Tonight we look at the aftermath of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. That cemented the determination of the Jewish leaders to kill Jesus.

Encounter Jesus – John Week 16

Preparing for Death

John 11:45 – 12 11

AUDIO

Lecture Handout

John Week 16 – Preparing for Death Handout (2)

Lesson Notes

The Plot to Kill Jesus (John 11: 45-57)

  • Verse 45 – Many Jews who witnessed Lazarus leaving his tomb believed in Jesus
  • Verse 46 – But not all! Some went and told the Pharisees
  • Verses 47-52 – The Jewish high council (Sanhedrin) gathered
    • Verses 47-48 – They’re afraid of the signs (miracles) Jesus is doing
    • All signs point to something ->  these point to Jesus being Messiah, Son of God
    • “If we let Him go on like this…” -> they fear everyone will believe He is Messiah
    • Verse 48 – they fear a Roman crackdown
      • That would take “their place” (the temple)
      • And their semi-autonomous deal with Rom would end (their nation)
      • Ultimately, they fear they’d lose their personal status and privilege
      • All of this ultimately happened in 70AD
    • Caiaphas, the high priest, shared a prophecy – with a double meaning
      • Verse 49 – Josephus reports the Sadducees were very rude – this is an example
      • Verse 50 – It’s better for one man to die for the people – as a scapegoat or sacrifice
      • Verses 51-52 – He prophesied Jesus would die for the nation
      • He’s imagining a politically expedient sacrifice – dying to keep Rome calm
      • In truth, his prophecy was correct -> Jesus’ sacrificial death for believers of all nations to be reconciled in the new Israel (the Gospel!)
    • Verse 53 – They made plans to put Jesus to death
    • Verses 54-57 – Jesus laid low as the 3rd Passover in John’s gospel approaches
      • Many came early to ritually cleanse themselves in preparation for the meal and were curious about Jesus

Preparing for Death (John 12: 1-11)

  • Verse 1 – Jesus goes to Bethany six days before Passover
  • Verse 2 – Lazarus, Martha, and Mary are at a big dinner for Jesus in Bethany (at the house of Simon the Leper)
  • Verse 3 – Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with EXTREMELY expensive ointment
    • Based on the volume used and the other gospel accounts, she probably anointed his head and other parts as well
    • Wiping the feet was the work of servants, but Mary did it – think of the contrast with chapter 13 and the washing of the disciples’ feet
    • She’s wiping with her hair – a Jewish woman almost never let down her hair
    • This is an act of tremendous devotion, humility, gratitude, and love by this wealthy woman of status
  • Verses 4-8 – Judas asks why the ointment wasn’t sold for the benefit of the poor
    • Verse 5 – 300 denarii = 1 years wages!!!
    • Verse 6 – John lets us know that Judas’ motives were not altruistic – he was a thief
    • Verse 7 – Jesus says to leave her alone, that it will be used for his burial
      • Reminds us that Jesus knew all that was about to happen to Him and had full control, going to the cross voluntarily
    • Verse 8 – The poor you  will always have, but you won’t always have me
      • Jesus isn’t being hard toward the poor – He echoes Deuteronomy 15: 11
      • He speaks reality – in a fallen world, we’ll always have poor to help, and we should help them
      • But the creator of the world would only be there a few more days
      • First and foremost, they, and we, need to relate to Jesus and love Him, before we work to help the poor
    • Matthew 26: 6-13 provides a parallel account
  • Verse 9 – A large crowd heard about this dinner – they wanted to see both Jesus and Lazarus
  • Verses 10-11 – They decide to kill Lazarus too, to bury the evidence of Jesus
    • Because MANY were believing in Jesus because of Lazarus

Prayer – Gratitude for the sacrifice of Jesus; For our devoted love for Jesus; For others to come to know Jesus and join the new Israel in Christ.

Next Week: Preparing for Glory(John 12: 20 – 12: 50)