5th Sunday in Lent

This appears in all four Gospels. Raising of Lazarus only in John.

10th of Nissan select lamb for sacrifice.

The smell recorded is of an eyewitness. Lazarus - death stunk but Jesus’ life is sweet smelling perfume. A year’s wages.

3. Feet very degrading. Mary gave willingly, a sacrifice. Judas wanted the money for himself.

(NIV)

(NIV)

8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

30 Pieces of silver, price of a gored slave. .

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. Mary Anoints Jesus (12:1–11)

Judas displays a certain utilitarianism that pits pragmatic compassion, concern for the poor, against extravagant, unqualified devotion. If self-righteous piety sometimes snuffs out genuine compassion, it must also be admitted, with shame, that social activism, even that which meets real needs, sometimes masks

Anointing was normally something festive. But this was in anticipation of His burial.

The opportunity to show love to Jesus was limited.

Lazarus to be a martyr.