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John 12: Anointed for the Hour

Mary anoints Jesus for his burial, crowds hail him as king entering Jerusalem, and Jesus speaks of the grain of wheat that must die to bear fruit.

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John 12 (WEB)

1 Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

2 So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.

3 Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

4 Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said,

5 “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?”

6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.

7 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.

8 For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.”

9 A large crowd therefore of the Jews learned that he was there, and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

10 But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also,

11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

12 On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 they took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet him, and cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”

14 Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written,

15 “Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

16 His disciples didn’t understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him.

17 The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it.

18 For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign.

19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.”

20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast.

21 These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus.

23 Jesus answered them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

24 Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

25 He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.

26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

27 “Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this time?’ But for this cause I came to this time.

28 Father, glorify your name!” Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

29 The multitude therefore, who stood by and heard it, said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”

30 Jesus answered, “This voice hasn’t come for my sake, but for your sakes.

31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.

32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

33 But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die.

34 The multitude answered him, “We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever. How do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up?’ Who is this Son of Man?”

35 Jesus therefore said to them, “Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going.

36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.” Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.

37 But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him,

38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, “Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 For this cause they couldn’t believe, for Isaiah said again,

40 “He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.

42 Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue,

43 for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.

44 Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me.

45 He who sees me sees him who sent me.

46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.

47 If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

48 He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day.

49 For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

50 I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”

Summary

Six days before the Passover, Mary anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume and wipes them with her hair, and when Judas objects, Jesus defends her as preparing him for burial. The next day crowds wave palm branches and hail him as the King of Israel as he rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy. Greeks come seeking Jesus, and he announces that the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified, speaking of a grain of wheat that must fall and die to bear much fruit. Troubled in soul, he submits to the Father, and a voice from heaven answers. Jesus speaks of being lifted up to draw all people to himself, urging the crowd to walk in the light while they have it. Despite many signs, many do not believe, fulfilling Isaiah, though some leaders believe secretly, loving human praise more than God's.

Main Characters

  • Jesus — Anointed for burial, hailed as king, and speaking of his coming death as the grain of wheat that bears fruit.
  • Mary of Bethany — Anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume, unknowingly preparing him for his burial.
  • Judas Iscariot — Objects to the costly gift, revealed as a thief who cared nothing for the poor.
  • The crowds — Welcome Jesus with palm branches as the King of Israel coming in the name of the Lord.

Key Verse

John 12:24 (WEB)

Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Lessons Learned

  • Extravagant love poured out on Jesus is never wasted, however others may judge it.
  • Jesus is the humble King who comes in the name of the Lord to save.
  • Fruitfulness comes through death to self, as a grain of wheat must fall and die.
  • Loving human praise more than God's glory keeps people from open faith in Christ.
  • Devotion to Jesus is worth our most costly offering. Mary anoints his feet with expensive perfume and Jesus says, 'Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial' (John 12:7, WEB).
  • Jesus is the promised humble King. He enters Jerusalem on a donkey as the crowds cry, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!' (John 12:13, WEB).
  • Life and fruit come through dying to self. Jesus says, 'Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit' (John 12:24, WEB).
  • The crucified Christ draws all people to himself. Jesus says, 'I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself' (John 12:32, WEB), speaking of how he would die.
  • The fear of people's opinion can stifle faith. Many leaders believed but would not confess him, 'for they loved men's praise more than God's praise' (John 12:43, WEB).
  1. How does Jesus respond to Mary's anointing and to Judas's objection, and what does each reveal?
  2. What is the significance of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey while the crowds hail him as king?
  3. What does Jesus mean by the image of the grain of wheat that must fall and die?
  4. Why do many who saw Jesus' signs still not believe, and what keeps some leaders from confessing him?
  5. Where in your own life is Jesus calling you to die to self so that he can bear fruit through you?
  1. Jesus honors Mary's lavish act as preparation for his burial, defending her against Judas (John 12:3-7). John notes Judas spoke not out of care for the poor but because he was a thief (12:6), contrasting true devotion with hollow piety.
  2. Riding a donkey fulfills Zechariah's prophecy of a humble king (John 12:14-15), while the crowds wave palms and proclaim him King of Israel (12:13). Jesus comes as the long-awaited, peaceable King, not a warlord, on the way to the cross.
  3. Jesus likens himself to a seed that must fall into the ground and die to produce a harvest (John 12:24). His death is not defeat but the very means of bringing life to many, and he calls his followers to the same path of self-giving (12:25-26).
  4. Despite many signs, the people's unbelief fulfilled Isaiah's words (John 12:37-40). Even leaders who believed kept silent for fear of the Pharisees, because they loved human praise more than God's (12:42-43), showing how pride can choke faith.
  5. This is a personal application question. Invite members to consider where God is asking them to surrender comfort, ambition, or self-will so his life can grow in them (John 12:24-25). As leader, encourage honest reflection and never press anyone to share more than they wish.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.