John 12

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:1-8

1. The feast of love and gratitude . read more

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:1-8

A good work wrought in season. When Jesus lay, a helpless Infant, in the manger at Bethlehem, there came strangers from the East and poured rich offerings at his feet—gold and frankincense and myrrh; and now that he was about to leave the world, an unexpected act of homage was done to him, not indeed by a stranger, but by a gentle and unobtrusive disciple. The occasion was this. Our Lord, weary with his journey from the country beyond Jordan, his last long earthly journey, was resting the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:1-11

The supper at Bethany. While the hostility of the Jews grows day by day, the devotion of our Lord's friends visibly increases. I. THE TIME OF THE SUPPER . "Six days before the Passover." 1. The most probable opinion is that it took place on the day after the Jewish sabbath . 2. The edict of the authorities at Jerusalem respecting Jesus had no deterrent effect upon his friends at Bethany . This feast is their answer to it. II. THE PLACE OF THE SUPPER... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:1-50

III. CONSUMMATION OF THE PUBLIC MINISTRY . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:2

There, therefore, they made him a supper, and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him . John does not tell us in whose house "they made the dinner" or supper, and unless Simon the leper is a member of the family, we cannot suppose that it was in the quiet home of Bethany that this feast in honor of Jesus was held, but that it took place, as the synoptists positively declare, "in the house of Simon the leper." Simon may easily have been one of the many lepers... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:3

Mary therefore took a pound of ointment ("liquid perfume," sometimes added to the more ordinary oil), of pure (or possibly; pistie ) nard . Mark uses this unusual word πιστικός , which belongs to later Greek. The derivation of πιστκτικός from πίνω , equivalent to "potable," is not appropriate in meaning, though this "nard" was used for perfuming wine. In Mark 14:3 also the Authorized version translates it "spikenard," as it does here (cf. also Song of Solomon 1:12 and ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:3

The odorous offering. The fact that three of the evangelists have recorded this interesting incident, proves how deep was the impression it made upon the minds of Christ's followers and friends. We recognize in Mary's gift— I. AN EVIDENCE OF GRATEFUL LOVE . Mary had many reasons for regarding Jesus with affectionate thankfulness. To him she was indebted for many precious lessons in spiritual knowledge. Sitting at his feet, she had imbibed his incomparable teaching. To him she... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:3

A sister's expression of gratitude. What a remarkable company was here gathered together! 1. Jesus, within about a week of his death, and distinctly apprehending what was before him. 2. His host, Simon the leper, not mentioned here, but mentioned by Matthew and Mark—a man who, in all probability, had his own occasion of gratitude to Jesus. 3. Lazarus, just brought back from the grave, and in company with Jesus, who was going down to it. 4. Martha and Mary. 5. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:3-8

The immortal box of ointment. We have here— I. THE OFFERING OF LOVE . "Then took Mary," etc. 1. This offering of love is made to its Object . Jesus was the Object of Mary's supreme love, and him she now anoints. We may look at her act as: 2. This offering of love somewhat corresponds with the love it expresses . Think of this ointment, the offering of Mary's love. 3. This offering of love was made in a very suitable and interesting manner . II. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:4

But Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples £ , who was about to betray him, said. The speaker here is singled out by name. Matthew refers the speech to the disciples generally, in whom the suggestion of Judas had stirred up (without guile or blame on their part) a not unnatural inquiry. Mark says "some" murmured to themselves, "Why this waste?" (loss, destruction). John (without the malice which Renan has attributed to the writer) mentions the source of the suggestion, "Judas Iscariot,... read more

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