2BC BIBLE STUDY NOTES

Wednesday in the Word

Second Baptist Church

November 12, 2025

John 11:45-12:8

1. Verses 45-48. Last week we studied the great miracle of Jesus raising Lazurus from the dead. This miracle was timed so that a tremendous amount of people saw it. Many people experienced the miracle and believed in Jesus. Miracles have the primary purpose to lead people to believe in God. As usual, those who witness this amazing sign reach two dramatically different conclusions. Many find the evidence compelling, believing in Jesus as the promised Messiah; but some do not. Notice here that the response of the people to this miracle is quite different from the response of the Jews to our Lord’s healing of the man born blind in chapter 9. In the case of the blind man’s healing, the Jews sought to convince themselves that there was no miracle, because the man was not really blind. In chapter 11, no one disputes that it is indeed Lazarus who has been raised from the dead. No one even attempts to challenge the claim of those present that he has really died and been dead for four days, after which he is raised. No one challenges the fact that it is Jesus who raises him. This miracle caused many people to believe that the religious leaders decided Jesus was a threat to their existence. After the miracle, many believed and some informed the chief priests and the Pharisees what Jesus had done. The Pharisees are informed about the miracle at Bethany and quickly call for a meeting of the Sanhedrin. Up to this point, they have not been able to come to a united stand (see 7:45-53), but all that ends here. Up till now, they have been eager to arrest and kill Jesus but have been unable to do so (see 5:18; 7:11, 30; 8:40, 59; 10:31, 39). They now resolve to change that, and very soon. The religious leaders knew that they couldn’t compete with the signs and miracles that Jesus was performing. They feared that they would lose followers, and they feared that Jesus would cause the Romans to take away the temple and land.

2. Verses 49-53. Caiaphas is the High Priest this year, and as the High Priest, he now lays out the course of action which seems necessary: Jesus must die. Far better to sacrifice one person than the entire nation, he reasons. Our Lord’s death seems to spell life (as it is presently) for the rest. What Caiaphas doesn’t realize is that at the very moment he is proposing the death of our Lord, He is being used of God to utter (as the High Priest) a profound prophetic truth. It was God’s plan and purpose that one man–Jesus Christ should die for the entire nation, and that out of His death many will find eternal life. Caiaphas is speaking for God despite his unbelief and rejection of Jesus. Note the arrogance of this man, even as he speaks prophetieally. You don’t have to be a believer to be used as God’s mouthpiece. Ask Balaam (or his donkey –Numbers 22–24). And so it is that from this day forward, this very diverse group of Jews is united in its one common purpose of killing Jesus. These words of the High Priest and the decision of the Sanhedrin are amazing. They are almost beyond belief. Jesus has just raised a man from the dead, and so they decide the best way to counteract our Lord’s ministry is to kill Him.

