John 12:1-11

1. The Christ and the Crisis
Four part series in John Chapter 12, Showing how
He relates to four different groups of people, the
first:
“His Friends”
John 12:1-11

2. The Crisis…
•John 12 records the second major crisis in Jesus’
ministry, as perceived by the disciples
•The first when multitudes left Him, (John 6:66)
•The crisis here, to John, is widespread unbelief
•Most troubling in His closest friends
•Today we’ll see a contrast of love and hate
•One loves so much as to hold nothing back
•The other hates so much as to sell Him for Silver

3. Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover,
came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom
Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they made
Him a supper there, and Martha was serving;
but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the
table with Him. 3 Mary then took a pound of
very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed
the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her
hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance
of the perfume.

4. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who
was intending to betray Him, *said, 5 “Why was
this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii
and given to poor people?”
6 Now he said this, not because he was
concerned about the poor, but because he was a
thief, and as he had the money box, he used to
pilfer what was put into it. 7 Therefore Jesus
said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for
the day of My burial.

5. 8 For you always have the poor with you, but you
do not always have Me.”
9 The large crowd of the Jews then learned that
He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake
only, but that they might also see Lazarus,
whom He raised from the dead. 10 But the chief
priests planned to put Lazarus to death also;
11 because on account of him many of the Jews
were going away and were believing in Jesus.
John 12:1-11, NASB

6. Six Days Before the Crucifixion…
•John 12:1-2, Lazarus is seated at the
table with Jesus for a meal after
Jesus’ raised him
•Although there are gaps in time
throughout John’s gospel, ( by
“after these things”, etc.) this se-
quence is definite in final period
•Lambs prepared for Passover
•The intensity is getting stronger
and stronger

7. Six Days Before the Crucifixion…
•Getting ahead of the text for just a second to
dispel any confusion
•This account also recorded in
Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14 :3-9
•Luke 7:36-50, is a former pros-
titute, home of Simon the
Pharisee (Simon is a common name)
•Mary was a virtuous woman, this was home of
Simon the Leper, obviously healed by Jesus

8. Six Days Before the Crucifixion…
•This was in Bethany (South)
•Luke 7 in Galilee (North)
•Mary living up to her nature
•Martha as well– serving– even
in someone else’s home
•Know anyone like that?
•We love having them in our
home…

9. Mary’s Love for Jesus
• Vv 3, the expensive oil
• Combining all 3 accounts, we learn
that she anointed His
head AND His feet
• An act of pure love on her part, boundless
and unselfish love.
• Showing devotion before it was
too late, “roses for the funeral” yet
while He was still alive—
• A year’s wages (v5), she would not
give that which cost her nothing-- sacrifice

10. Judas’ hatred against Jesus
• Vv 4-8, his very name has become a
synonym for treachery in dictionaries
• Judas’ first words in all four Gospels
• Shows cunning and deceitful mind
• Most tragic human who ever lived and
most despicable character in history
• Not concerned for the poor, but em-
bezzling the funds for his own selfish
desires
• Judas teaches us that outward appearances can be deceptive

11. Judas’ hatred against Jesus
•Many people have a religious facade that hides secret sin
•Books have been written calling him a
misguided soul, trying to prod Jesus
into a political stance
•Here’s the saddest thing:
•He lived 3 years close to the TRUTH
•Yet he was not influenced by Jesus or
the other 11 disciples
•Have you known anyone similar?

12. Death to Lazarus again….?
•Vv 9-11, the chief priests were mostly Sadducees
•They didn’t believe in the doctrine of the resurrection
•Lazarus was living proof that they were WRONG!
•A complete embarrassment to their theological system
•Only solution: Kill Lazarus

13. Five Characteristics of the Scoffer…
1. They set their own false standards
2. They always demand more evidence of God, but
they don’t take the evidence they already have
into their hearts objectively
3. They do bias researches that are purely subjective
to meet their conclusion that they want
4. They reject the facts
5. They are egocentric, no one and nothing matters
in their minds

14. Lazarus’ witness…
•There are no recorded words of
Lazarus in the Gospels, but his
daily walk was enough to convince
people that Jesus is the Son of God.
•A literal “living witness” used by
God to bring people to salvation
•We should be like Lazarus, not
dying and coming back to life
physically, but spiritually.

15. Lazarus’ witness…
•Romans 6:4
•“Therefore we were buried with
Him through baptism into death,
that just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should
walk in newness of life.”

16. Take Away…
•Because if his effective witness he
was a target
•This event gives us 3 examples
•Martha– Work- serving the Lord
•Mary– Worship- her fragrant
offering
•Lazarus– Witness– people came top
Bethany just to see the man raised
from the dead

17. Take Away…
•We can fool others with our
religious facades, but not God.
Let’s be honest with God, others,
and ourselves
•We should examine our own
hearts and homes to ask whether
we are bringing joy to His heart by our work,
worship, and witness