Calvary Road Baptist Church
“JOHN’S ACCOUNT OF MARY HONORING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST”
John 12.1-11
Most of you here today are aware that I grew up in a markedly different cultural context than most who have lived in the USA their whole lives, on Indian reservations. In some respects the Native Americans of North America who live remotely, relatively segregated from typical American culture, I have noticed to socially interact with one another far more like people in Asia than do those who live in Europe, the United States and Canada.
Allow me to develop my thought by reference to two extreme examples. If you are aware of so-called honor killings among Muslims and the ritual suicides to avoid capture by many Japanese soldiers in World War Two, then you are aware of very extreme versions, what some would call outlier examples, of what decades ago was referred to as honor-shame cultures.
Though that terminology has fallen into disuse in our day, there are regions of the world where honor, shame, and guilt play a significantly greater role in a person’s daily life than in this country. Where I grew up the conduct of one person, and the impact of that person’s behavior on the reputation and social standing of his family and his clan, could be felt for generations. Most Americans are, by comparison, a population that is, by comparison with those in the Middle and the Far East, relatively disconnected. This is reflected in a culture’s attitudes related to honor, shame, and guilt.
“Honor is a public claim to worth or value and a public acknowledgment of that claim. Positive shame is a concern for maintaining and protecting one’s worth, value, reputation. Negative shame is the loss of one’s honor. Refusing to be concerned about one’s honor is to be shameless.”[1] From the scholar who wrote those words, one might conclude that most people in our country and our day are accurately described as shameless, which is to say unconcerned about one’s honor. Exceptions might be among those in the military or law enforcement and the Sicilians here in the United States, some of whom still cultivate a very serious regard for their concept of honor.
Thus, I was intrigued when preparing for this morning’s message when I noticed that, of all the commentators I consulted the only one to refer to honor as an explanation for what we are about to consider is the only one who is not an American and also not a modern. Matthew Henry was a 17th-century nonconformist minister and author, who was born in Wales but spent much of his life in England. He is best known for his classic six-volume commentary “Exposition of the Old and New Testaments.”
He writes about John chapter twelve, saying,
“Let us see what honours were heaped on the head of the Lord Jesus, even in the depths of his humiliation. I. Mary did him honour, by anointing his feet at the supper in Bethany, Joh 12:1-11. II. The common people did him honour, with their acclamations of joy, when he rode in triumph into Jerusalem, Joh 12:12-19. III. The Greeks did him honour, by enquiring after him with a longing desire to see him, Joh 12:20-26. IV. God the Father did him honour, by a voice from heaven, bearing testimony to him, Joh 12:27-36. V. He had honour done him by the Old Testament prophets, who foretold the infidelity of those that heard the report of him, Joh 12:37-41. VI. He had honour done him by some of the chief rulers, whose consciences witnessed for him, though they had not courage to own it, Joh 12:42-43. VII. He claimed honour to himself, by asserting his divine mission, and the account he gave of his errand into the world, Joh 12:44-50.”[2]
I am persuaded Matthew Henry had insight that is lost on many commentators of our day, who are so far removed from an ancient, from an Asian, and quite frankly from a Biblical, concept of honor that in some respects they have missed in John chapter twelve what Matthew Henry did not. Therefore, by God’s grace, I purpose to deal with this portion of John’s Gospel account from the perspective of showing honor to the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 12. 1-11:
1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
The concept of honor is an important one in God’s Word, with the word found in 136 verses in our English Bible. Honor was important to the patriarch Jacob.[3] Honor is revealed to be very important to the LORD.[4] Honor ought to be important to fathers and mothers, who are well-served by training their children to honor them so that as they grow up, they won’t trash their parents with disrespectful conduct and comments.[5] Honor is revealed to be important to the right worship of God.[6] Honor is important to gracious and virtuous women, which is likely why so many women these days criticize and castigate their husbands and men in general.[7] Honor is a concept that is understood by the humble but which is foreign to the proud, even though they talk about it a lot.[8] Honor is seen in Scripture to be important to the holy angels.[9] Finally, honor is important to spiritual Christians and godly widows and conscientious pastors.[10]
I am convinced honor becomes more important to a Christian over time, as wisdom is acquired and experience is gained. In the text, we will consider today we observe one woman’s particular determination to honor the Lord Jesus Christ and the corresponding conduct of others to her honoring of her Master. In these verses, the Gospel writer reflects on the honor Mary showed the Lord and the events surrounding and people’s reactions to complement and in contrast to what she did:
First, THE HONOR OUT LORD JESUS SHOWEDTO HIS FRIENDS AT BETHANY
John 12.1:
“Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.”
