John 12: 1-22, Messiah, Christ, Anointed

Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead.  It is now spring in Palestine. Time for the Passover.

The Hebrew word "Messiah" and the Greek word "Christ" mean the same thing, "Chosen One" or "Anointed One".  The Messiah should be anointed....

John 12: 1-8, Anointment by Mary
Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

It is, of course, very natural for Lazarus's family to hold a meal in his honor!  Mary anoints Jesus and Judas protests.  John records the true motives of Judas.  Meanwhile Jesus makes a comment that has long been misunderstood, for his comment is not about the poor (among whom he has lived and ministered) but about the upcoming crucifixion and burial.

John 12: 9-11, Angry priests
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

So the priests want to kill a resurrected man??

John 12: 12-19, The last week begins
The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 
  "Hosanna!"
  "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  
  "Blessed is the King of Israel!"

Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.

The other gospels have this story; John provides additional details.  And the disciples first miss the prophetic nature of this event.

According to John's gospel, the resurrection of Lazarus is a major reason for the crowd's reaction on his entry to Jerusalem.

NIV Footnotes: "Hosanna" is a Hebrew expression meaning "Save!", which became an exclamation of praise. The quote in verse 13 is from Psalm 118:25-26 and the quote in verse 15 is from Zechariah 9:9.

John 12: 19-22 Pharisees and Greeks
So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

John reports some Greeks visiting Jesus.  These men would certainly not be Jews.  But little else is reported about this meeting.  John's point seems to be that non-Jews were beginning to hear about Jesus and were attracted to him.