John 11:54-John 12:19
Mary anoints Jesus with perfume and hair

⁵⁴ Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

• 54 Where does the account take place?
• Check out the location on a map.

⁵⁵ And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

• 55 What is the setting? What was going on in the town?

⁵⁶ Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?

• 55 What were the crowds doing?
• 56 Interpretation and Insight: What were the crowds thinking?

⁵⁷ Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

John 12

12 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

1 Check a Map Where did Jesus go? Why was this significant?

² There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

• 2 Re-write this in your own words.

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.

• 3 Mary anointed Jesus feet with expensive perfume and hair.

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?

• 5a NIV Study Bible states 300 pence is worth a years’ wages. She was grateful her brother was brought back from the dead. She is grateful because he has released her from Luke 8:2, KJV, “And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,”
• 5b According to the notes in the NIV Study Bible, this was noteworthy for these reasons.
  • Perfume expensive,
  • Oil is usually poured on head
  • She wiped it with her hair which a respectful women kept it bound in public
  • It showed her humility. It was a servants job to take care of the feet.
  • Also, perfume used for festivities and burial.

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.

• 7 How did Jesus know the future?

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.

• 11a Response:
• 11b Do you have a story to tell?

¹² On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

• 12 What was the motivation of the crowd?

¹³ Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

• 13 Is there significance to the palm branches? If you go to GotQuestions.org and enter that question, there will be an article about it.

¹⁴ And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

• 14 What do other translations say?

¹⁵ Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

¹⁶ These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

• 16 Do you have interpretation and insight for this verse?

¹⁷ The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

¹⁸ For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

• 18 Do you have interpretation and insight for this verse?

¹⁹ The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

What my Notebook Entry looks like in my personal journal

DATE: May 21
PASSAGE: John 11:54-John 12:19
TITLE: Mary anoints Jesus with perfume and hair

• 54 Jesus went to desert of Ephraim.
• MAP: In Judea North of Jerusalem, Bethany, Jericho and Mount of Olives west side of Jordan River.
• 55 Crowds gathered for ceremonial cleansing
• 56 Jesus the talk of the town at the temple, looking for Jesus and speculating if he would arrive.

John 12

• 1 Jesus moved to Bethany where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived.
• 2 Martha served a dinner in Jesus’ honor. Lazarus was there.
• 3 Mary anointed Jesus feet with expensive perfume and hair.
• 5a NIV states 300 pence is worth a years’ wages. She was grateful her brother was brought back from the dead. She is grateful because he has released her from Luke 8:2, KJV, “And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,”
• 5b According to the notes in the NIV Study Bible, this was noteworthy for these reasons.

1. • • Perfume expensive,
     • Oil is usually poured on head
     • She wiped it with her hair which a respectful women kept it bound in public
     • It showed her humility. It was a servants job to take care of the feet.
     • Also, perfume used for festivities and burial.

• 7 Prophetic, because I don’t think Mary knew he was about to be buried. Perhaps her motivation was just plain gratitude because of all he had done for the family: healed her from infirmities and evil spirits, and brought Lazarus from the dead.
• 11a APPLICATION: God gave me this verse, to share my story of living through my accident without lifelong problems like wheelchair or death. I must tell my story so others will believe on Jesus because of it. I must tell it.
• 11b Do you have a story to tell?
• 12 He was famous. Curiosity seekers were most likely there as well as converted believers. Maybe some thought he had political ambitions and were there in support of his overthrow.
• 13 Palm branches are used as a symbol of victory.
• 14 Other translations says donkey, a sign of peace.
• 16 Disciples remembered the prophesies of this after his resurrection.
• 18 The fame of the miracle of Lazarus brought a crowd. Interesting that this extreme miracle was done just before he died on the cross.