It has likely been a while since the Lord Jesus Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, John chapter 11. He then departed for several weeks and returned the week before His crucifixion, which would be yesterday to this accounting.
Two days before He gave sight to Bartimaeus and his companion and then spent the night with Zacchaeus in Jericho. Yesterday He departed Jericho with a group of religious pilgrims on the long hike to Jerusalem, along with His constant companions, the disciples. Today would be the Sabbath and the enjoyment of a meal with some of His closest friends.
Despite the pleasant meal and companions, our Lord has once more put Himself near His enemies by returning to Bethany. He is but two or three miles from Jerusalem. Thus, it is clear that He could easily have avoided what He had come to do, which was die for our sins on the cross of Calvary.
Though there is no unanimity of opinion (and I am doubtful), it may be that the Lord Jesus Christ and His friends were dining on that occasion in the home of Simon the leper, who lived near Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.[11] If that is the case, can’t you picture in your mind the memorable scene? The Lord Jesus Christ reclined at a table with two friends and others, one of whom He had cleansed of leprosy and the other He had recently raised from the dead.
What was the purpose of this meal with friends and loved ones? Though we are not specifically told, it is likely to express love to those He would soon leave behind. He loved Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. And they would miss each other’s company for the scores of years that would pass before their home going to rejoin their Lord in glory forever.
This is likely His good-bye to those He deeply loves who were not in His inner circle of men trained for leadership roles after His ascension to glory. In short, our Lord was honoring them by spending this time with them, showing love and providing cherished memories for them.
Next, THE HONOR HIS FRIENDS SHOWED TO HIM
John 12.2:
“There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.”
There are two clues that suggest this meal might have been served on Saturday, but after the end of the Sabbath: First, the Greek word used by the apostle refers to the main meal of the day, which not unusually was served after sundown, after the Sabbath had ended.[12] Next, mention is made that Martha served. This, too, suggests the Sabbath had passed since waiting on others was not something someone would normally do on a Sabbath.
What was meant by Martha’s decision to serve the table? Why does the apostle make special mention of it decades after the fact in his Gospel account? I suspect mention was made that she waited the table as a token of her great respect for the Master. She did not think it was beneath her dignity to serve her Lord and His friends, nor should we think it a dishonor or disparagement to us to stoop to any service whereby Christ and Christ’s own may be honored.
Remember when Christ had previously reproved Martha for being troubled with much serving, Luke 10.40-41? The problem then was not her previous actions in serving, but with her attitude while serving. On this occasion, however, all is well, and she is displaying honor toward her Lord by her actions performed with a respectful attitude.
Then there was Lazarus, showing by his presence the truth of his resurrection, as such a meal as this taken after the Lord’s resurrection would provide proof of the Savior’s resurrection, Acts 10.41. Lazarus was there as a monument of the miracle Christ had performed, and perhaps as a foreshadowing of our own experience as believers in Christ, Ephesians 2.5-6:
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
The occasion of the supper, the attendance of Lazarus, and the service provided by Martha, were each displays of honor shown to the Savior, reflecting in their lives the honor He had showed to them by His time spent with them, by His friendship, and certainly by His gracious raising of Lazarus from the dead.
Third, THE HONOR MARY SHOWED THE LORD IN ANOINTING HIS FEET
John 12.3:
“Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.”
