John 12:1-19 "HOSANNA" - SAVE NOW With the plot against Jesus being well known in the city of Jerusalem, it seemed to the disciples the journey to Bethany, a nearby village, would be a dangerous place to be. But the powers of men are not able to act against the Lord Jesus Christ until He permits it to happen. The oasis in the wilderness of hatred that was in the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary would have been a welcome place to Jesus over the years of His ministry here on earth. When those who love the Lord are together, there is a joy and peace that cannot be disturbed by the antagonism of the world system around us. If this supper was in the house of Simon, it didn't keep Martha from her faithful service for the Lord. She had learned from the Lord previously not to be distracted from her role of service by what others do or do not do. Each of us has a work to which we have been suited by God. There is no reason to compare what I do with what others do. My responsibility is to do what I do "As unto the Lord, and not unto men." Martha had learned and was doing what she had been called to do.
Lazarus who had recently been raised from the dead was sitting at the table in fellowship with Jesus and His disciples, and any others who were there. Just by being there, his physical presence gave proof to the fact that Jesus is God, the only One who has power to give life to those who are dead. Those who are "dead in trespasses and sins" can only find life in the One who gives life - the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of Lazarus being raised from the dead by the Lord Jesus, Lazarus also was now an object of the murderous plot of the chief priests. They were likely Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, and Lazarus being alive was evidence they were wrong, and their teaching was wrong. They did not like that at all. Now they planned the murder of two instead of one. One sin leads to another on a downward slide that cannot be stopped without genuine repentance.
Like a beautiful vista opening to one's eyes after a long drive across a dreary desert, was the devotion of Mary toward the Lord Jesus Christ. Her usual place in her association with Jesus was at His feet. She knew who He really was, the Lord from heaven, and her devotion to the Savior was greater than the others there. She didn't have to say a word. Over the period of time she had known the Lord Jesus, she had been saving in order to give Him the highest honor she could. Anointing of His head was to give Him honor. Anointing of His feet was an act of devotion from her heart. She had listened to Him speak and understood what was going to happen to Him. Her faith in Him and devotion toward Him must have been a great comfort to Him as He looked ahead to what was going to happen in the next week.
We may not be aware of the value of some act of devotion we may show toward the Lord and toward His people. He knows our motivation and is able to be glorified and honored by such acts from His people today. There is no reason to think He does not know what we mean by any sincere act of service, fellowship or devotion we may do. The disciples didn't understand what was happening any more than people do today as they wonder at what we do and why we do it. It is sufficient for us to know that Jesus knows what is behind every act of appreciation we can give Him.
The spikenard Mary poured out on the Lord permeated the house and all those who were at that meal would have the scent of it on them long after the supper was past. Jesus Himself would have the scent of spikenard on Him for the whole final week of His public life. Even at His burial, Joseph and Nicodemus would have known someone anointed Jesus before they did. The effect of true devotion on the part of a believer is a great benefit to all who associate with them. On the other hand, there are those who, because of the darkness of their hearts, will mock and criticize anyone who truly loves the Lord and shows it.
Judas was one of those, a selfish, critical thief who used a pious phrase to cover his own deceit. He had fallen further and further under the control of Satan. He did not understand the value of money and what it was for, and how useless and worthless it is in the face of holy devotion. In the life of those who are without Christ as their Savior, one sin leads to another. The downward slide continues and can't be stopped until sin is faced and there comes true repentance that leads one to turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God
The chief priests with implacable hatred against Christ were willfully blinded and had hardened their hearts to the light of the Lord Jesus Christ and the blessings He brought to others including Lazarus. They had deliberately rejected Christ, and now had plans to kill two instead of one because many people were believing on Jesus because of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Against the background of the beauty of devotion, the joy of fellowship and the satisfaction of faithful service, there was also the blackness of evil under satanic control by Judas and the chief priests. Into the city of Jerusalem, the very next day came Jesus in fulfillment of prophecy relating to the coming King. There was at first adulation as the easily changeable crowd shouted their "Hosannas" - Save now! Their hopes were that deliverance from Roman tyranny would happen right then and they would finally be free. The prophecy was fulfilled alright, but in connection with a far greater kingdom than that of Israel.
The Jews had anticipated the Messiah bringing national deliverance without them having a change of heart. That day will come, of that there is no doubt. When that happens, the whole world will know that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is the King of kings. We who know Him now, honor Him in that way today in our lives and in our gatherings as we anticipate His coming glory.