Jesus and the Passover

John 12:1-11
In chapter 11 the question was asked if anyone would see Jesus at the Passover? There was a plot to kill Jesus and so Jesus left his public ministry and had not been seen. Anyone who saw Jesus was to report him immediately to the Jewish leaders so that he could be arrested.

In chapter 12 we read that six days before the Passover ceremonies began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus. It was here that Martha served the meal, Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus, and Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of hard, and she anointed Jesus' feet with it and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with fragrance.

Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, the one who would betray him said, "That perfume was worth a small fortune and it should have been sold and the money given to the poor." Judas did not really care for the poor but he was in charge of the funds and he often took money from it.

Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. She did it in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here with you much longer."

When all the people heard of Jesus' arrival they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.