Jesus always takes very seriously the persecution of those who love Him

John 12:1

Note on John 12:1

This was about two months after the resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:43).
Matthew (Matthew 26:6-13) and Mark (Mark 14:3-9) also recorded this instance but didn’t mention that it was Mary–whose brother, Lazarus, had been raised from the dead–who anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair.
Lazarus, Mary, and Martha lived in Bethany, so it might be assumed that this feast took place in their house. But Matthew and Mark both said it happened in the house of Simon the leper. John 12:2 says Martha was serving, so the families must have been friends or become friends because of their mutual love for Jesus.

John 12:2

Note on John 12:2

I know what this is like to have someone you love die and then be resurrected and sit at the supper table with you. You are constantly aware that all this could have been different if it wasn’t for Jesus. What would it have been like to have Jesus physically present? I can certainly identify with what Mary did.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 1 at John 12:2: In another instance that took place just a few months prior to this, Martha had been corrected by Jesus for being distracted by the care of serving. Again in this verse, we see Martha serving and Mary worshiping. It is not clear if Martha had straightened out her priorities yet, but it is possible that she had and was now able to serve the Lord in the proper way.

John 12:3

Note on John 12:3

John 12:5 reveals this price. It was about a year’s wages for a common laborer. What a gift! But it was a small gift in comparison to what the Lord had given her.
Mary must have had very long hair to accomplish this.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 2 at John 12:3: Only John mentioned the name of the woman who anointed Jesus. By comparing this verse with John 11:2, it can be seen that this was the same Mary whose brother, Lazarus, had been raised from the dead just a short time before (see note 2 at Luke 10:39).

John 12:4

Note on John 12:4

Matthew’s account of this says, “But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying...” (Matthew 26:8). Mark 14:4 says, “And there were some that had indignation within themselves.” Only John recorded that Judas Iscariot said this. Judas must have been the spokesman for what a number of people thought. See my note at Matthew 26:6.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 3 at John 12:4: This verse says that Judas Iscariot was the one who made the objection about this expensive perfume being used on Jesus, while Matthew 26:8 says it was the disciples (plural) and Mark 14:4 says “there were some.” There is no contradiction here. Judas Iscariot was the leader of the criticism of Mary’s gift (John 12:5) while the other disciples picked up on it quickly (Matthew 26:8 and Mark 14:4).

John 12:5

Note on John 12:5

The NIV translation says this was about one year’s wages. This was worth a lot of money! I’m sure this would be worth more than $20,000 in today’s money.

John 12:6

Note on John 12:6

Judas was Jesus’ treasurer, and he was a thief. That is not a good combination. The real reason he was so upset at this “waste” was because he would have loved to have had that much money in the bag so he could have skimmed some of it. The love of money was the root of this criticism (1 Timothy 6:10).
There are people today who champion causes that “help” the poor, but that doesn’t mean their hearts are right with God any more than it meant Judas’ heart was right because he mentioned helping the poor. This is often done for totally selfish reasons.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 4 at John 12:6: Only John gave insight into the motives behind Judas’ complaint. Judas didn’t care about the poor. He wanted to have in his bag the money that the perfume could have been sold for (he was the treasurer for Jesus, this verse and John 13:29) so that he could steal it. This was a very serious crime that Jesus, no doubt, knew about, but Scripture never mentions Him confronting Judas.

John 12:7

Note on John 12:7

Jesus always takes very seriously the persecution of those who love Him (Acts 9:4).

John 12:8

Note on John 12:8

Matthew’s account of this instance adds, “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her” (Matthew 26:13). Mark 14:9 says, “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
Those who don’t love God with all their hearts are always offended at those who demonstrate they do.

John 12:9

Note on John 12:9

Once again, we see the importance of miracles in the life and ministry of Jesus. The crowd was larger because of the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead.

John 12:10

Note on John 12:10

How dumb can you get and still breathe? Jesus had already proved that death wasn’t final, and yet they persisted in believing that if they could just kill Jesus and Lazarus, all this would blow over.

John 12:11

Note on John 12:11

Here again is a testimony to the importance of miracles. This miracle caused many to believe on Jesus. We must have the same miracles that Jesus had to get the same results that Jesus got (John 14:12).

Andrew Wommack's Living Commentary.



John 14:12-14 (KJV)
¹²  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
¹³  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
¹⁴  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.