John 12:1-19

In Hebrew, to sit at someone’s feet means to learn from that person. The idiom describes submitting to another’s teaching, authority, and ways of life. Mary showed her love for Jesus by positioning herself at His feet other times as well (11:2; 11:32; 12:3). We learn to worship Jesus with a sensitive heart when we follow Mary’s example of spending time at His feet. Real, fruitful ministry will follow.

12:2 | After Jesus raised thier brother, it was no surprise that Lazarus’ sisters wanted to hold a dinner in Jesus’ honor. If God worked in a person, bringing that which is dead back to life, the natural response is a desire to show Him gratitude and honor.

12:3 | Mary was humble and teachable (Luke 10:39). As she demonstrated, it is more important to be occupied with Christ than to be occupied for Him.

12:3-5 | At that time, one denarius was a day’s wage, so the spikenard oil was nearly one entire year’s earnings. Judas saw this as a waste; Mary intended it as worship.

12:6 | The disciples must have trusted Judas because they allowed him to handle their money. However, John explains Judas’ real nature (he was a thief) and intent. What Judas says about the use for the money sounds noble, but people sometimes use the most religious-sounding reasons to justify their most selfish actions.

12:8 | Jesus’ statement about the presence fo the poor does not mean that their plight should be ignored. On the contrary, He was alluding to Deuteronomy 15:11, which commands being open-handed with them.

12:9-11 | Jesus’ friends were brave to attend this dinner because the Sanhedrin had given an order that His whereabouts should immediately be reported to the authorities (11:57). To fail to do so made them accomplices in what the leaders considered Jesus’ crimes. Lazarus was also part of their murder plot.

12:16 | Only when the risen Jesus was glorified would the disciples recognize the prophetic significance of these events.