READ: Jn. 12:1–19: … Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial … Hosanna! … your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt … Look, the world has gone after Him!
Jesus has entered the final phase of His life to fulfill His mission. Only a few days remain before His death. But who among His followers expects and accepts this death?
From Jerusalem He visits Bethany with His disciples. Besides Martha and Mary, the resurrected Lazarus is also present. They are served a meal, and they recline at the table.
Then something momentous happens. Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with extremely costly perfume and wipes His feet with her hair. What a moving act of love, greatly valued by Jesus! But Judas reacts angrily, thinking the money was wasted—he would rather have taken it for himself (v.6). His words are, in the Lord’s ears, demonic.
Jesus now explains more deeply what this anointing means for Him. He knows the hearts and understands human thoughts, even those of Judas (cf. 13:21–30; Jn. 2:24,25; Matt. 9:4; Lk. 6:8). He knows, and says it now, that Mary did this for the day of His burial. She loves Jesus as her Saviour and received her brother back from Him. She is deeply grateful and appears here to be the only one who considers His coming death, expressing her love accordingly. And Jesus accepts it in love.
Now that many see Lazarus alive and therefore “believe” in Jesus and leave the Jews, the chief priests even discuss killing Lazarus.
Then comes the triumphal entry. Jesus enters riding on a young donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zech. 9:9. The people cry out their “Hosanna” and wave palm branches, praising Him as a miracle-working king—yet in a few days they will cry, “Crucify Him!”
The meaning of all this will only be understood by the disciples later, after Jesus’s resurrection.
How much are we willing to give for our service to the Lord?
Sing: Ps. 63:3