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John 12

50 verses

TL;DR

Mary’s costly anointing of Jesus in Bethany, Judas's complaint, and Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem culminate in a teaching about his forthcoming glorification and the mixed responses of the crowd.

Summary

In Bethany, three days before Passover, Jesus returns to the home of Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead. Mary anoints Jesus with expensive spikenard, and Judas Iscariot protests the wastefulness, prompting Jesus to defend the act as a preparation for his burial. The crowd that follows Jesus to Jerusalem brings palm branches, proclaiming him king. Jesus uses this moment to preach about the necessity of his death and glorification, referencing prophetic scripture and warning of impending judgment. Although some chief rulers believe him, many Pharisees and ordinary Jews remain skeptical, leading to a broader reflection on faith, obedience, and the revelation of Jesus as the light of the world.

Outline
  1. Setting in Bethany: anointing and Judas’s objection
  2. Journey to Jerusalem: crowds, palm branches, and proclamation of kingship
  3. Jesus’s teaching on his forthcoming glorification and the response of the people
Themes
Sacrificial generosity and preparation for deathFaith and disbelief amid miraculous witnessesRevelation of Jesus as the light and the promised savior
Keywords
AnointingJudas IscariotJesus's GlorificationFaithDisbeliefLightDarknessProphecySufferingSacrifice
People
JesusLazarusMarthaMaryJudas IscariotSimon (Judas’s father)PhilipAndrewchief priestsPhariseesGreekscrowdGod the Father
Places
BethanyJerusalemSionthe tomb of Lazarusthe feast (unspecified)
Things
ointment of spikenardpalm branchesyoung ass (donkey colt)the anointing ceremonyJesus’s statement of being a lightprophetic scripture referencesthe crown of humility (metaphor)
Key Verses
  • John 12:3: Shows Mary's costly sacrifice and the symbolic act of preparation for burial.
  • John 12:7: Jesus defends the anointing as a purposeful act for his burial, underscoring the significance of the gesture.
  • John 12:13: The crowd’s proclamation of “Hosanna” marks the public recognition of Jesus as king, setting the stage for the coming Passion.
  • John 12:23: Jesus declares that the hour has come for his glorification, revealing his prophetic self‑knowledge.
  • John 12:34: Jesus speaks of the eternal nature of Christ, highlighting the tension between the crowd's understanding and his teaching.
Questions
  • Why did Mary choose such a costly ointment, and what does this reveal about her devotion?
  • How does Judas’s protest illuminate the tension between worldly values and spiritual preparation?
  • What does Jesus’s defense of the anointing suggest about the nature of his forthcoming death?
  • In what ways does the crowd’s reaction to Jesus’s teaching reflect broader patterns of faith and skepticism?
  • How does the imagery of the light and darkness function in Jesus’s message of salvation?
  • What lessons can contemporary believers draw from Jesus’s statement that those who love their life will lose it?
Sentiment

mixed
The narrative combines reverent praise of Jesus’s sacrifice with tension and skepticism from the crowd, reflecting a complex emotional landscape.