João 12
J.C. Ryle · Citado em PreceptAustin
João 12
Ryle says "many" not "some" and one notable proponent is the excellent expositor Dr Charles Swindoll) think this anointing of Jesus is the same as described by Luke 7:36-50+ but comparison of the details seems to leave little doubt that Luke is describing a different anointing. Here are five points comparing the accounts (see another similar discussion below): (1) Luke's description is in the home of a Pharisee in Lk 7:36, 39+. Mt 26:6 says this event occurred in the house of Simon the leper. (2) Luke's version involves an immoral woman but there is no other evidence Mary of Bethany was an immoral woman. Mary and Martha are not introduced until Lk 10:38, 39+. Mary is always characterized as a devout disciple of Jesus. (3) In Luke's version the woman wet His feet with tears, wiped the tears from His feet with her hair, and kissed and anointed His feet (Lk 7:38, 39, 45-46+). There is nothing like this described in the three accounts in John, Matthew or Mark. John says Mary "wiped His feet with her hair." (Jn 12:3) (4) Luke's anointing appears to take place in Galilee not in Bethany. (5) Note the different results - In Luke's version He sharply rebuked the Pharisee, praised the woman and dismissed her with an encouraging word. In the three accounts in John, Matthew or Mark He rebuked Judas Iscariot for criticizing Mary and thus defended her deed in light of the purpose (preparation for His burial). Now as to whether the accounts in John, Mark and Matthew describe the same event, it is less clear, the consensus is that they do favor the same event. Some think the anointing described by Mark and Matthew is different especially because (1) timing -- Mark 14:1 says "2 days before the Passover" and (2) the location -- Matthew and Mark both say it occurred at the home of Simon the Leper (Mt 26:6, Mk 14). (3) Woman unnamed - Mt 26:7, Mk 14:3 (whereas John identifies Mary). See table below comparing the 3 anointing accounts in the last week of Jesus' life. J C Ryle - It is claimed by many interpreters that, in describing the beautiful deed of Mary, the evangelist borrowed from Luke 7:36–50, and that the Mary mentioned in John 12:3 is the same as the sinful woman of Luke 7; or, that, while the two events are distinct, the author of the Fourth Gospel got his sources mixed and simply added to the story which he had found in Matthew 26:6–13 and Mark 14:3–9 the detail concerning the wiping of Jesus’ feet, which feature he had found in Luke 7. We completely reject this theory. Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume (muron) of pure nard (nardos) - Notice in this story we see Martha working, Lazarus witnessing, and Mary worshiping. Here we begin with Mary's extravagant love -- a pound of very costly perfume would be about half a liter by Roman weight, and would have been enough to anoint both His head (Mt 26:7, Mk 14:3) and His feet (John's account). In Jn 12:5 and Mk 14:5 the nard was estimated to be worth 300 denarii (estimated at $10,000 or more, what what for? Dusty feet! Beautiful feet!) Matthew adds that the liquid was also in an alabaster vial which would have also been costly. THOUGHT- Mary's message is clear that there was nothing too valuable to give to Jesus, Who is worthy of all we are and all we have. Is He worthy to you dear reader? Do your acts of extravagant devotion demonstrate this is true in your life? The angels and four living creatures know He is worthy crying out "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” (Rev 5:12+) In effect Mary anointed the Messiah, the Anointed One (synonym "Christ" Christos), the One described in the great prophecy inDa 9:25-26+ as "the anointed one" or Messiah (mashiach/masiyah). It is worth noting that clearly Mary loved her brother Lazarus, but she did not put the treasured perfume in her dead brother's tomb but saved it for Jesus. Swindoll has an interesting comment that "the perfume she collected was a treasure kept by women for their dowry, which she emptied on Jesus. Her lavish act of worship left her without a dowry, thus reducing her prospects for a favorable marriage." See R K Harrison's in depth description of spikenard in his book Healing Herbs in the Bible, page 48 (BORROW). NET NOTE on nard - Nard or spikenard is a fragrant oil from the root and spike of the nard plant of northern India. This aromatic oil, if made of something like nard, would have been extremely expensive, costing up to a year’s pay for an average laborer. Kostenberger on nard - Nard, also known as spikenard, is a fragrant oil derived from the root and spike (hair stem) of the nard plant, which grows in the mountains of northern India (Harrison 1966: 48–49). This “Indian spike,” used by the Romans for anointing the head, was “a rich rose red and very sweetly scented” (W. Walker 1958: 