Sermon Tone Analysis

REMINDER OF WHY JOHN WROTE

Deity of Christ

a cave—the cavity, natural or artificial, of a rock.

This, with the number of condoling visitors from Jerusalem, and the costly ointment with which Mary afterwards anointed Jesus at Bethany, all go to show that the family was in good circumstances.

Pastor in Asia Minor (at the church where Jesus’ mother went)

Six days (Saturday) before the Crucifixion

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.

Dinner implies that the meal was late afternoon, and reclining implies that it was more of a banquet than a regular meal

While the Jewish leaders were plotting to slay Christ, His friends were throwing Him a banquet.

indicates it was in the home of Simon.

Martha represents working for Christ; Mary speaks of worship (in the Gospels, she is always found at Jesus’ feet); and Lazarus speaks of our walk and witness.

3 Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair.

So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

The ointment Mary used would cost a year’s wages for a common laborer.

Mary had saved it to anoint Christ and show her love.

How much better it is to show love to people before they die!

She could have used this ointment on her own brother when he died, but she saved her best for Christ.

Whenever a believer shows love to Christ, there is always a critic who will complain.

The pound of oil or nard was a large amount; it would have been imported from India

Attending to the feet of guests was a servant’s duty, so Mary’s actions showed humility and devotion

Using her hair was remarkable because Jewish women rarely unbound their hair in public

4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray Him), said, 5 “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii i and given to the poor?” 6 He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.

He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

300 Denarii was a years wage

Mary’s example of devotion is one we should follow.

She gave her best; she gave lavishly; she gave in spite of criticism; she gave lovingly.

Christ honored her for her worship (see Mark 14:7) and defended her from Satan’s attacks.

7 Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of My burial.

8 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

The Decision to Kill Lazarus

9 Then a large crowd of the Jews learned He was there.

They came not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus the one He had raised from the dead.

10 Therefore the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also 11 because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.

Why not just believe....why continue to try to kill Jesus?

The Triumphal Entry

12 The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took palm branches and went out to meet Him.

They kept shouting: “Hosanna!

He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One s—the King of Israel!”

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written: 15 Fear no more, Daughter Zion.

Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.

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16 His disciples did not understand these things at first.

However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify.

18 This is also why the crowd met Him, because they heard He had done this sign.

19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see?

You’ve accomplished nothing.

Look—the world has gone after Him!”

Jesus Predicts His Crucifixion

20 Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival.

21 So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

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