THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS' PUBLIC MINISTRY AND HIS CRUCIFIXION

-Jesus Arrives At Bethany and is Anointed by Mary

-John 11:55-12:11; Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9

-Many Jews traveled to Jerusalem prior to the Passover “...that they might have time to purify

 themselves from ceremonial uncleanness before the feast.  They were expected to purify before

 any important event (Ex. xix. 10,11), and did so before the Passover (II. Chron. xxx. 13-20), for

 those who were ceremonially unclean were excluded from it - John xviii. 28” (McGarvey/

 Pendleton, pg 568).

            -Of course, Jesus was the talk of the town.  The people were “seeking for Jesus” (John 11:56,

             NASB) and discussing whether or not He would come to Jerusalem for the Passover.

            -The Jewish leaders had given orders that if anybody knew where Jesus was at, the leaders

             were to be informed so that Jesus could be arrested.             

-It was six days before the Passover when Jesus arrived in Bethany.  This would place Him in

 Bethany sometime on Friday where He would spend the Sabbath prior to making His triumphal

 entry into Jerusalem on Sunday.

-In regards to the supper that He ate and the anointing by Mary, there has been a good deal of

 discussion to the chronology.  Some place the events here (prior to Jesus’ entry into

 Jerusalem).  Others, due to the occurrences in Matthew and Mark, place the events just two

 days prior to the Passover.  (see Mark 14:1).  Some have even expressed the idea of two

 different suppers taking place - one in the house of Simon and another in the house of Martha.

            -It seems that McGarvey and Pendleton were accurate when they stated: “It is likely

             that he [Jesus] spent that Sabbath day at that place [Bethany], and that the supper...was given

             him after sunset on Saturday, which, according to Jewish reckoning, would be the beginning

             of Sunday.  This supper is mentioned later by Matthew and Mark, but without any note of

             time to show that it belongs specifically where they put it.  But John does give us a note of

             time.  The twelfth verse of this chapter shows that it was the night before the triumphal entry,

             and therefore we follow the chronology of John” (pg 569).

            -Also, consider the following thoughts of H. Leo Boles regarding this matter.  “Matthew and

             Mark go back, as is frequently done by historians, so what occurred three days before,

             because it explains in part the treason of Judas...” (Matthew, pg 494).

            -For these reasons we’ll consider these events at this point in the chronology.

-Jesus was in the house of “Simon the leper” (Matthew 26:6).  This “...refers to a Simon who had

 been cured of leprosy, not to one who was at that time stricken with that disease...[P]robably out

 of gratitude, Simon held this dinner in his home for Jesus” (Coffman, Matthew, pg 417).

            -Lazarus was also present as an honored guest; Martha was once again busy serving (with no

             rebuke from Jesus as on a previous occasion - see pg 90 of our study); Mary was “blessed

             with a deeper insight into the spiritual realities of the occasion” (ibid).  

-When Mary anointed Jesus’ head and feet with “very costly perfume” (NASB), the apostles

 responded with indignation - “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii, and

 given to the poor?” (John 12:5).

            -A denarius was a “...Roman silver coin...the ordinary wage of a soldier and a day laborer”

             (ISBE).  Therefore, based upon the apostles’ estimate, the value of this perfume was

             equivalent to the wages for 300 days of work - a very considerable sum.

 -John’s account informs us that Judas was the instigator of this indignation.  His objection wasn’t

 motivated by his concern for the poor.  Instead, “he was a thief” (John 11:6) and carried the

 money bag for Jesus and the apostles.  If the perfume was sold, Judas would hold the money

 and would therefore have opportunity to steal from it.

-Jesus rebuked the apostles.  Mary was doing this out of love and kindness.  The poor would

 remain and there would be ample opportunity to offer assistance to them.  The time was drawing

 ever nearer when Jesus would no longer dwell physically among His people.

            -Usually, a person’s body would be anointed following death and prior to burial.  In this

             case, Jesus was being anointed by Mary prior to His death.  (see Matt 26:12) 

            -“She hath done what she could...” (Mark 14:8) - This is a marvelous statement that can be

             carried over with great application to our own lives.  Are we doing what we can for our

             Lord?  This is a thought that deserves serious consideration!

            -In appreciation of Mary’s kind act, “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout

             the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her”

             (Mark 14:3).  In studying this passage, we are continuing to carry out the fulfillment of

             these words spoken by our Savior.

-The people learned that Jesus was in Bethany and came to see, not only Him, but Lazarus also.

            -“This deflection of the common people gave a keener venom to the hatred of the rulers”

             (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 572).  As a result, the Jewish leaders desired to put Lazarus to

             death as well “because on account of him many of the Jews were going away, and were

             believing on Jesus” (John 12:11, NASB).