Jesus anointed by Mary of Bethany

Here are the study notes, questions and assignments for this week's IN THE WORD BIBLE STUDY!

Please read John chapter 12 and other references to ready yourself for Thursday night's class.

Chapter 12 can be divided as such: THE ANOINTING BY MARY, 12:1-8 (Matt. 26: 6-13; Mark 14:3-9). JESUS TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM, 12:12-19, (Matt 21:1-11; mark 11: 1-11; Luke 19: 28-40), and JESUS FINAL DISCOURSE TO THE PEOPLE, 12: 20-50.

Questions and assignments for Thursday night (Nov. 14).

In this chapter we find Jesus back in Bethany, the home of his friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. At the end of chapter 11 he had withdrawn to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim (11:54). The chapter opens with a beautiful portrayal of Mary anointing Jesus with an expensive spikenard oil, which was met with a wide range of reactions. Lazarus, Mary, Martha and Judas Iscariot were all in Jesus circle of friends, BUT their relationship and motives were different..for Iscariot anyway. We must want to be close to Jesus for the right reasons..

1. Mary used spikenard to anoint Jesus. What is spikenard? Was it expensive? It is also called 'nard”.

2. Nard was used to anoint kings? What may Mary have been thinking about while anointing her Lord?
3. The chief priests blindness and hardness of heart caused them to sink further and deeper in sin. Now not only did they want to kill Jesus but Lazarus as well! They claimed blasphemy as the reason to kill Jesus, why did they want to kill Lazarus) (vss 9-10)
4. As Martha served the meal and as Lazarus enjoyed the company of the Lord, Mary offered the worship of her heart by anointing him. This would be Jesus final visit with his friends before going to Jerusalem, where he had already told his disciples..”The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.” (Matt 20: 18-19 NRSV). Others had met at Jesus's feet to get their needs met, but she came to worship him, and to anoint him for the burial for what was to come. The other two evangelists, Matthew and Mark, writes this account, only John gives her name. (v 3)
5. Is there ever a reason to be jealous of others?
6. Why do you think the crowd was so excited to see Jesus? As they shouted HOSANNA : Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord., what were they expecting from him?
7. What does HOSANNA mean? (show scripture reference)
8. Why did Jesus get a young donkey to ride into Jerusalem? It there a prophesy concerning this in the OT, where can we find it?
9. Did the people crying HOSANNA understand what was really going on?
10. John 12: 20-36...Jesus would explain why he had to die...The Greeks seek Jesus..We will continue this section next week...Lord willing.

LAZARUS! John 11...

Here are study notes and questions for this week's IN THE WORD BIBLE STUDY. Tonight, 7:30 est call 518-530-1840, Access code 367405204. Chime in!

Here is a reading from Halley's Bible Handbook..JESUS RAISES LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD.

“This happened probably about a month before Jesus own death. It was the third time He raised someone from the dead ( Jairus's daughter, Mark 5:21-43; the son of the widow of Nain ( Luke 7:11-17); and now Lazarus.), all of which will be climaxed by His own death and resurrection, nevermore to die. This miracle brought the Sanhedrin to a final decision to kill Jesus (v 53) Jesus therefore withdrew to Ephraim, in the Hill Country about 12 miles north of Jerusalem, to wait quietly with the Twelve for the Passover.

Read pages 70-74 in your workbook JOHN Jesus-The word, The Messiah, The Son of God by John MacArthur.

The raising of Lazarus is the 7^th sign in the Book of John. The nation had rejected him, the religious leaders had rejected him. John 1:11 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not”. With his public ministry coming to an end, Jesus will display the last major miracle. The purpose of this miracle (sign), is found in John 11:4..” When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby”. His glory is on display, so the people might believe in him..and to strengthen the faith of those who already believe. Yes, Divine Power on display, raising of a man dead for four days would surely bring those to faith in him (or would it?) It would preview his own death, he would raise himself up, and yes, raise us all one day! Oh Hallelujah! He declared “ I am the resurrection and the life, v 25, then he went and proved it!

Below are some questions (I made up) and study notes for tonight's class: All questions will come from John chapter 11...

1The name Lazarus is an abbreviated form of the HEB. Name Eleazar (meaning God has helped). What OT character was named Eleazar?...think Abraham.

2 When Mary and Martha sent for Jesus concerning the sickness of their brother, he was in another city called Bethany. Where was this Bethany located? Hint: John had ministered there early in his ministry.

3.What does the word Bethany mean?

4 Many females were called Mary in the bible, it was a popular name. What is the Hebrew translation for Mary? Hint: It comes from an OT character..with a tambourine...

5 Had Jesus raised any others from the dead before Lazarus? If so, where do we find these accounts?

6 What was unique about the raising of Lazarus from the other accounts?

7 Why do you think the text describes Jesus as “groaning” in his spirit, weeping and being troubled over the death of Lazarus---especially if Jesus knew that he was going to bring Lazarus back to life?

8 John wrote about 7 signs in his gospel, which # sign was the raising of Lazarus? Name the previous “signs” (miracles) in the book. Hint: Refer back to The SEVEN I AM'S OF JESUS from your notes and the blog.

9 True or False Did Jesus deal in fantasy or reality? Show proof

10 According to John 11:4 what was the “purpose” for Lazarus's sickness and death?

11 Since Jesus loves everybody, what “type” of love do you think is meant in v. 5?

12 In vss 8-10 the disciples didn't understand why Jesus would go back to Judea knowing the religious leaders wanted to kill him. In response to their hesitation he asked a rhetorical question..Are there not twelve hours of daylight? What do you think he was talking about..alluding to? Explain verses 8-10.

13 We have seen many glimpses of Jesus compassion; however, his tender conversations with Mary and Martha are the most moving to me. We see him as a friend! We have seen him confront people with the truth, here he consoles as a gentle master (teacher). How wonderful...

14 Thomas is usually remembered as the “doubter” but here we see another side to him. What do you think he was saying in verse 16

15 It is interesting how Jesus had the people do what they could do in the miracle. What two things did Jesus command the people around Lazarus to do...one before he raised him..and one after... What lesson can we learn from this?