. There s no doubt that there s much to talk about between the two of them. Lazarus is sitting at the table with the man who just called him back to life from the grave. Verse 2 also tells us that Martha is serving the dinner to them. And in verse 3 we read the account of Mary pouring out the expensive jar of perfume on Jesus feet. Before discussing Mary s actions, let s look at the three hosts: Martha is serving Jesus, sacrificing her rights. Lazarus is fellowshipping with Jesus, sacrificing his time. Mary is worshipping Jesus by anointing His feet, sacrificing her treasure. Although all three sacrifice something, Mary s actions seem most dramatic. A little background on Mary s perfume as well as on her actions would be helpful here. Instead of a towel or cloth, Mary used her hair to wipe Jesus feet. This is interesting because it was considered improper for a woman to unbind her hair in public. 2 But this didn t matter in the presence of Jesus. He canceled all other allegiances and all other rules. For her, and rightly for any disciple of Jesus, He is the most important thing in the room and the center of focus. 2 Andreas Kostenberger, Baker Exegetical Commentary On the New Testament: John. Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, 2004, p. 357.

3 This ointment, or perfume, was quite expensive. Nard, the key ingredient, was a fragrant oil derived from the root and spike of the nard plant, which grows in the mountains of northern India. This Indian spike, used by the Romans for anointing the head, was a rich rose red and very sweetly scented. 3 Other gospel writers let us know that this was stored in an alabaster jar. The fact that this nard was pure is a valuable fact because oftentimes, due to its cost and potency, it was diluted to make it last longer. Mary proceeds to pour out this ointment on Jesus feet. The word for pour could be translated to anoint. This is a very serious and meaningful act. Anointing took place to welcome new rulers or leaders or for consecration, but never took place at meals, much less on feet. What is Mary doing? What is John showing us through this account of Mary s actions? What seems to be the point here is not that Jesus is being anointed as a king or ruler. As mentioned, the setting, application point, situation and ceremony are all different than normal times of anointing. It seems clear that the point is to show Christ s worth as being supreme or superior to this valuable substance. Going further, Jesus is more important than all things, even expensive or priceless things. Knowing the value of Mary s perfume, what does this say about the value she places on Jesus? In chapter 11, John shows how valuable Mary s brother, Lazarus, was to her. What do we find in this chapter concerning what s most important to Mary? What does our culture have the most difficulty sacrificing: time, money or rights? Why? John 12:4 11 (Read) Sub Application: Find satisfaction in Jesus alone. Judas questions Mary s use of the perfume. Jesus challenges Judas opinion. Jewish opposition to Jesus comes to see both Him and Lazarus; the plot to kill Jesus expands to include Lazarus. This gospel is unique in the fact that it mentions Judas objection to the anointing. Verse 4 shows that Judas was highly against what Mary had done and viewed it as a waste. Judas s objection centers on the value of the perfume and even lists a market price of 300 denarii, roughly equivalent to a year s wages. 4 The fact that this was in Mary s possession either indicated their family s wealth, or that they held it as an heirloom. Either way, the oil and 3 Andreas Kostenberger, Baker Exegetical Commentary On the New Testament: John. Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, 2004, p Ibid., p. 363.

4 the wealth it represented were valuable, limited resources. Judas realized this, yet he failed to realize the value and importance of Christ. Judas fails to see what is really going on. He doesn t understand that Jesus is worth more than expensive ointment or valuable possessions. Judas misses the point that no action, good or bad, measures up to the value and sweetness of worshipping the Son. Jesus attempts to remind Judas that He is the most valuable. In these verses, he pits pragmatic compassion, concern for the poor, against extravagant unqualified devotion. If self-righteous piety sometimes snuffs out genuine compassion, it must also be admitted, with shame, that social activism, even that which meets real needs, sometimes masks a spirit that knows nothing of worship and adoration. 5 John shows us that Judas had the responsibility as the treasurer to carry the moneybag around. This bag received contributions throughout Jesus ministry and was used to support Jesus and His disciples. Verse 6 makes clear that Judas wasn t only carrying the bag for the disciples; he was also helping himself to it. It s not hard to believe that someone who would sell out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver would have an unhealthy attachment to money and value it more than the Son of God. As soon as the Jewish authorities hear word of Jesus location, they set out to seize Him, as well as Lazarus. Now, they are trying to cover up evidence. They want any evidence of Jesus miracles to be gone, the most important being Lazarus. If they kill him, then no one else will see that Jesus did in fact raise him from the dead. This passage shows that more people continue to believe in Jesus on account of Lazarus s resurrection. These Jews are determined to put this movement to death. And that means taking care of its leader: Jesus. Judas claims the perfume could have been sold for 300 denarii, which was a year s worth of wages. In contrast, Judas later sells Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. What does this show about the value Judas placed on Jesus? Why was it important for the Jews to kill Lazarus? In this passage, how are Mary and Judas different? What is it about their actions that are in contrast to one another? Another Perspective: The Bible Knowledge Commentary 5 D. A. Carson, The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel According to John. Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, 1990, p. 429.

5 12:4-5 the poor. Jesus response alludes to Deut. 15:11, and therefore he is not discouraging helping the poor. You do not always have me foreshadows Jesus impending death on the cross and subsequent resurrection and ascension, as well as the shortness of time remaining for the disciples to have a part in his earthly ministry. 6 Discussion: How should money be prioritized? How does a ministry balance meeting physical and spiritual needs? 6 Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008),

6 Week 16, John 12:1 11 Took Main Point: Jesus is the one who is worthy. Main Application: Be willing to sacrifice everything for Jesus. In Today s Culture: Eric Liddell was a world-renown sprinter from the United Kingdom. His story was made famous by the movie Chariots of Fire. He was a true Christ-follower with deep convictions and at the top of his athletic prime when he left to become a missionary in China. During the Paris Olympics in 1924, Liddell was slated to run a qualifying heat on a Sunday. He refused to compete. Liddell s determination to observe the Sabbath as a day of rest dedicated to God shocked both the British athletics fraternity and the public. Here was one of the world s top sprinters who had recently come within a tenth of a second of the world record for the 100 yards, throwing away the chance of winning a gold medal in the blue ribbon event of the Games because of a religious principal. 7 Eric Liddell held to his convictions and did not give in. But Eric s faith and sacrifice did not stop there, he followed God s calling to China and worked as a missionary in China until his death in For more information about Eric Liddell s story, read his biography, Complete Surrender: A Biography of Eric Liddell by Julian Wilson. Lesson Conclusion: Jesus is worth it. He is worth your time, your treasure, your pride, Jesus is worth your very life. In today s passage, Jesus reminds Judas that when someone chooses Him, it is always the right choice. Challenge: Prioritizing can be difficult. For Eric Liddell, it must have been tempting to compromise his convictions and run on Sunday. But Liddell chose Jesus before competition, 7 Wilson, Julian. Complete Surrender: A Biography of Eric Liddell, Olympic Gold Medallist and Missionary. Rev. ed. Milton Keynes: Authentic,

7 before fame, before victory. When someone sees Jesus as being worth more than anything else, making choices becomes simpler. First and always, choose Jesus.