John 12:1-11

Sorry for not posting lately.  Not much to say.  I've been doing a lot of yard work (trimming trees, tearing out bushes, etc).  I've also been dealing with a case of identity theft, so that's taking up a lot of my energy trying to get that sorted out.  I've been to the bank many times and have been to the sheriff's office many times.

I've been reading John as part of the New Testament in a Year class at my church, and was struck by the following section.  You can read mine below, or you can use the new Blogger Bible feature to the very left of your screen. (<--- over there).

John 12:1-3 

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor.  Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.  Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, and expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair.  And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  

One would not typically anoint the feet of a living person.  He or she would wash the head.  You would only wash the feet if someone were dead.  Mary was (rather unconsciously) preparing Jesus for burial, even though he was still alive -- although he wouldn't be for long.

John 12:4-6 

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?  It was worth a year's wages."  He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

As each gospel was written, it seemed to me that as time progressed, each gospel portrayed Judas as being more and more evil.  I recall Mark simply saying that Judas betrayed Jesus.  Matthew and Luke both call him a traitor, and John gives a whole spiel about Judas' thievery.  John writes about Judas' bad character even before the betrayal.  He breaks away from the story at hand to step up on his soap box.

One thing I have noticed with all four gospels is that they all clearly state that Judas was the betrayer, even before it was to happen in the story.  You see, "Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, did yada yada yada....."  I'm always like, "Why did you (the author) give it away!?"  It's a bad move to give away information like that.  It's like me telling you that the dad dies in the movie The Road.  "The father, who later dies, caught the man who stole their cart of food and clothes and made him strip naked."  See? I gave it away.  It doesn't makes sense for me to do that.  Why did the gospel writers do that?  I guess they expect the reader to be familiar with the story of Jesus and who Judas was.  Still, if the reader knew who Judas Iscariot was, why even mention him as the betrayer?  This just doesn't make any sense to me.

John 12:7 

"Leave her alone," Jesus replied.  "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.  You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."  

Jesus is basically saying, "The poor have been poor for years.  They can wait a few more minutes."

John 12-8-11 

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, who he had raised from the dead.  So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

It's interesting to note how the high priests want to kill Lazarus.  However, you don't see this happen.  This never got past the planning stages.  I guess they had too much on their plates (Jesus) to deal with Lazarus.  In the movie The Last Temptation of Christ, Lazarus is seen being killed by Saul to discredit Jesus.

____________

Go out and buy the book The Road by Cormac McCarthy (of No Country for Old Men fame) and read it.  It's incredibly tragic.  After reading it, go watch the movie.  Both are heart-wrenching and you WILL cry.  This is probably one of my favorite fiction books of all time.

Amazon Books: The Road
Amazon Movies: The Road