DAY #165: John 11:45-12:11

The high council was the highest ruling authority among the Jews in Judea. It was composed of seventy-one members: The high priest presiding over seventy religious leaders, the majority of whom were Sadducees and the minority, Pharisees. “What are we going to do?” they asked. The dialogue that follows points clearly to the Jewish leaders’ single-minded opposition to Jesus.

Caiaphas led the Sadducees, the elite, educated, and wealthy Jews, who stood on fairly good terms with Rome. Jesus was a special threat to their quiet and secure positions in leadership over Judea’s religious life. Caiaphas was proud and ruthless. His usual policy was to remove any threats to his power by whatever means necessary. For him, Jesus’ death was not an “if” but a “when, where, and how.”

Caiaphas was convinced that nothing short of destroying Jesus would save Israel from being destroyed by Rome. The life of one person was considered cheap and expendable as an alternative to endangering the nation. God used his words to express an unwitting prophecy of universal proportions: “Let this one man die for the people.” One man did have to die in order that the world might be saved.

The words of Caiaphas were really a prophecy. Though his intent was sinful, God used him to indicate that Jesus should die for the entire nation. In addition, Caiaphas didn’t think of it himself; he was inspired to say it. The irony of Caiaphas’s statement that John didn’t want his readers to miss was that Jesus’ death, intended to spare the nation of Israel from physical destruction, was actually to spare Israel from spiritual destruction. In the end, Jesus’ death was for the gathering together of all the children of God scattered around the world.

Aware of the plot against his life, Jesus went to a place near the wilderness. Jesus and his disciples stayed there until the time of the Passover.This Passover probably occurred in a.d. 30, the year of Jesus’ death. Everyone in Jerusalem during the Passover celebration knew that the chief priests and Pharisees wanted to arrest Jesus. Furthermore, they were under strict orders to report Jesus’ whereabouts. Into this tense scene Jesus would make his triumphal entry.

Only a few weeks had gone by since Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. He was back in the home of Lazarus. According to parallel accounts of this story, this meal was held at the home of Simon the leper, who also lived in Bethany and was very likely healed of his leprosy by Jesus. A dinner had been prepared in Jesus’ honor.

According to Matthew and Mark, all the disciples were offended that Mary had “wasted” this expensive ointment (Matthew 26:8; Mark 14:4). But in John’s Gospel, Judas Iscariot verbalized the offense. “The perfume was worth a small fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Judas’s motive was not to care for the poor. Judas was a thief who had been entrusted with the disciples’ funds. Judas often dipped into the money for his own use. Undoubtedly, Jesus knew what Judas was doing, but he never did or said anything about it.

Jesus pointed out that Mary was not wasting this perfume on him. Certainly, the money could have been given to the poor; there would always be opportunities to care for the poor. But they would not always have Jesus. Mary understood how special Jesus was. Her anointing was like an ointment put on his body in preparation for burial.

This act and Jesus’ response to it do not give us permission to ignore the poor. Rather, Jesus explained that his followers would have many opportunities to help the poor, but only a short time to love and honor the Messiah. Mary’s loving act was for a specific occasion—an anointing that anticipated Jesus’ burial and a public declaration of her faith in him as the Messiah.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I am moved that in these last days of the earthy life of Jesus, the disciples were still largely clueless. It seems only Mary knew the importance of the time and thus, she spared no expense to worship our Lord. Oh Lord, make us aware of how precious short that time really is. Help us capture every moment of everyday and use it to honor You and worship You and live for You.

"So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants." Ephesians 5:15-17 (MB)

Lord, use this next week in the lives of our students and staff to bring about lifechange. Speak through Matt Cohen. Use the worship band. Work through the lives of the staff to speak truth into the lives of every student. Even at this late hour, if there is one student who needs to be there, prompt their heart, break through the barrier and bring them. Lord, protect the kids as they drive down and through the week. Put Your hedge of protection around them at all times.