Blessed is the King

Introduction

This morning we are continuing our study in the book of John. We are quickly approaching Easter. And I had hoped that our study in the book of John would line up perfectly with us reaching the resurrection story on Easter Sunday Morning.

But, I can tell you that is NOT going to be the case. So, we are going to continue our study as we get to the passages.

That means that some of our stories won’t line up with the actual holiday. Such is the case this morning.

Our story today covers what is commonly would be covered on or around Palm Sunday. But we are going to look at it today.

If you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to John chapter 12. And we will pick up our story with verse 1.

Jesus Back in Bethany

John 12:1 NIV

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

While the Jews are looking for Jesus in Jerusalem (cf. 11:55-56) Jesus comes to Bethany.

John 11:55–56 NIV

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?”

John reminds us that the place is where Lazarus (the man Jesus raised from the dead) lived.

John 12:2 NIV

Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.

A dinner was held in Jesus’ honor. It appears to have been held at the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary (v. 2a). Notice the people mentioned.

Martha was serving (v. 2b).

Lazarus was among those at the table (v. 2c).

And Mary is doing to do something extravagant!

John 12:3 NIV

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an 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.

Mary takes a pint of pure nard an expensive perfume and pours it on Jesus’ feet (v. 3a).

Then she wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair (v. 3b).

Finally, we are told that the entire house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume (v. 3c).

NOTE: Nard in the Bible?

Nard is an herb from the Valerianaceae family native to the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Kashmir. It has fragrant roots and lower stems that were dried to create a perfumed ointment.

In biblical contexts, nard appears primarily in two narrative settings. (1) Women anointed Jesus with nard—one pouring it on his head at Simon the Leper’s house, another applying it to his feet and wiping them with her hair. (Mark 14:3; John 12:3) The quantity used in one account was valued at more than 300 denarii, equivalent to roughly a year’s wages for a laborer, underscoring its exceptional costliness. Mark’s specification that the nard was contained in an alabaster flask further emphasized its precious nature.

Beyond the Gospels, nard appears in the Song of Songs as an erotic perfume with an intense, warm, musky odor suited to enticing a lover, grouped alongside other luxurious aromatics. Historically, nard functioned as a chief ingredient in costly Eastern unguents and was imported to Rome,[3] with classical writers like Pliny the Elder documenting its value and methods for distinguishing authentic nard from inferior imitations.

The botanical identification is Nardostachys jatamansi, a Himalayan plant with vertical stems, lanceolate leaves, and reddish-purple flower clusters. Its significance in Scripture reflects both its genuine rarity and its symbolic weight—a substance so valuable that its use in anointing Jesus conveyed profound devotion and honor.

The Objection of Judas Iscariot

John 12:4 NIV

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,

Judas Iscariot objected to this lavish display (v. 4a).

John then foreshadows Judas’ betrayal of Jesus (v. 4b).

John 12:5 NIV

“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”

He begins to ask why the perfume wasn’t sold and the proceeds be distributed to the poor? (v. 5a)

It is here that we are told that the perfume’s worth was equal to a year’s wages (300 denarii) (v. 5b).

John 12:6 NIV

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.

Finally, John reveals Judas’ real motives (v. 6a).

Judas was a thief—he lacked character (v. 6b).

Judas held the money for the group (v. 6c).

Judas often helped himself to the group’s money (v. 6d).

Jesus’ Reaction

John 12:7 NIV

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

Jesus tells Judas to leave Mary alone! (v. 7a)

Jesus goes on to say that “it was intended” (indicating God’s plan) “for her to save the perfume for the day of his burial” (v. 7b)—Jesus is once again telling the disciples that he is going to die!

John 12:8 NIV

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Jesus tells the disciples that they will always have the poor with them! (v. 8a)

But they will not always have him with them (v. 8b).

Another Large Crowd

John 12:9 NIV

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

While the supper was going on, a large crowd of Jesus learned that Jesus was there (v. 9a).

So they came and gathered at the house for two reasons (v. 9b):

They wanted to see Jesus.

And they wanted to see Lazarus—the miracle man who Jesus brought back to life!

The Chief Priest’s Extend Their Plan

John 12:10 NIV

So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,

We already know that the religious leaders (chief priests) were planning to kill Jesus (cf. 11:53, 57).

Now they are going to expand their plan. They are going to kill the man that had already died, and that Jesus raised from the dead (v. 10).

John 12:11 NIV

for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

They planned this because many of the Jews were believing in Jesus because of Lazarus’ resurrection from the dead! (v. 11)

The Triumphant Entry

John 12:12 NIV

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

The day after the dinner where Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with oil these events took place.

A great crowd heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

They were people who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.

John 12:13 NIV

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”

The people went out to meet Jesus and they took palm branches with them.

