John 12:1-11
Six days before the Passover ceremonies began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus – the man He had raised from the dead.
A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus sat at the table with Him.
Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from the essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance.
But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples – the one who would betray Him – said, “That perfume was worth a small fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”
Not that he cared for the poor – he was a thief who was in charge of the disciples’ funds, and he often took some for his own use.
Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did it in preparation for My burial.”
“You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here with you much longer.”
When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see Him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead.
Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too,
for it was because of him that many people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.
Many people were coming to Jerusalem early to prepare for the Passover. They needed to prepare themselves by going through a cleansing ceremony. There were 5 key offerings the Israelites made to God in order to have their fellowship restored with Him. The Burnt Offering, the Grain Offering, and the Peace Offering (Lev.1-3) were all voluntary offerings for the purpose to make payment for sins in general, to show honor and respect to God in worship and to express gratitude to God. These offerings showed a person’s devotion to God, acknowledged that all they had belonged to God, and symbolized peace and fellowship with God. The Sin Offering and the Guilt Offering (Lev.4-5) were required to make payment for unintentional sins of uncleanness, neglect, or thoughtlessness and to make payment for sins against God and others. A sacrifice was made to God, and the injured person was repaid or compensated. This restored the sinner to fellowship with God; showed the seriousness of sin and provided compensation for injured parties. To prepare to celebrate the Passover (which commemorated the time when God spared the lives of Israel’s firstborn sons in Egypt. God had promised to send a plague to kill all the firstborn sons except in those homes where the blood of a slain lamb had been painted on the doorframes. The Israelites obeyed, and when the destroyer saw the blood, he ‘passed over’ the house and did not harm anyone in it. – Ex. 12:23), blood was sprinkled on the altar representing the innocence of the sacrificed animal taking the place of the guilt of the person making the offering. The animal died so the sinner could live. This ritual looked forward to the day when Jesus Christ, God’s perfect son would sacrifice His innocent life on the cross in order that the sinful and guilty human race might be spared the punishment it deserves (Heb. 10:1-4)
Jesus was being prepared as THE Passover Lamb, the perfect Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the whole world, by Mary’s sacrificial anointing of Jesus for His burial with spikenard. God’s plan was coming together. Mary was being used by God. Her offering was a piece of the puzzle which didn’t make sense to some, but which was absolutely necessary in God’s bigger picture. Jesus would take the place of the previous sacrifices which only covered the sins of the people. Jesus would fulfill all prophesy for the Messiah. The blood of Christ and His body given on the cross would be for the atonement of our sins, once for all. Jesus would be the last offering needed for sin. The old covenant given through the law given to Moses was fulfilled through Christ who became our High Priest. Jesus’ time was at hand, the fulfillment of God’s purpose for Him to come from Heaven to earth was to finally take place. The religious leaders were only pawns in God’s plan of redemption. God used the choices of their own hardened hearts to fulfill His purposes which originated from the beginning of time in preparation to redeem all mankind from the clinches of sin and the resulting consequences of sin which is eternal separation from God for all eternity. God would fulfill His plan through those who thought themselves representing Him, yet were so far from Him that they hated Him and all who served God. So in this way God was using them, and though many would benefit from how God used them, they themselves would not. They were headed toward dying in their sins and being eternally separated from God because they refused to repent and believe in Jesus. When Jesus breathed His last and the curtain in the Tabernacle was torn from the top to the bottom, all who believe an receive Jesus can freely come into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Christ, who is our Mercy Seat, and who intercedes for us before God in Heaven.
Heavenly Father;
Your ways are wonderful and beautiful. You’ve always required that atonement be made for sin. You’ve always taught the serious of sin before You, a holy God. You provided through the law the awareness of our sin, then fulfilled the law by sending Jesus. Thank You for Your plans which seem like pieces of a puzzle; as when they are viewed separately they don’t make much sense, but when they’re seen fitted together in accordance with Your plan and timing, they create a beautiful picture of redemption which is seen in the face of Jesus. How wonderful it will be to see Jesus face to face. Thank You that we can know Him today and the forgiveness of our sins through His blood. Thank You that we can come boldly to Your throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help in our time of need. May You be glorified in Your church and in our lives and in our hearts. May our lives reflect Jesus and the light He gives us to shine for Him. May our pastors and leaders be strengthened and led by Your Holy Spirit. Please give them wisdom and power needed to be used by You. May lives be redeemed and changed by Jesus in Your church. May Your church show You honor and love in our community, in our homes and in our individual lives. May we know Jesus and be led by Your Holy Spirit. Please help us to know Jesus and to be able to tell others about Him that they may know Him too. May we not be shaken when we face persecution in the church by those who secretly or openly show hatred for Jesus by hating those who love Him and serve Him. May we be watching and waiting for Jesus’ return. May we be ready for Him. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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