Preparation for Burial – John 12:1-11

Wikipedia describes nard: “Spikenard, also called nard, nardin, and muskroot, is a class of aromatic amber-colored essential oil derived from Nardostachys jatamansi, a flowering plant of the valerian family which grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India. The oil has been used over centuries as a perfume, a traditional medicine, or in religious ceremonies across a wide territory from India to Europe.”  Its origin explains why it was so expensive, being a rare commodity that had to be transported a long distance to Israel.  It is Mary’s perfume of choice for anointing Jesus.

So Jesus came six days before the feast of Passover to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom he had raised from the dead.  And they prepared a supper for him there, and Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining there at meal with Jesus.  Then Mary took three quarters pound of very expensive pure nard perfume and anointed Jesus feet with it and began wiping his feet with her hair.  And the house was filled with the scent of the perfume.  Now Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, the one who was about to betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”  But he didn’t say this out of concern for the poor, but because he was a thief, and while he had charge of the moneybag he helped himself to its contents.  So Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may observe it for the day of my burial.  For the poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me.”

When therefore a large crowd of the Jews knew he was there, they came, not on account of Jesus only, but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead.  And the chief priests made plans also to kill Lazarus, since, because of him, many of the Jews left them and believed in Jesus.  (John 12:1-11)

Jesus is going to Passover but he arrives first in Bethany, home of Mary, Martha and the resuscitated Lazarus.  Bethany is a safer place than Jerusalem to spend the next few days before the festival.  Mary’s act of devotion, hypocritically attacked by Judas Iscariot (whom John characterizes as a thief in addition to being Jesus’ betrayer),is described by Jesus as preparation for his burial.  It was typical in those days to anoint, even soak, the body in aromatic spices to help prevent the odor of death.  Jesus knows how his Passover observance is going to end.

So many people are believing in Jesus because of his raising Lazarus, the chief priests decide to kill him as well as Jesus.  There are times when God’s people are led by Him to flee persecution and other times to go straight into it.  As far as we know, Lazarus was not killed by the leadership, nor did he flee his home.  We do not know why God spares some of His children from martyrdom and allows others to die.  Why, as Acts 12 describes, does he let James the apostle be beheaded by Agrippa but Peter is miraculously freed from prison and escapes?  That is in His sovereign discretion, as is all of our life.

Discussion Questions

1. What is one of the best dining experiences you have had and what made it so remarkable?
2. Have you ever used a dinner time to honor someone?  If so, how?
3. What do you find interesting about Mary’s action?
4. What would you have made of Jesus’ remark that this anointing was preparation for his burial?
5. Has your association with anyone led to your being lumped in with them negatively?
6. How do you think you might face the possibility of your martyrdom?