Palm branches had become a national symbol for the Jews during the Maccabean revolt (BC 166-160; cf. 1 Macc. 13:51; 2 Macc. 10:7), and had thus had been adopted for use in their festival celebrations.

The quotes in this passage, with the exception of the last one, come from the Jewish Hallel out of Psalm 113-118. These were sung by the temple choir during these feasts.

They were shouting, “Hosanna” which means “Save I pray!” or “Give salvation now!” (cf. Ps. 118:25)

And “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (cf. Ps. 118:26).

And “Blessed is the king of Israel!” While not tied to a specific Old Testament scripture, it was the people’s public identification of Jesus as the Messiah (cf. Jn. 1:49; 18:37; 19:19).

John 12:14 NIV

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

Jesus “finds a young donkey” and sat on it as he rode into Jerusalem. The synoptic Gospels give a lot more details on where the donkey came from. Johns just lets us know that Jesus’ riding on the donkey fulfilled Zachariah’s prophecy (cf. Zec. 9:9) (v. 14).

John 12:15 NIV

“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

John quotes Zechariah 9:9 in verse 15 as evidence of its fulfillment.

John 12:16 NIV

At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

At this point in time, Jesus’ disciples did not understand the meaning of what was happening.

John adds a note for us, that it was only after Jesus was glorified (after His resurrection) that they realized that all of these things had been written about Jesus, and thus all the things had to be done to Jesus to fulfill those scriptures.

The People’s response

John 12:17 NIV

Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.

Now the crowd that had witnessed the raising of Lazarus continued to spread the story, so that everyone coming into Jerusalem heard about the miracle (v. 17).

John 12:18 NIV

Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him.

This caused many of the people to come out to meet Jesus (v. 18).

The Pharisees’ Frustration

John 12:19 NIV

So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

The Pharisees begin talking among themselves with frustration.

They are frustrated because despite their best efforts, Jesus continues to gain popularity with the people.

“Look how the whole world has gone after him! That was exactly what they were afraid of back in chapter 11 (cf. Jn. 11:47-48).

So What?

One of the things that I love about the book of John is that the events that he picked to include in his story about Jesus remind us that there are only a few types of responses the people have to Jesus and the amazing things that he does.

There’s Mary’s response to Jesus. In her extravagance she gave Jesus the most important and precious thing she had. An alabaster jar of incredibly expensive perfume.

There was Judas’ response. Those that want to work Jesus for their own selfish desires. Remember his comment? The money should have been sold and the money put into the treasury of the disciples—so that he could help himself to it!

There is the crowd’s response. It is easy to get caught up in the hype of the moment. We will see that the same crowd that came out to greet Jesus, and sing the Hallel for Jesus as they make their way into Jerusalem. BUT they will be the same crowds that a few days later will get caught up in a different kind of hype and yell, “Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!” They follow Jesus, just to see the next thing He might do. But when things get tough, they follow the next new and exciting thing!

There is the religious leaders’ response. In order to protect their interests, they want to destroy ANYTHING that would threaten them!

Finally, there is the disciples’ response. Although they don’t understand everything that is going on, they are trying to make sense of all that is going on around them. Even when they don’t understand, they BELIEVE!

So what kind of response do you have to Jesus?

Are you like Mary? Do you have an extravagant love for Jesus that is seen by everyone?

Are you like Judas? Someone who only wants to use Jesus for your own personal wants and desires?

Are you like the crowd? All wrapped up in the hype of the moment. Sometimes hyped up for Jesus, and other times hyped up against Jesus!

Maybe you are like the religious leaders. Always protecting your position, and making sure Jesus doesn’t interfere with what you want to do.

Or are you like the disciples? Sometimes unsure of all that Jesus is doing, but always trying to trust Him to accomplish His will and purpose—all the while believing in Him!

Which response best describes you today?

If I’m honest, there are times when I fit into each one of these five types of people.

There are times when I am extravagant with love for Jesus. And those are really, really sweet times in my life.

If I am totally honest, there are times when I want use Jesus for my own personal gain, or to work him to get what I want!

I also know there are times when I get wrapped up in all the hype around Jesus. Sometimes hype that is for Him, and honestly, sometimes hype that is against Him!

I have even had times when I don’t want Jesus to interfere with my plans, or with my ideas. I don’t want want to follow Jesus because it might cost me too much!

For me however, most of the time I find myself following Him even if I don’t understand all that He is doing, or all that is going on around me.

While, I’m glad when I follow Jesus when I don’t completely understand my situation or understand what He is doing in my life. But no matter what happens, I believe! And I trust Him!

But what I long for is that extravagant response of love for Jesus. A love that I pour out on Jesus!

[PRAYER]