Dinner at the House of Lazarus

(Gospel of John 12:1 - 12:11)

Six days before the beginning of Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where lived Lazarus, the man Jesus had risen from the dead.  A dinner was given in Jesus' honor.  Martha served, and Lazarus was among the guests who reclined at the table with Jesus.  Mary took a litron of very expensive aromatic oil made from pure nard, and with it she anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them dry with her own hair.  The fragrance of perfume filled the house!

Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples -- the one who would betray him -- protested, “Such oil could have been sold for 300 denarii and the money given to the poor."  He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief.  (He had custody of the disciples’ common purse and frequently stole from it.)

"Let her be!” Jesus responded.  "She was saving it to use preparing my body for burial on the day of my funeral.  You'll always have the poor among you, but you won't always have me!"

Finding out that Jesus was there, a large crowd of Judeans gathered outside of Lazarus' house, not only to see Jesus, but to get a glimpse of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.  Consequently, the chief priests were convinced that they must seek the death of Lazarus as well, for it was on his account that so many Judeans were deserting them to believe in Jesus.

Notes      
1.  A litron, a Greek measurement, was equal to 11 ounces, almost a pound.  The oil would have probably been about a pint in volume. 

2.  A denarius was a silver coin, minted by Rome since the 3rd century BC.  Three hundred denarii would be a great deal of money.  A laborer might make only a denarius for a day's work. 

3.  Nard, or spikenard, is a plant of the Valerian family that produces an amber-colored oil used in perfumes, incenses, and medicines.

4.  Although not all translations use the word, the guests at the dinner are described as reclining before the table.  While we often think of people sitting in chairs before the dinner table, the ancient Greeks and Romans always ate reclining on couches before low tables.  Perhaps the Judeans, at least wealthy ones like Lazarus, did so as well.  Indeed, many Hebrews, especially those in the upper classes, had become quite Romanized.  (In light of this, Leonardo's Last Supper is a totally inaccurate depiction.)

5.  It's gratifying to learn that Jesus was rewarded for bringing Lazarus back to life: a dinner was the least that could be done for him, one would think.  As a signal honor to their guest, Mary anoints Jesus' feet with a large amount of very expensive aromatic oil -- not perfume per se as many translations misleadingly render it.  (Nobody splashes a whole pint of costly perfume on someone’s, even a Messiah’s feet!)  Jesus' attitude is one of "if they want to do this thing for me, well, let them do it."  He would have been an inconsiderate and ungrateful guest if he objected and a ruder one if he had shown up his hosts, as Judas had done, for being uncharitable to the poor.  Still, Judas had a point.  Why squander wealth on personal vanity when it can be used to help the poor?  It seems that the Jesus depicted in other Gospels would have asked that question and been less willing to honor the indulgences of the wealthy than he does in this incident.  Here, Jesus' statement of explanation, "You'll always have the poor among you, but you won't always have me!"  suggests conceit and contempt for the poor.  One wonders why he felt the need to say such a thing, save that, like many of his pronouncements, it foreshadows his imminent death.

6.  Judas Iscariot is portrayed here, flat out, as a thief.  He wants to have money to dispense to the poor so that he can take some of it himself.  He takes care of the finances of Jesus and the disciples, but habitually dips into the till.  Did the other disciples know this at the time?  Certainly Jesus must have known it.  Therefore, why did he select a thief to be his group's treasurer?  It seems an inexcusable oversight, an insult as well as an injury to the disciples who followed him.  Why does Jesus let someone steal their money?  And why, in the first place, does he allow such a disreputable character to be one of his disciples?  While there is a rotten apple in every barrel, Jesus had the unique ability to recognize a rotten apple when he saw one.  One explanation is that Judas has been unjustly demonized by history and the Gospel writers; because he betrayed Jesus, his previous conduct and character was retrospectively viewed in a jaundiced light, that, once perceived as a villain, he must be guilty of other sins.

7.  Since Lazarus has been raised from the dead, people want to see him and crowds of curiosity seekers gather outside his house.  He has become a celebrity.  How modern!

Disciples Abandon Jesus

(Gospel of John 6:60 - 6:71)

Hearing Jesus’ sermon, many of his disciples complained, "These teachings are hard to swallow!  And who wants to listen to such things?"

Aware that his disciples were becoming disgruntled, Jesus spoke to them, "Do you find my teachings unbelievable?  How then will you react when you see the Son of Man re-ascending to Heaven? ... It is the spirit that creates life; the flesh is powerless to do so.  The message I have given you is of the spirit and of life.  But there are those among you who do not believe it."

(Jesus knew from the start what disciples believed him and who did not and who was the one who would betray him.)

He added, "That is why I have told you that no one has come to me unless he has been granted leave to do so by my Father."

At this point many of his disciples turned away from Jesus and no longer followed him.  Jesus addressed the twelve who remained and asked them, "Are you going to leave me as well?"

Simon-Peter answered for them, "Master, to whom would we go?  You have the message of life everlasting.  We have come to believe in you and to know that you are the Christ, the Son of the eternal God."

Jesus declared, "Did I not choose the twelve of you -- even though one of you will be an adversary?”  (Jesus was referring to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, who, though he was one of the Twelve Apostles, would betray him.)

Notes
1.   It can hardly be surprising that many of those following Jesus would eventually choose to abandon him, especially after the impact of the miracles he performs wears off.  Other evangelists, even prophets did not claim to be the Son of God, a divinity who will raise the dead, judge mankind, and bestow eternal life on those who please him.  It would have been a little too much to accept even of a miracle maker.  Owing to his claims, it is likely that most people, even those receptive to his message, would have regarded Jesus as an arrogant crackpot, even a lunatic, or else a preposterous fraud, a confidence man of the grandest pretensions.  But, according to the text, the reason most of his followers desert him is that his message is difficult to comprehend and believe.

2.  Those still following Jesus are the Twelve Apostles, not all of whom have yet been named in this Gospel.  On the positive side, this culling of the herd allowed Jesus to have an entourage of manageable size and, as a teacher, a smaller class size.  Did Jesus purposely drive away most of his disciples so that only a core of loyal followers remained? 

3.  Simon-Peter, who apparently is taking a leadership position among the apostles, speaks for them and gives Jesus an explanation for why they are staying with him.  Basically, he tells Jesus that he is the real deal and that he is the only one from whom they can receive everlasting life.  What he does not say is revealing.  He does not say he wishes to be a disciple of Jesus so that he can preach his message, bring in believers, and save their souls.  He does not express any admiration for Jesus as a master or that he is motivated to serve him and stay with him out of love and loyalty.  It's as of the apostles are remaining with Jesus only for what they can get out of it.

4.  Jesus has foreknowledge of who of his disciples will stay and who will leave.  Also he knows that one of the Twelve Apostles is a ringer who will later betray him.  If he knows this, why does he accept as his disciple the traitor (Judas).  He seems to be setting up his own betrayal as a part of the passion play he is performing in; he has already selected Judas to play a particular role in it.  Why Jesus needs to have one of his apostles betray him and why that betrayal, which, in the end, amounts to practically nothing, seems requisite to his ultimate crucifixion is anyone's guess.

5.  Almost all translations call Judas a “devil.”   This is incorrect; the Hebrew word should be translated “Satan,” which is, only in a modern context, the same thing.  The original meaning of Satan is someone, not necessary a spirit being, who is an adversary, an antagonist, someone who opposes your interests.  Judas is not Satan or the Devil, as we define it, but only someone who will work against Jesus.