John 12:1-19

A Supper at Bethany

Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.—John 12:7

Regis Liberda

During the last week that our Lord spent in Israel before his death, he had supper at Lazarus’ home. We read about the event in John 12 which tells us that it was "six days before the Passover." This focuses our attention on the importance of the events of that last week of Jesus and even the timing.

Jesus had many suppers at the homes of friends, disciples, and even Pharisees during his earthly mission. However, as we will see in John’s narration, this one had special importance. Probably it was due to the moment, to the solemnity created by the declarations of theLord about his near death and to the fact thatLazarus, whom Jesus resurrected from the dead a few weeks before, was present.

Whose Home Was It?

There are some difficulties with identifying this supper of John 12:1-8 with the meal described in Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9:

One was two days before the Passover, the other was six.

The owner of one house was Simon the Leper, the other was that of Lazarus.

The woman who came with the nard is not identified in one instance, and is Mary in the other.

One anointing was on the head of Jesus, the other on his feet.

A number of disciples spoke up at one meal, while only Judas expressed indignation on the other occasion.

Considering these differences it is likely there were two different suppers with similar circumstances. It could indeed be possible that our Lord was honored two different times since the love of those women was an act of hospitality expressed on a very exceptional occasion. One woman may even have copied the other.Tell Us About Death!

John 12:9 (NIV) reads, "A large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead."

The resurrection of Lazarus was exceptional, even compared to the two other resurrections Jesus performed. In the two other cases persons were resurrected a short time after their death. Critics could claim it could just be a mistake concerning their real deaths and that thesupposed "miracles" of Jesus were just a coincidence. Since the resurrected ones were children, their testimony might be considered suspect.

Here the resurrected one was a respectable citizen of Bethany, old enough to answer all the questions many wanted to ask. Because he had remained three days in the grave, no one could question that he was really dead. After all, the friends of Lazarus expressed skepticism when Jesus told them to roll away the stone.

The friends of Jesus were present at this supper and, according to verse 9, the common people as well. They were probably numerous, drawn by the same curiosity: to see a man who had been dead! We can imagine their questions to Lazarus: "How was it? Do you remember anything? Did you see God?"

We can imagine how Lazarus might have answered: "I really remember nothing. It was as if, during a very hard moment of my illness, I suddenly lost consciousness until the moment I heard the words, `Lazarus, come forth,’ and so I did."

There was no paradise, no hell—Lazarus had seen nothing. Lazarus was really dead. "For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

But what happens beyond death is still a question, a big mystery, for many. We can imagine the curiosity of Lazarus’ friends. Even today many do not think of death as if it reallyexists, but prefer to believe one life fades into another. Many think they can communicate with their beloved ones who have died.

Jesus said that "the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth" (John 5:28,29). The resurrection of Lazarus was a wonderful picture of the blessings mankind will experience when all will hear his voice and be resurrected, will see again their families and friends and have fellowship together as pictured at this supper at Lazarus’ home.

This is a wonderful lesson to show that God has provided not a judgment of man immediately after his death, but after a resurrection which gives him a second chance to obey God’s will!

Mary and Martha

In verse 2 we read that "Martha served." During that time Mary anointed the feet of Jesus which John relates in the subsequent verses.

We remember a different supper at the same place where Martha served and Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to his words. When Martha complained that Mary did not help her, Jesus said that Mary took "the best part." During this last supper in Bethany, both sisters are performing the same roles they had previously. This time it is not written that Mary did not serve, only that she took very expensive ointment of spikenard to anoint Jesus’ feet.

These two sisters illustrate different categories of Christians appreciated by God for their zeal. Some Christians express their consecration in long efforts, others in exceptional demonstrations of love. God appreciates both. Our Lord’s personal example shows a long and perpetual sacrifice for others as well as warm moments of compassion as, for example, at the resurrection of his friend Lazarus.

We can easily understand the deed of Mary, who did not hesitate to use such an expensive perfume to thank and to honor the one who had resurrected her brother, and do it in front of many friends. Had the resurrection of Lazarus a price? Not for Mary.

It is also possible that Mary knew something. At about this time, Jesus had mentioned that he was going to die. While many probably refused to think this was a possibility, perhaps Mary understood. Jesus confirmed that she did it for his burying.

Martha also had sublime moments. We remember her answer to Jesus when Lazarus died: "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day" (John 11:24), giving the very first testimony in the New Testament of this most important hope for mankind.

Mary probably had a deeper emotional sensibility in such moments. The fact that Jesus accepted her gift shows his appreciation for her spontaneous decision.

The Costly Gift

We see during that supper the special attention of Mary for Jesus. The price estimated by Judas was very expensive: 300 denarii represented about a year’s wages. For those who were present that night, such a gift might have seemed unnecessarily extravagant. The gift Mary gave was worth ten times the price Judas received for betraying Jesus (30 pieces of silver). This vividly illustrates Mary’s exceptional deed and gives it a spiritual dimension that probably only Jesus and Mary could together understand.

It is generally not so easy to make a rational choice between spending a large sum to feed the poor, and an impulsive yet magnificent act to honor a precious friend in front of others. But this deed contains a good lesson for Christians. In many cases, any demonstration of love to somebody may be better understood by others if we previously also demonstrate our ability for rational generosity, managing wisely what God has given to us. We can suppose that Mary ‘s noble character was both ready to take care of the poor as well as show her love to a precious friend.

The public acceptance of her gift by our Lord shows that Mary had again chosen "that good part" (Luke 10:42) near him.

The Chief Priests

We know about the growing anger of the chief priests and Pharisees against Jesus, an anger that climaxed in the words "Crucify him" shouted to Pilate. We also see in verse 10 that they hated Lazarus as well and wanted to put him to death.

Why did they hate Lazarus? How could a man who had just been dead and now resurrected be dangerous to them? It was because their insatiable desire to keep their power over the people was much more important to them than to consider that a miracle had occurred.

A desire for power and glory and the fear to lose either may be dangerous for a Christian too. It makes a person blind, blind even in front of the miraculous evidence of a miracle being wrought on behalf of another.

Our Lord was a noble example of the opposite of the Pharisees’ pride. He was willing to be despised and condemned by those who were jealous of his popularity. He also accepted the loss of popularity by refusing to establish immediately a kingdom of power. Instead he taught and demonstrated the doctrine of love. He accepted the loss of "friendship" of his close friends who would not follow him in his darkest moments.

Can we excuse the behavior of those Pharisees as being normal and logical considering the political and religious situation in Israel? No, we can not. Even among them there were noble Pharisees like Joseph of Arimathea who did not follow the majority, but obeyed his own conscience which told him Jesus was the Messiah. True, the disciples of the Master did abandon him in Gethsemane, but they eventually had the courage to be his best servants. And no, we cannot excuse such hatred as politically expedient, for in Bethany we find a family of sincere and true friends of Jesus who expressed in a wonderful way their love for their Master no matter what the consequences.