This week’s readings are all from John chapter 12. Click here to see a full listing of each day’s reading and the full chapters for this week. Full readings of each day’s smaller segments of the readings will be posted on this site during the week.
Today's Reading
Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 So they prepared a dinner for Jesus there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was among those present at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took three quarters of a pound of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus. She then wiped his feet dry with her hair. (Now the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil.) 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him) said, 5 “Why wasn’t this oil sold for 300 silver coins and the money given to the poor?” 6 (Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.) 7 So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial. 8 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!”
9 Now a large crowd of Judeans learned that Jesus was there, and so they came not only because of him but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too, 11 for on account of him many of the Jewish people from Jerusalem were going away and believing in Jesus.
It is easy sometimes to forget these stories are happening in real history.
If you put yourself in the roles of the people in this story, everyone from Jesus' followers to those who opposed him (and maybe even in the role of Jesus himself), how do you see yourself responding? What would be your motivations and responses? If you were a leader of the people, how would you engage someone you saw as a threat to the very nation itself? If you were a follower, how would you feel about following Jesus with such opposition and the risks that came with it?
@siteadmin It is really really interesting to think more about those plotting against him... to think about what it may have felt like living with the constant reality of the Roman occupation. What level of threat did they feel from that authority?
But to think of the Pharisees not as just power-hungry or prideful religious elites, but also members of a system that was sort of "owned" by another force... and all of the layers of pressure. Do I protect the way things are, so that the Romans don't come and bring violence to settle this uprising?
A lot to ponder... and I appreciate the reminder to consider more and more of the context around these stories. Because they are real people in real places.
@travisbruno3 You said:
It is really really interesting to think more about those plotting against him... to think about what it may have felt like living with the constant reality of the Roman occupation. What level of threat did they feel from that authority?
Right. I think think they felt a lot of threat. The Roman response to these movements was harsh and severe. So the question is: 'Do we want hundreds crucified because the Romans think another Jewish rebellion is taking place? Or would we rather turn this guy over to them and cut it off at the root? One man punished or crucified rather than large numbers of people or event the whole nation pushed into conflict or war?' A decision made easier because many of these leaders also felt Jesus was leading people astray.