This thing that Mary did was most impressive, with two questions naturally arising from it:
First, what did she do, really? She did two things worth noting: First, she anointed the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ with some extremely expensive ointment. More on the value of the ointment later, but for now the anointing of the Lord’s feet. Anointing His feet was most unusual since a person’s head was more frequently anointed and a guest’s feet were washed with water. Remember, in the Upper Room, the Lord would wash the feet of His apostles. On this occasion, Mary chose to anoint her Lord’s feet. The second thing she did is frequently lost in our cultural differences. She wiped His feet with her hair. We grasp that. But to do that she had to let her hair down, and that was something Jewish women ordinarily never did in public.[13] That act alone, beside the expense of the spikenard, was a display of unusual devotion by Mary.[14]
This brings us to the second question; why? Why did she do what she did? Why did she go so far beyond what the others who loved the Lord did at that same event? Was it gratitude? Is this the first opportunity she had following the raising of her brother from the dead? Perhaps. Was it her personality? We have evidence that Mary was somewhat more introspective and contemplative than her sister Martha.[15] Did Martha honor the Lord by doing something for Him while Mary honored the Lord by giving something to Him? Again, perhaps. Matthew Henry observes that Mary’s act of love was at the same time generous as to its expense, condescending as to her applying it with her own hands, and believing; “working by this love, faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed, who, being both priest and king, was anointed as Aaron and David were.”[16] Once more, perhaps. Though each person referred to so far honored the Lord Jesus Christ, Mary did so much more honor Him. She gave of herself, as did the others. But she gave an astonishing material and significant gift. Indeed, as Proverbs 3.9 urges upon the wise,
“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.”
Mary certainly did that.
Fourth, JUDAS EXPRESSED DISAPPROVAL OF MARY SO HONORING Christ
John 12.4-5:
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
If you read this passage too quickly, you sometimes fail to grasp evidence that his account was written long after the events that are recorded occurred. Verse 4 provides information from the Apostle John more than fifty years after that evening meal was eaten since he did not know at the time that Judas Iscariot would betray the Savior.
Thus, what might have seemed to be a plausible concern for the plight of the poor, is seen in the light of the full context in which he said it to be a pretense, hypocrisy, and the usual refrain of those who are charged with handling other people’s money. However, he does reveal to us how expensive Mary’s act of honoring the Savior was to her.
John 12.6:
“This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”
Is it not interesting that while a single verse reveals Mary’s profound act of honor rendered to her Lord, we have now come to the third verse dealing with the scoundrel who disapproved of her noble act? And what was his motive? Greed. The love of money. “Because he was a thief.” This type of pretended piety is not so unusual in God’s Word, or in life, for that matter. Remember when Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi, pretended to be so zealous for the rite of circumcision, and they pretended piety so they could slaughter all the men of the city in which Shechem lived for revenge against him for defiling their sister?[17] Then there was Jehu. In Second Kings 10.16 he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD.” But the result was a terrible slaughter, with this pronouncement made upon Jehu, in Second Kings 10.31:
“But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.”
The obvious point is that talk is cheap and pious-sounding words are easily spoken that are not at all meant. Judas Iscariot feigned compassion for the poor, faking concern for the oppressed while being blind to the opportunity to honor the King of the Jews.
Fifth, THE SAVIOR’S DEFENSE OF MARY’S DECISION TO HONOR HIM
John 12.7-8:
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
Two remarks are made by the Lord in Mary’s defense of Judas’ implied slander of her judgment:
Specifically, her decision to honor the Lord Jesus Christ as she did was based upon her assessment of an opportunity that had never before and would never again present itself, the occasion of His burying, verse 7. This suggests that Mary was one of the very few with a big picture understanding of the events that were unfolding and the impending sacrifice of her Savior for sins. For that reason, the Lord Jesus Christ said to Judas, “Let her alone.” He, thereby, approved of her decision to honor Him in that way and at that time.
Verse 8 builds on verse 7 by further clarifying the opportunity Mary saw unfold before her. Verse 8 speaks directly to refute the protest fabricated by Judas Iscariot and his supposed concern for the poor, with the first half of the verse being profound:
“For the poor always ye have with you.”
This is a truth leftists cannot deal with, what with their desire to create heaven here on earth and their denial that there is a God, that the Bible is true, and that this is a fallen world of sin that is unredeemable. In this world, this side of the Second Coming of Christ in power and great glory, there will always be poor people. Therefore, how much sense does it make to impoverish everyone to solve a problem that cannot be solved this side of Christ’s return? This is not an excuse to forgo helping someone in need, but it does show that a categorical effort to end poverty is unattainable. You would think Americans, of all people, would realize that after fifty years and $21.5 trillion have been spent by our government. “Shortly after the War on Poverty got rolling (1967), about 27% of Americans lived in poverty. In 2012, the last year for which data is available, the number was about 29%.”[18] This according to a 2014 Forbes magazine article. That being the case, you should do what you can do rather than what you cannot do. And what Mary could not do was end poverty. What she could do, and what she did do, was honor the King. It was a wise decision on her part, and the King voiced His approval. As well, this in no way conflicted with what the Mosaic Law prescribed in Deuteronomy 15.11:
“For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.”
