"Come and See": A Web Commentary on the Gospel of John: Section 11. Jesus begins to move from death to new life (Jn 12.1-50)


11.1 The anointing at Bethany (Jn 12.1-11)


121Then six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. 2So they gave a dinner for him there and Martha served and Lazarus was one of those who reclined at table with him.

3Then Mary, taking a pound of expensive perfume made from pure nard, annointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them off with her hair. The house was filled with the aroma of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, the one who was going to betray him, said, 5“Why was this perfume not sold for 300 silver pennies and the money given to the poor?” 6He did not say this because the poor mattered to him but because he was a thief and, since he held the purse, he used to take away what was put in. 7So Jesus said, “Let her be - she kept this to use1 for my burial day. 8For you always have the poor with you but you do not always have me.”

9Then there was a large crowd of Judaeans (or Jerusalemites) that was there and came not because of Jesus only, but so that they could also see Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. 10But the chief priests decided that they would also kill Lazarus, 11because many of the Judaeans (or Jerusalemites) were going over2 because of him and putting their trust in Jesus.

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1 to use: supplied, verb missing Greek text

2 Likely this means going over to Jesus, but the goal of the going over is not expressed so it could mean going over from Jerusalem to Bethany