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The Scriptorium

Jesus in Bethany

John prepares us for the events to come.

The Gospel of John: John 12.1-11

Read and meditate on John 12.1-11.

Bethany is Jesus’ last stop before arriving in Jerusalem for the final time. John packs the occasion with drama and symbolism, preparing us for the momentous events which are about to occur.

                                         1Then,
six days before the Passover began,
the Lord arrived at Bethany, where he
who had been dead, whom Jesus made to be
alive again, was living. 2They prepared
a supper for Him there, and Martha cared
for Him and other guests, and Lazarus sat
with Him at table. 3Mary brought a vat
of costly oil of spikenard, and began
anointing Jesus’ feet with it. And then
she wiped His feet with her own hair. And so
the fragrance of the oil began to go
throughout the house. 4But Judas, one of His
disciples – Simon’s son, and it was this
one who would ultimately betray Him – he
said, 5“Why was this sweet oil not sold for three
hundred denarii, and given to
the poor?” 6He said this, not that he might do
some good for others, for he cared not for
the poor, but he their money kept in store,
and he would often steal it. 7Jesus said,
“Let her alone, for she has this instead
kept for the day when I am buried. 8You
the poor have with you always, and can do
for them at any time you choose. But Me
you do not always have.”

                                       9The Jews knew He
was there, and many came because of Him,
but also that they might see Lazarus, him
whom Jesus raised. 10The priests determined to
kill Lazarus, too, 11because so many Jews
on his account had turned to Jesus, and
believed in Him.

- John 12.1-11

Reflect
1. John omits one important detail about this visit to Bethany, and it has a bearing on what will ensue. The supper prepared for Jesus was at the home of Simon the leper (Matt. 26.6; Mk. 14.3). The man was a known leper, yet Jesus went to eat with him; and the disciples, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus accompanied Him as well. What does this tell us about Jesus? About those who follow Jesus? What does entering this man’s home suggest about Jerusalem, which Jesus is shortly to enter? Complete this prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You have come to fellowship with such a one as I, who…

2.  The details of this story, as all the details of Scripture, are important – details of time, place, people, items, conversations, and actions. These details lend credibility to John’s account as a record of true events. Why does this matter? Let me never forget, Lord, that You walked among us in history, and that You fulfilled all Your work in history, so that we can have confidence that…

3.  John uses this story to prepare us for events in Jerusalem. We need to know a little more about Judas, the kind of person he was. Jesus talked about His burial. The religious leaders are in such a rage that not only are they planning to kill Jesus, but Lazarus, too. A comparable situation to this is the song “Tonight Quintet and Chorus” from the film, West Side Story, in which the tragic events of the evening are anticipated by all the members of the cast, according to their different perspectives.John wants us to feel the tension and uncertainty he and the other disciples must have felt during that last week of Jesus’ earthly sojourn. It is good for us to let these tensions and other emotions sink in, since learning is a matter not only of the mind, but of the heart. Explain. What affections is John appealing to in our heart as we read this account? You have commanded us to love You with all our heart, Lord, and I want to, truly I do. Help me to…

4.  This story also presents a study in contrasts: the beauty of Mary’s act, the ugliness of burial; the faith of the many who were coming to Jesus, the sinful rage of their leaders; the selfishness of Judas, the gift of Mary; the threat of death, the presence of the one raised from the dead; Jesus’ plan, the plot of the Jews. These contrasts summarize the ministry of Jesus and prepare us for what will follow. Explain. You are the Lord of all contrasts, Jesus! When I find myself in the midst of conflicting circumstances…

5.  Try your hand at a summary: Jesus has left the country of Ephraim and was on His way to Jerusalem for Passover. We know what awaits Him there. But rather than go right to those events, John records this stopover in Bethany. Why? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Blind cunning of the blind, to wish to kill one who had been restored to life! As if [Jesus] could not restore to life one who had been killed when he had been able to restore to life one who had died! And, indeed, he taught that he was about do both, since he restored to life both Lazarus, who had died, and himself, who had been killed.” The Venerable Bede (672-735 AD)

How does the story of Mary’s anointing Jesus’ feet cause you to love Him more with your heart?

Closing Prayer
I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16.8-11

Psalm 16.8-11 (All to Christ: Jesus Paid It All)
You are ever with me, Lord; in You I shall not fall.
But rejoicing in Your Word, I abide within Your call.
    Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

Soon Your glory I shall see, for as Jesus rose again,
You will go gather me to my home with You in heav’n.
    Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

T. M. Moore

We are happy to offer each week’s Scriptorium studies in a free weekly PDF, suitable for personal or group use. You can download all the studies in our series on the Gospel of John by clicking here. Please prayerfully consider sharing with The Fellowship of Ailbe through your giving. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from
The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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