Generosity toward the needy is a good thing. Honoring the LORD is better. Judas Iscariot was wrong on several levels, as is anyone who objects to the Son of God being honored.
Sixth, THE PUBLIC'S INDIFFERENCE TO HONORING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
John 12.9:
“Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.”
Notice three things from this verse:
First, a group of people somehow knew the Lord Jesus Christ had returned to Bethany. Perhaps the word spread from those who had traveled with Him from Jericho the day before. Perhaps word got out from those attending this gathering. However they found out, people knew the One who raised Lazarus from the dead had returned ... so they came.
But they did not gather for the Lord Jesus’ sake only. They wanted to see the guy who had been raised from the dead. In other words, these people were gawkers. They were looky-loos. For them, this was all a carnival sideshow, with no profound spiritual implications. They thought not of heaven and Hell, of sin versus salvation, of life versus death, or of bliss versus damnation. They sought entertainment.
The last phrase of verse 9 establishes that in their minds, there was no doubt about Lazarus’ resurrection. Therefore, there was no doubt about the Lord Jesus Christ’s power. But despite everything about which there was no doubt, they exhibited no desire to honor the Lord Jesus Christ, to reverence Him, to worship Him. In other words, these people were complete fools, without an inkling of interest in honoring the King of the Jews, the Savior of sinful men’s souls.
Finally, THE CHIEF PRIESTS' DETERMINATION TO DISHONOR THE SAVIOR
John 12.10-11:
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
Four insights are found in these two verses:
Go back to John 11.53, and you will see that the same determination to put Lazarus to death was made to put Christ to death. Lazarus had come to be so identified with the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ that he was an embarrassment that had to be eliminated. The chief priest’s concern was, obviously, not the pursuit of truth or the glory of God, but the salvaging of their reputations and religious positions. In their minds, it had come to be all about them.
Additionally, take note of the word “also” in verse 10. The chief priests had already decided to end Christ’s life, not realizing that by doing their evil deed, they thereby fulfilled God’s plan and purpose. But who could have imagined that men who had served their whole life in the priesthood would be plotting the murder of two men who had done nothing wrong? The reason they must die? For being an embarrassment to the chief priests.
Their problem with Lazarus was that he was living proof of the credibility of the Lord Jesus Christ as a miracle worker. Lazarus was a witness of Christ’s power. Lazarus pointed people to the Lord Jesus Christ as the object of faith. As well, that is why persecution is sent against Christians in our day. As soon as a believer becomes inseparably identified with the cause of Christ in the minds of the Christ rejecters, that believer becomes a target of persecution. Paul indicated as much to Timothy in Second Timothy 3.12:
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
The focus of their opposition, however, could only be the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the problem for the enemies of God. He is the problem for the unregenerate religionists. He is the problem for those stiff-necked rebels who will not confess Him as Lord and as God. Therefore, the chief priests had no choice (other than repentance) but to engage in the ultimate dishonor of Christ by conspiring to cause His death.
Let me remind you of the players in this drama that unfolded a bit more than two thousand years ago, one Saturday evening at a meal that was eaten in Bethany, a couple of miles outside Jerusalem. Of course, the Savior was in attendance, as were His twelve apostles and other unnamed disciples. If it was at the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, as I am inclined to conclude, they were there in their home. But if it was at the Bethany home of Simon, the leper, then, he, too, was there. At some point, gawkers began to arrive. Then the chief priests somehow got involved, either by being there and witnessing the events from a distance, or being relayed information from their watchers, men appointed to spy on the Lord Jesus Christ and His Bethany friends. However, things were on the ground; these are all the players in the drama.
The theme of the drama is honor. The Lord Jesus Christ honored His friends in Bethany by visiting them, by dining with them, by befriending them, and by loving them. His honor toward them was displayed by His consideration, by His respectful demeanor, kindness, by His attentiveness to their needs and concerns, and by His time spent with them. Then there is the honor showed to Him. Lazarus honored Him by his hospitality toward Him. The Savior did not have to stand at that man’s door and knock to gain entrance, Revelation 3.10. Lazarus’ door was always open to His Lord Jesus.
