Jesus Came To Bethany Where Lazarus Lived and had been raised from the dead. What followed was a powerful picture of worship, sacrifice, prophecy, obedience, judgment, and salvation. Mary honored Jesus with costly perfume, crowds welcomed Him as King, and Jesus spoke openly about the hour that was coming. His mission was not His own—it came from the Father, and His words were leading the world toward eternal life.
Obedience, God’s Covenant, Faith, Mercy, Judgment, Blessing, Salvation, Redemption Plan, Jesus Christ
📖 John 12:1-3 (NIV)
“12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] 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.”
Bethany became a place where the power and purpose of Jesus were clearly displayed. Lazarus was alive because Jesus had called him from the tomb. Mary responded with an act of extraordinary devotion, pouring expensive perfume over Jesus’ feet and preparing, unknowingly or knowingly, for His coming burial.
Soon afterward, Jesus entered Jerusalem with crowds shouting, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” He came as King, but not as an earthly king seeking power. He came to fulfill God’s Covenant and complete the Redemption Plan.
Jesus knew His hour had arrived. He understood that His death would be like a seed falling into the ground—one life given so that many could receive life.
His path was leading directly to the cross.
📖 John 11:4-8 (NIV)
“4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 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.”
“7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”
Mary took expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet.
To Judas, it looked wasteful.
To Jesus, it was an act connected to His burial.
This teaches us that worship is not always understood by the world. What appears costly to others may be an expression of love, faith, and obedience to God.
Mary gave something valuable because Jesus was more valuable.
Her actions remind us that God looks beyond the price of an offering and sees the heart behind it.
📖 John 11:9-13 (NIV)
“9 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. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.”
“12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna![d]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[e]
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
The crowd welcomed Jesus with palm branches and shouted praise.
They saw the King coming.
But many did not yet understand what kind of King He was.
Jesus entered Jerusalem not riding a powerful war horse, but sitting on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy. His Kingdom would not be established through earthly force. His victory would come through obedience, sacrifice, death, and resurrection.
Jesus was moving toward the cross because that was where the Father’s plan was leading Him.
📖 John 11:14-19 (NIV)
“14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
“15
“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”[f]
“16 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 these things had been done to him.”
“17 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. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
Jesus gave the people an important picture:
“Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.”
Jesus was describing His own mission.
His death would not be the end. His sacrifice would produce a harvest of salvation.
One life would be given so that many could receive eternal life.
This is the heart of the Redemption Plan: Jesus Christ would willingly give Himself for the world.
📖 John 11:20-24 (NIV)
“20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.”
“23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. “
Jesus admitted that His soul was troubled.
He knew what was coming.
He knew about the suffering, rejection, crucifixion, and death ahead of Him.
Yet He did not turn away.
Instead, He said:
“Father, glorify your name!”
This is obedience at its highest level.
Jesus did not choose the easiest path. He chose the Father’s will.
His obedience shows us that following God does not always mean avoiding difficulty. Sometimes obedience means walking directly through difficulty because God has given the path a greater purpose.
📖 John 11:25-29 (NIV)
“25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”
“27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.”
Jesus told the people to walk while they had the light.
He had come into the world as the Light.
The choice was becoming clear: believe in Him and become children of light, or reject Him and remain in darkness.
This is more than a historical decision made by people in Jerusalem. It is a question that continues to reach every person:
What will we do with Jesus Christ?
Faith requires more than seeing the signs. It requires believing the One behind the signs.
📖 John 11:30-36 (NIV)
“30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[g] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.”
“34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
“35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.”
Jesus had performed many signs, including raising Lazarus from the dead, yet many still refused to believe.
Others believed but were afraid to admit it publicly because they wanted human approval.
John gives us an important warning: some people loved human praise more than praise from God.
Faith can be weakened when we become more concerned about what people think than what God knows.
Following Christ requires courage.
📖 John 11:37-43 (NIV)
“37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[h]
“39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
“40
“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”[i]
“41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.”
“42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.”
Jesus clearly explained His purpose:
“I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”
His first coming was centered on salvation and the completion of God’s Redemption Plan.
Yet rejection still has consequences.
Jesus warned that the very words He spoke would stand as testimony at the last day for those who rejected Him.
Mercy is offered.
Salvation is offered.
Grace is offered.
But God does not remove our responsibility to respond.
📖 John 11:44-50 (NIV)
“44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
“47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
Jesus did not create His own message.
He did not come seeking His own glory.
He came representing the Father.
“Whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
His words reveal God’s truth, God’s mercy, God’s judgment, and God’s plan for salvation.
And Jesus tells us that the Father’s command leads to eternal life.
God’s Covenant did not depend on the crowd understanding Jesus.
It did not depend on the Pharisees accepting Him. It did not depend on everyone believing.
The Father had sent the Son, and Jesus remained faithful to the Father’s command.
Jesus said that He did not speak on His own.
“The Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.”
God’s promises were moving toward fulfillment.
The prophecies concerning the Messiah, the sacrifice, salvation, and eternal life were coming together through Jesus Christ.
God’s Covenant stands because God stands behind it.
Obedience — Jesus followed the Father’s will even when the path led to suffering.
God’s Covenant — God’s promises continued moving toward fulfillment through Christ.
Faith — Seeing God’s work is not enough; we must believe.
Mercy — Jesus came to save the world.
Judgment — Rejecting Christ and His words has eternal consequences.
Blessing — Those who believe receive the hope of eternal life.
Salvation — Jesus is God’s way of bringing humanity out of darkness.
Redemption Plan — His death would be the seed producing a harvest of salvation.
Jesus Christ — He is the Light sent from the Father.
Eternity — The Father’s command leads to eternal life.
Bethany showed His power.
Mary showed devotion.
Lazarus showed life restored.
The crowd showed praise.
The Pharisees showed rejection.
Greeks showed that the message would reach beyond Israel.
The cross was waiting.
And Jesus knew exactly where He was going.
He was not confused about His mission. He was not acting independently. He was carrying out the Father’s will.
The path from Bethany to Jerusalem was leading toward the greatest act of obedience in history.
Jesus Christ came as the Light.
Jesus Christ came as the Savior.
He came to fulfill God’s Covenant.
And His final message leaves us with a truth that cannot be ignored:
“I know that his command leads to eternal life.”
