In John's gospel account, chapter 12 and verses 1-8 we read,
In chapter 11, we have Jesus' raising of Lazarus from the dead which significantly leads to division between those who believe on Jesus as the Christ and those who want to kill him!
In the few verses of chapter 12 following (v 8), we again find division about Jesus and religious authorities who wish to kill Lazarus because Jesus' raising him from the dead is drawing more people to Jesus. Lazarus' death is again in focus.
Therefore, the theme of Lazarus' being raised from the dead by Jesus frames our segment above. It's not surprising to read in ch 12.1 that Jesus' visit to the Bethany being described as: 'where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he [Jesus] raised from the dead.'
But in this pericope, Jesus' death comes to the fore.
It was common Middle-Eastern hospitality to offer guests water to wash their feet and to anoint their heads with a dab of oil on the forehead. But what does Mary do? She has received back her brother from the dead among other things from her Lord and shows her worship extravagantly. And the strong fragrance from his anointed body draws the whole attention of the household rightfully to him.
Jesus defends her actions against Judas' words by saying, 'Let her alone: against the day of my burying she has kept this.' Mary's act foreshadows the anointing of his body for burial; Jesus is going to die.
One big seduction for preaching is to exhort hearers about the act of Mary in itself. 'You too should be extravagant in your love for Jesus as Mary was'. Do you see how this focus implies that the story is about Mary rather than Jesus? (Of course, we ought to love Jesus extravagantly but that's not what John is teaching.)
Another trap is to focus on the words of Judas about the poor. Those who are wont to find scripture supporting a 'social justice' emphasis will contend that we shouldn't be too hard on Judas because after all he outwardly had the poor in mind!
However, Jesus quashes that diversion by saying, 'the poor always you have with you but me ye have not always'. Jesus is implying (among other things) that this moment is unique (kairos) time. In saying that Jesus has brought the whole focus back on himself. That is the exegetical point we must endeavour to keep in mind.
Being satisfied with sermons that focus on the piety of Mary or the plight of the poor obscure our seeing the Christ who in a few days is going to die for the sins of world.
12 Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
We need to keep our eyes and ears in this pericope on Jesus.
It's tempting to get focussed on something that is not at the religious centre of the gospel event; when we do that we miss what is important. Next, following that interpretive principle, we should determine where this action passage takes place in the flow of events in the gospel account.
In chapter 11, we have Jesus' raising of Lazarus from the dead which significantly leads to division between those who believe on Jesus as the Christ and those who want to kill him!
In the few verses of chapter 12 following (v 8), we again find division about Jesus and religious authorities who wish to kill Lazarus because Jesus' raising him from the dead is drawing more people to Jesus. Lazarus' death is again in focus.
Therefore, the theme of Lazarus' being raised from the dead by Jesus frames our segment above. It's not surprising to read in ch 12.1 that Jesus' visit to the Bethany being described as: 'where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he [Jesus] raised from the dead.'
But in this pericope, Jesus' death comes to the fore.
It was common Middle-Eastern hospitality to offer guests water to wash their feet and to anoint their heads with a dab of oil on the forehead. But what does Mary do? She has received back her brother from the dead among other things from her Lord and shows her worship extravagantly. And the strong fragrance from his anointed body draws the whole attention of the household rightfully to him.
Jesus defends her actions against Judas' words by saying, 'Let her alone: against the day of my burying she has kept this.' Mary's act foreshadows the anointing of his body for burial; Jesus is going to die.
One big seduction for preaching is to exhort hearers about the act of Mary in itself. 'You too should be extravagant in your love for Jesus as Mary was'. Do you see how this focus implies that the story is about Mary rather than Jesus? (Of course, we ought to love Jesus extravagantly but that's not what John is teaching.)
Another trap is to focus on the words of Judas about the poor. Those who are wont to find scripture supporting a 'social justice' emphasis will contend that we shouldn't be too hard on Judas because after all he outwardly had the poor in mind!
However, Jesus quashes that diversion by saying, 'the poor always you have with you but me ye have not always'. Jesus is implying (among other things) that this moment is unique (kairos) time. In saying that Jesus has brought the whole focus back on himself. That is the exegetical point we must endeavour to keep in mind.
Being satisfied with sermons that focus on the piety of Mary or the plight of the poor obscure our seeing the Christ who in a few days is going to die for the sins of world.
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