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The Gospel of John, The Period of Crisis, First Part, The Return to Bethany, Part II, John 12:1-6 - Lesson 99
Read Verses John 12:1-3, Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
All three of the individuals at this scene in Bethany show a picture of the believer as he is to live this life.
We ought to serve.
We are created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
We are to study his word.
We are to receive instruction from him.
And most important of all we are to be fully devoted and worship him as we learn of him and serve him.
It is interesting to note that Mary, the one of the three which worshipped him was the one to be criticized.
The server kept serving and the learner kept learning but the worshipper of Jesus Christ was the one upon whom came persecution and reproach.
But to Mary that persecution and reproach was counted as dung.
It could not be compared to the sweet aroma upon Mary which announced to all that she had been at Jesus feet.
John 12:4-6, Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Mary! of whom the world was not worthy, criticized by the world.
The first words of Judas recorded in the Gospels are: Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
What a contrast that John relates here.
The contrast between one who had all heart for Christ and one who had no heart for Christ.
Mary worships, Judas criticizes.
Mary adores, Judas despises and plots to sell him out for silver.
Instead of giving him the silver of good works he takes the silver of a traitor.
The contrast between one who adored Jesus Christ, one who showered extravagant love upon him and one who cared only for himself.
One who gave her life and one who saved his life for himself.
Even if the heart of Judas was pure and directed toward the benefit of the poor it was not right to try to take worship away from the Son of God.
God is worthy of all worship and adoration and none dare to intrude upon true worship.
Judas was Satan's tool for Satan's thrust is to deny worship to God and to steal worship for himself. |