John 12:1-11 - Homiletics

The supper at Bethany.

While the hostility of the Jews grows day by day, the devotion of our Lord's friends visibly increases.

I. THE TIME OF THE SUPPER . "Six days before the Passover."

1. The most probable opinion is that it took place on the day after the Jewish sabbath .

2. The edict of the authorities at Jerusalem respecting Jesus had no deterrent effect upon his friends at Bethany . This feast is their answer to it.

II. THE PLACE OF THE SUPPER .

1. It was, as we learn from the other evangelists, held in the house of Simon the leper . Probably he had been healed by Jesus, and gave the feast as a sign of his gratitude and love.

2. The guests were Jesus and his apostles; Martha, who gave her personal service; Mary, whose extraordinary act showed equal faith and love; and Lazarus, whose very presence glorified our Lord.

III. THE ACT OF MARY . "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair."

1. Other evangelists mention that she anointed his head; that, however, was a common courtesy. Mary's act was an extraordinary mark of honor, for she anointed his feet as well as his head.

2. Her act was a virtual consecration of Jesus to a Divine work, involving death .

3. No apostle had ever, perhaps, sacrificed so much upon the Lord as Mary, for her offering was "very costly." A loving heart judges no offering too precious for Christ.

IV. THE HYPOCRITICAL REMONSTRANCE OF JUDAS ISCARIOT . "Why was not this perfume sold for two hundred pence, and the price given to the poor?"

1. It was undoubtedly a large sum to expend for such a purpose . Says Mark ( Mark 14:5 ), "It might have been sold for more than three hundred pence," a sum equal to the support of a working man during a whole year.

2. The complaint of Judas was echoed by the other apostles . "And they were angry at her" (Mark). How ready even good men are at times to respond to the suggestions of selfish but plausible men!

3. The objection of Judas to Mary ' s profusion was dictated in no degree by a genuine regard for the poor . "Now he said this, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and kept the bag, and took what was put in it."

(a) He had no compassion for the poor.

(b) The poor always had their share of the common fund provided for the apostles ( John 13:29 ).

V. OUR LORD 'S VINDICATION OF MARY 'S DEVOTEDNESS . "Let her alone: against the day of my burial hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always."

1. Mary utters not a word in her own vindication .

2. Jesus vindicates her act, as having relation to his approaching burial .

3. Faith honors a crucified as well as an ascended Lord .

4. The act of Mary now begun was completed by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea . ( John 19:40 .)

5. There is a proper season for the honor or love to be shown to those dear to us .

VI. THE CURIOSITY OF THE JEWS CONCERNING JESUS . "Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead."

1. The miracles he had wrought profoundly interested the people in the Person of our Lord .

2. It was curiosity rather than conscience that led to the desire to see Lazarus as well as Jesus . Curiosity, however, is lawful and right when it leads to a serious inquiry into the facts.

VII. THE FRESH ACT OF VIOLENCE CONTEMPLATED BY THE CHIEF PRIESTS . "Now the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus to death also."

1. The sacrifice of one life often leads to the sacrifice of more . Yet what injury had Lazarus done?

2. The idea of the authorities was to destroy the living evidence of a most remarkable miracle .

3. The cause of the bloody design was the effects of the miracle in adding to the number of Christ ' s converts . "Because many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus."