John 11:54-12:7

Transformation starts at the feet of Jesus, where we learn, surrender (repent), and worship.

Introduction

Last week we learned that the religious leaders plotted to kill Jesus. As a result of that plan, Jesus and His disciples went to a city known as Ephraim. In that remote place about eighteen miles away from Jerusalem, Jesus would be hidden from those walking on the main highway toward Jerusalem for Passover. And since He had ministered in Judea previously (Jn 3:22), there may have been believing families in that area who loved Him. On the Friday before Passover, which would begin the following Thursday evening, Jesus boldly walked into Bethany despite the danger, and word of His arrival spread quickly (v9). On one of the days while He was in Bethany, probably the following Tuesday (Mk 14:1), Mary, Martha, and Lazarus provided a special meal for Him and His disciples. Matthew and Mark tell us that the meal was not served in their home but at the home of “Simon the Leper” (Mt 26:6-13; Mk 14:3-8). This dinner was most likely a celebration of the resurrection of Lazarus and a thank you to Jesus. We also see Martha and Mary falling back into their roles. Martha is worshiping Jesus by serving Him a meal. It was probably done with all her heart, and Mary was preparing Jesus for His burial while He was still alive. As Mary once again lowers herself at the feet of Jesus, we are struck by her act of worship. Spurgeon captures this so elegantly saying, “You must sit at His feet, or you will never anoint them; He must pour His divine teaching into you, or you will never pour out a precious ointment upon Him.” We learn from carefully watching Mary and her pursuit of Jesus. Transformation starts at the feet of Jesus, where we learn, surrender (repent), and worship.

Mary’s Extreme Love (Jn.12:1-3)

• John tells us that this was the last week before the death and burial of Jesus. Almost 50 percent of John’s Gospel is given to this last week. Matthew used more than 33 percent of his Gospel to cover Jesus’ last week, Mark nearly 40 percent, and Luke over 25 percent.
• Apparently, during the meal, Mary came to Jesus while He was seated (reclining) at a table and poured a vial of costly perfume on Him; first on His head (Mt26:7; Mk 14:3), and then on His feet (Jn 12:3).
• After that, she wiped the oil off His feet with her hair. It was “genuine nard,” a sweet-smelling oil pressed from the roots and stems of a plant growing in northern India’s mountains. Mark mentions that she broke the neck of an alabaster vial to open it (Mk 14:3).
• The smell makes for long-lasting memories, and John remembered how Mary’s oil made the whole house smell good.
• Mary had extreme love for Jesus because she was in the regular habit of sitting at His feet.

Judas’ Critical Spirit (Jn.12:4-6)

• Judas Iscariot has an angry response to Mary’s behavior.
• The value of the perfume alone was equal to a year’s income for an average worker (one denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer). Judas made sure everyone knew Mary was being wasteful and that it should have gone to the poor.
• This was an awkward scene. Then Judas broke the embarrassed silence with his sharp sense of financial values – but no appreciation of what God valued. He thought this was too much love and devotion to show to Jesus.
• The attitude of Judas that “this was a bit too much” was contagious (Mt 26:8)
• In a short time, Judas would betray Jesus. Yet, his betrayal was so much darker when contrasted with the brightness of Mary’s devotion to Jesus.
• Judas probably objected to Mary’s gift because he was shamed by her simple and powerful display of love.
• This is the only place in the New Testament where Judas is mentioned as doing something evil other than his betrayal of Jesus, and even this was done in secret.
• Judas successfully hid the darkness of his heart from everyone except Jesus.
• Outward appearances often deceive. Many people have a religious facade that hides secret sins.
• Judas was a thief and stole money from Jesus’ ministry. He indulged in selfish greed and became bitter at Jesus’ self-sacrificing proclamation. No wonder the sight of such self-surrendering love offended him.
• How could a man who spent so much time with Jesus remain an unbeliever? For years he traveled with Him as one of the Twelve. He listened to Him teach. He observed His character and watched Him perform countless miracles. He ate from the loaves and fish (Jn 6:1-13). He was in the boat when Jesus walked on water (Jn 6:16-21). He stood nearby when sick people were healed, and demonized people were delivered. He was even present when Lazarus walked out of the tomb (Jn 11:38-44).
• Yet Judas Iscariot’s heart had remained unmoved. It had not swelled with faith. Instead, it had grown increasingly angry at Jesus.
• Mark and Matthew tell us that this was the event that prompted Judas to go to the temple officials and bargain with them for a sum of money to betray Jesus (Mt 26:14-16; Mk14:10-11).
• Judas felt betrayed by Jesus. In his mind, Jesus foolishly passed up a tremendous opportunity to deliver Israel from its enemies and bring them great prosperity.
• So, with that frustration building up inside him, he watched Mary “waste” all that valuable perfume in an act that symbolized Jesus’ burial, and something snapped inside of Judas.
• Sometimes we use the justification that sounds good in theory. For example, Judas seemed concerned about the poor. However, this very justification was actually a twisting of his soul.
• His self-interest blinded Judas. He criticized her action and, in the process, revealed he was utterly opposed to the spirit of the Lord.

Choosing to Be at His Feet (Jn. 12:7)

• The Holy Spirit led Mary to anoint Jesus with this oil for an entirely different reason then what most realized in that room. She was symbolically preparing His “dead body” for burial. Just as Lazarus had been washed and anointed with perfumed oil for his burial only weeks earlier (Jn 11:1-2), she was, in effect at this celebration feast, telling Jesus, “I know we are going to lose You, and we may not be able to bury You properly when that awful moment comes, so I want to care for You now while I can.”
• Mary’s actions were an expression of her devotion to Jesus, but they also expressed the Father’s love for His Son. With that oil, Mary was prophesying. She was announcing that Jesus was going to die soon, but through her, the heavenly Father was telling His Son how much He cherished Him.
• As Mary poured oil on His head and feet, the Father was honoring Him for His obedience and assuring Him that He would see that His body would be buried properly.
• Through the prophet Isaiah, God had described in detail the violent death Jesus was about to die (Isa 52:13-53:12) but also said, He would honor His Son’s dead body. He promised He would be buried “with a rich man in His death” (Isa 53:9; Mt 27:57-60).
• Mary allowed the Father to remind Jesus of that promise. She allowed the Father to assure His Son of His love and to thank Him for the sacrifice He was about to make.
• Mary was able to be used in such a powerful way because she was always at the feet of Jesus.
• Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and learned (Lk. 10:39).
• Mary fell at Jesus’ feet and surrendered (Jn. 11:32). (
• Mary anointed Jesus’ feet and worshipped Him (Jn. 12:3).
• It is not possible to have a critical spirit and extreme love. One comes from continuing to store offense in your heart and the other comes from regular time at the feet of Jesus.

Conclusion

There is such a contrast of light and darkness in this passage. Mary’s extreme love exposes Judas critical spirit. We must choose between the two because a critical spirit cannot reside with extreme love. One will choke out the other. Judas cultivated his bitterness and greed and as a result he gave way to betrayal. However, there is much to be learned from Mary. Mary was ready to hear the Holy Spirit and show extreme love. As a Jewish woman, she unbound her hair and used it like a towel. Why would Mary do this? Because God was using her to prophesy, and she was ready. We need to be ready. How do we do that? We must spend time at the feet of Jesus. We must learn at His feet. We must surrender and repent at His feet, and we must worship at His feet.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever or do you struggle with a critical spirit? What did you do about it?
2. What does it mean to sit at Jesus feet and learn? How do you do this?
3. What does it mean to sit at Jesus feet and surrender? How do you do this?
4. What does it mean to sit at Jesus feet and worship? How do you do this?