Martha honored her Lord by being hospitable, as well. But additionally, she honored Him by serving Him and the other guests as they dined. It was notable enough that sixty years later the Apostle John called special attention to Martha’s service.
Then there was Mary. How she honored her Master. How she treated Him. For raising her brother from the dead? In part. For being her friend? In part. But her anointing His feet with such expensive ointment suggests that she so honored Him for His impending death on the cross. For that she was profoundly expressive, and rightly so.
Judas, of course, had no interest in honoring the Savior. For him, it was all about money. For the people who came to see the Savior and the man He raised from the dead, it was about entertainment and curiosity. They had no interest in honoring the Son of God.
For the chief priests, it was about dishonoring Him, destroying Him, and defeating Him. As if the eternal Son of the living God can be defeated. But they tried. Oh, how they tried. And by succeeding, they were defeated.
So, where are you on the sliding scale of honoring the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you among the indifferent, who could care less whether You honor him or not? Is your concern primarily entertainment? Or does honoring the Savior disgust you and interfere with your plans, as it did with Judas Iscariot? I would be surprised if anyone here were determined to dishonor Him, as were the chief priests.
Then there were those who honored Him to varying degrees, with Mary honoring Him most remarkably, those at the supper, those who were His disciples (except for Judas), and Mary’s brother and sister.
Have you picked up on the dividing line between those who honored the Lord that evening and those who were indifferent to honoring Him, the man who was irritated at Him being honored, and the chief priests who were flat out determined to dishonor Him? The dividing line is between those who trusted Him and those who did not. Isn’t it? It is between those who are heaven-bound and those who are Hell-bound. Where are you about this matter of honoring the Lord? One does not gain heaven by honoring Christ, just as one does not gain Hell by dishonoring the Son of God. However, honoring Him or not honoring Him is indicative of your spiritual condition and the destiny of your eternal and undying soul. Again, where are you on this matter of honoring the Savior?
If you are of the opinion the Second Person of the Triune Godhead ought to be honored, if you are of the opinion that someone who left heaven’s glory and became a man by means of the virgin birth ought to be honored, if you are of the opinion that the King of the Jews ought to be honored, if you are of the opinion that the Man who presently sits upon the throne of the universe ought to be honored, if you are of the opinion that the Man who died on the cross for sins and who rose from the dead and then ascended back to heaven ought to be honored, then you should consider trusting Christ as your Savior.
Because until that happens, you cannot, you will not, honor Him.
__________
[1] https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195393361/obo-9780195393361-0077.xml
[2] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary On The Whole Bible, (Bronson, MI: Online Publishing, Inc., 2002), bible@mail.com
[3] Genesis 49.6
[4] Exodus 14.17-18; 20.12; Leviticus 19.32; Deuteronomy 5.16; 1 Samuel 2.30; 1 Chronicles 16.27; 2 Chronicles 1.12; Psalm 26.8; 96.6; 104.1; Proverbs 3.9; 1 Timothy 1.17; 2 Peter 1.17
[5] Exodus 20.12; Luke 18.20; Ephesians 6.2; 1 Peter 3.7
[6] Psalm 145.5; Proverbs 3.9
[7] Proverbs 11.16; 31.25
[8] Proverbs 15.33; 18.12; 22.4; 29.23
[9] Revelation 4.11
[10] 1 Timothy 5.3, 17
[11] Matthew 26.6-13 and Mark 14.3-9 report that the Lord’s head was anointed, whereas this passage indicates His feet were anointed, suggesting to me that Matthew and Mark are reporting a different occasion.
[12] Andreas J. Kostenberger, John - ECNT, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004), page 360.
[13] Ibid., page 362.
[14] Ibid., page 361.
[15] Luke 10.38-42
[16] Henry
[17] Genesis 34
[18] https://www.forbes.com/sites/louiswoodhill/2014/03/19/the-war-on-poverty-wasnt-a-failure-it-was-a-catastrophe/#a2d9176f49d4
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Pastor@CalvaryRoadBaptist.Church