3. Verses 54-57. Jesus is aware of His “time.” He must die as the Passover Lamb. He could not die beforehand. And so, having succeeded at prompting the opposition to unify in their rejection of Him, Jesus retreats from Judea for a time, until He comes to Jerusalem for the final time. In the same way he timed the miracle of Lazurus, so too he will time his crucifixion and resurrection. Mary and Martha cannot comprehend why Jesus did not come to them–and to Lazarus–immediately, so that his death could be prevented. The further away we get from this miracle, the more we can see how much it accomplishes. (1) It demonstrates our Lord’s great power. (2) it strengthens the faith of those who believe in Jesus, especially the disciples, Martha and Mary. (3) it brings many to faith in Jesus as the Messiah. (4) it provokes greater and more intense opposition to Jesus, and a unified Sanhedrin, intent now on bringing about the death of Jesus. The timing of this great sign is perfect. Passover is but a few months away. During this interval, Jesus is ministering in a more private and secluded spot. But much is happening in Jerusalem that paves the way for our Lord’s final visit. Those who witness the raising of Lazarus are telling others about this miracle. Lazarus is walking about, very much alive. As more and more pilgrims begin to arrive in Jerusalem from afar, they hear about what has happened to Lazarus. One question is on the lips and in the minds of everyone in Jerusalem: “Will Jesus make an appearance during Passover?” The excitement and sense of expectation is at an all-time high. It sets the stage for the triumphal entry of our Lord, which is tied very closely to the raising of Lazarus and its impact on the city of Jerusalem. The last verse (57) of chapter 11 may be parenthetical, and thus it may seem somewhat incidental, but it is very significant indeed: “(Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should report it, so that they could arrest him.)” Up till now, the Jewish leaders have kept their intention to kill Jesus secret. They fear the masses and know Jesus has great popularity. The people know that the Jews oppose Jesus, and that they want to know His whereabouts so they ean arrest Him. They also know that one can be put out of the synagogue for even talking about Him. But now in verse 57, the Jews declare Jesus to be an outlaw, a wanted man. Anyone who knows His whereabouts is to turn this information over to them. No doubt this word reaches the ears of Judas, and when he approaches these leaders in chapter 12, it is in response to this official order. This order also explains the secrecy of our Lord in preparing for the Passover, for example. He will not give Judas an opportunity to betray Him until it is His “time.”

4. Chapter 12. Verse 1. The miracle of the raising of Lazarus is fresh in the reader’s mind, and it is also fresh in the minds of those who witnessed the raising of Lazarus in Bethany, and came to trust in Jesus as a result. It is fresh in the minds of the unbelieving Jewish religious leaders, who look upon the raising of Lazarus as the last straw. At the direction of Caiaphas, the High Priest that year, the Sanhedrin is called together, and the members are now unified in their resolve to kill Jesus. If our Lord’s arrival at Bethany is an amazing thing in chapter 11, it is even more amazing in chapter 12. Then, even though Lazarus’ life hung in the balance, the disciples are not at all eager to return to Bethany, knowing the dangers awaiting them there. Now, after the raising of Lazarus, things become much more dangerous for Jesus, and for His followers. And yet John tells us in a matter-of-fact fashion that “Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived...” Our Lord’s arrival in chapter 11, followed by the raising of Lazarus, has a profound impact on the Jews in Jerusalem and its suburbs. Our Lord’s last arrival at Bethany is a turning point, not only for our Lord, but also for the nation of Israel.

5. Verses 2-3. The meal is being served. Jesus and His disciples, along with Lazarus and other men, are reclining at the table. During this meal, Mary makes her way to where Jesus is eating. She brings with her a flask of very expensive pure nard containing about 12 ounces of this very expensive liquid. It doesn’t take Judas long to “appraise” the value of this substance–more than 300 denarii. Since a denarius represents the daily wage for a laborer, this represents approximately a year’s salary. That’s a lot of money! Mary breaks the container so that she can pour out its entire contents on Him. She breaks the neck of the flask and proceeds to pour the entire contents on our Lord. This woman pours out her love on the Savior, by sacrificing the most precious thing she owns.

6. Verses 4-8. The disciples of our Lord are angered by her actions, and they lash out at Mary for “needlessly wasting” this precious ointment on Jesus. John tells us a very important detail, not revealed to us by either Matthew or Mark: the one who inches the disciples to anger is Judas. John also informs us that Judas is a thief. Judas uses the poor to rebuke this act of love, but Judas doesn’t care for the poor, he was mad that the money wasn’t collected from the sale of the oil so he could steal it for himself. Some people are around Jesus to enrich themselves. Some people talk about church folks not because they are really concerned about the poor, but because they have ulterior motives. Jesus does not minimize the importance of caring for the poor (Deut. 15:1-11). What He calls to the attention of His disciples is that while there will be many opportunities to minister to the poor in the future, this is the only opportunity Mary will have to minister to Him in this way. His days left on this earth are very few. She will have no other opportunity to show her love to Him as she desires.

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