Why did Mary anoint Jesus’ feet with very costly ointment?

Mary’s act comes from deep love and faith. She uses expensive ointment on Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair, which shows both generosity and humility. Jesus explains that this anointing looks ahead to His burial, since His death is very near. Her act is not wasteful, but a fitting way to honor Him at this unique moment. The sweet smell filling the house pictures how wholehearted devotion to Christ affects others. Her example contrasts with Judas, who spoke about the poor but in truth cared about money, not worship.

Why did Jesus say, “The poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always”?

Jesus is not saying that caring for the poor is unimportant. Scripture expects God’s people to help the needy. Here He is pointing out that His time with them in the flesh is short. Mary’s action fits this special time, just before His death and burial. There would be many chances later to give to the poor, but only this small window to honor Him in this way. Jesus defends Mary so they will see that true love for Him sometimes means costly, personal worship, not just what sounds outwardly practical.

What does “except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die” mean?

Jesus uses a simple picture from farming. A grain of wheat, if it stays in someone’s hand, remains alone. But if it falls into the earth and is buried, it seems to die, yet from it comes a plant with much more grain. He is talking first about His own death. If He did not die, there would be no great harvest of new life. By dying, He brings many into eternal life. He then applies this to His followers: those who cling to this life lose it, but those who let go for His sake keep it forever.

Why is Jesus’ soul troubled, yet He still accepts “this hour”?

Jesus speaks honestly about His deep distress as He approaches the cross. He feels the weight of suffering and the curse of sin He is about to bear. He could pray, “Father, save me from this hour,” yet He knows this is exactly why He came. So He chooses to say, “Father, glorify thy name.” The voice from heaven answers, showing the Father accepts His obedience. This teaches that Jesus faced real anguish, yet put His Father’s will and glory first, going forward willingly so that many could be saved.

What does it mean that “now shall the prince of this world be cast out”?

The “prince of this world” is the devil, who has great influence over a fallen world. Jesus says that through His coming death and being “lifted up,” judgment is taking place. At the cross, the devil’s claim and power over people are broken in a new way. His rule is shaken, and he is cast down from his seeming hold. This does not mean evil disappears right away, but that its ruler is defeated. From then on, Jesus draws people from every group to Himself and builds His kingdom in the midst of former darkness.

Why does Jesus say, “Walk while ye have the light” and “believe in the light”?

Jesus calls Himself the light who is with them only “a little while” longer. To “walk while ye have the light” means to respond to Him while there is still opportunity. If they refuse Him, darkness will come and they will not know where they are going. To “believe in the light” is to trust in Him so that they become “children of light,” sharing in His life and clarity. The warning is serious: God’s mercy is rich, but if it is pushed away, people sink further into confusion and hardness of heart.

Why did many not believe in Jesus even after so many miracles?

The passage says plainly that though Jesus did many signs, they still did not believe. It ties this to words from Isaiah about people not receiving God’s report and about God blinding eyes and hardening hearts. Their unbelief shows both their own stubbornness and God’s judgment, allowing them to go further into hardness after long rejection. Faith is not something people produce by nature; it is God’s gift. When light is resisted again and again, the heart can become so hardened that it no longer truly listens.

Who are the “certain Greeks” who wanted to see Jesus, and why does that matter?

The “certain Greeks” are non‑Jewish worshipers who came up to the feast. They approach Philip and Andrew and say, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” Their desire to see Him shows that His fame has spread beyond Israel. When Jesus hears of this, He speaks about His “hour” having come and about being lifted up and drawing all to Himself. Their coming is like a sign that His death will not only affect one nation, but will reach out to people from many groups, just as He said He would.

Why does this passage say some rulers believed in Jesus but did not confess Him?

The text explains that some among the chief rulers did believe in Jesus inwardly, but they kept quiet because they feared being put out of the synagogue. It says they loved the praise of people more than the praise of God. This shows how strong the pull of human approval can be, even when someone is convinced of the truth. It also warns that silent belief, held back by fear of losing status or comfort, falls short of open loyalty to Christ. The passage gently exposes this divided heart.

What does this passage teach about Jesus as light and judge of the world?

Jesus says He has come as a light into the world so that whoever believes in Him will not stay in darkness. He also says that if someone hears His words and does not believe, He is not now judging that person, because He came to save the world. But there will be judgment: the very word He has spoken will judge on the last day. He speaks only what the Father commanded, and that commandment is life everlasting. So trusting His words brings life, and rejecting them leaves a person to face that word in judgment.

John.12.1

John 12:1

KJV

Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

Chapter:

Mary Anoints Jesus

1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,

5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

The Plot to Kill Lazarus

9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

The Triumphal Entry

12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

Jesus Predicts His Death

20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

Belief and Unbelief

37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Context:

Mary Anoints Jesus

Cross References

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