Day 27 - March 27th 2022
READ John 12:1-26
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 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.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 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.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
9 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. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 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!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”
16 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.
17 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. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
John 12:25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
People are inherently selfish. We love ourselves and we can see this selfishness played out daily in our lives. People would do anything to keep this life. But it’s so ironic to see how Jesus states to every man across every generation the key to live forever is to die to self! Isn’t that a strange call? When man is constantly protecting himself in every way possible to escape from being harmed – be it to his ego, his desires or his plans – Jesus is asking us to lay down our lives, so that He could give us eternal life.
In today’s reading, we see four different people who loved life differently. Do our lives reflect any of them?
Mary – We are introduced to her in Luke 10:38-42. Even at the first meeting we see that she chose to be devoted to Jesus above everything else in her life and Jesus commends her (Luke 10: 42) saying she had chosen the good part. In John 12:1-4 we again see her devotions displayed. The two most precious things of her life she laid down at her Master’s feet:
Herself - She fell at Jesus’ feet publicly laying down all her pride and self esteem and acknowledged the grace and mercy poured out to her by her Savior.
Her wealth (John 12:3) – Scripture clearly states that she poured out a very costly oil and we see here that she was willing to give it all away for her Master. She kept nothing back.
She loved him more than her life and her possessions and she is remembered for this act even to this day.
Judas – (John 12:4-7) – Watching all this was Judas, one of Jesus’s disciples. His reaction to Mary’s act clearly displayed his love for money. This love for money drove him to even betray Jesus to the Pharisees. Paul warns us in 1 Timothy 6:9-10 that lust for money brings nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in faith completely and live to regret it bitterly even after. This is what happened to Judas.
Is this the path we are treading on? May we not gain riches to lose our soul. (Matt 16:26)
Priests and Pharisees – We read in John 12:10 & 19 – that the Chief Priest and the Pharisee were not very happy with all that was happening around them. Their importance in society was taking second place to all that Jesus was doing. Their jealousy and their love for position and power led them to plot the death of the GIVER OF LIFE (John 11:53).
Is this what we are living for, that we are willing to step over others to reach the top?
Jesus – (John 12:24) – He knew His mission from the beginning, which echoes in Isaiah 50:7(paraphrased): “He set his face like a stone determined to do his will.” Though the Greeks came looking for Him to make Him a leader here on earth, He did not give into any of these allurements. His call was not for earthly glory and honor. Jesus lived not for Himself but for us that through His death we might live (John 12: 24). He gave us His all that today He is seated at the right hand of God (Eph. 1:20).
Christ Jesus calls us to follow Him, that through our selfless lives we might win a few for Him!
Does your life mirror the love shown by one of these four people? Pray to be filled with a selfless love so that others may see the love of Christ through you.