196). And anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair - Matthew and Mark (in my opinion) describe the same incident but specifically say she anointed His head (Mt 26:7, Mk 14:3). Assuming Jesus was in a reclining position as was common in an oriental meal, she could easily have then anointed His feet. In short, as a manifestation of her great love for Jesus, she anointed Him from "head to toe!" His recumbent position (reclining to eat) made the anointing of both head and feet readily possible. Pouring some oil on the head was common treatment of a festive guest (Ps. 23:5; Luke 7:46), but anointing the feet was unusual, and an act of special esteem. Attending one's feet was servant's work which emphasize Mary's humility and devotion. In a act of supreme humility Jesus washed the disciple's feet in Jn 13:1-15, declaring to them that He had given them "an example that you also should do as I did to you." (Jn 13:15+) Have you ever imitated Jesus in this way? In light of the fact that Paul says the glory of a woman is her long hair (1Co 11:15KJV), in a sense, Mary laid her glory at Jesus' feet! In her culture, for a woman to let her hair down was considered indecent (and even immoral), but Mary was unashamed in her demonstration of love to Jesus. Mary in an act of total abandonment and selflessness, completely fixed her eyes on Jesus and not on the onlookers! And in Mk 14:9+ (Mt 26:12) Jesus declared this selfless, sacrificial act would result in her renown throughout the world! What a challenge Mary's fearless extravagance is to us today for when we hear His name (the Name above all names! Php 2:9+) used as a curse word in a conversation and yet fail to say anything for fear of what others might think about us! (I am convicted by my own words!) As an aside, this picture of worship at the feet of Jesus recalls to mind the words of Paul "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Ro 10:15NIV).
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Ryle says of Judas "That anyone could follow Christ as a disciple for three years, see all His miracles, hear all His teaching, receive at His hand repeated kindnesses, be counted an apostle, and yet prove rotten at heart in the end, all this at first sight appears incredible and impossible! Yet the case of Judas shows plainly that the thing can be. Few things, perhaps, are so little realized as the extent of the fall of man." Rod Mattoon - Judas sought to turn the attention from Christ to the poor. This is exactly what has happened today. Many churches have become distracted from evangelism (ED: AND MAKING DISCIPLES) to social programs that help the poor. There is nothing wrong in helping poor people, but when it becomes the main focus of your ministry instead of winning people to Christ, then your church has become distracted and your priorities need adjusted. Judas called love and sacrifice for the Lord Jesus Christ, a waste. Love is never wasted. Sacrifice is never fruitless. The priority of Judas’ life was himself. Self was #1 in his life. Greed always leads to trouble. It brought trouble to Achan who took the garment and gold and was executed. It troubled Saul who wanted the best sheep and ended up losing his throne. It troubled Judas who betrayed Jesus for silver and he ended up hanging himself. It troubled Ananias and Sapphira who lied about their gift to the Lord and they were smitten by God Himself. Covetousness and greed are destructive and terrible. God calls it idolatry. (Col 3:5+) ILLUSTRATION - W.R. Hearst was a very wealthy newspaper publisher who had a phenomenal collection of art. His mansion in California is a testament to his desire for art treasures. He learned on one occasion of some artwork that he was determined to obtain. He sent his agents abroad to search for the treasure. After months of investigating, the agent reported that the treasure had been found and the relic would not cost Hearst a dime. He already owned it. The artwork was in his warehouse with many other treasures that had never been un-crated. Beloved, the desire for acquiring more can blind us to what we already possess. Solomon issued a warning about greed.Proverbs 27:20 "Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied. " ILLUSTRATION - A young man from a wealthy family was about to graduate from high school. The custom of this affluent neighborhood was the bestowal of a car once the student graduated from high school. The boy fully expected this custom would hold true for him. He had spent months talking about cars and looking at them with his father. Just a week before graduation, this father and son found what appeared to be the perfect car. The young man was certain he would see the car in the driveway. Yet, when he opened his father’s graduation present, it was a Bible. The son was so mad that he threw down the Bible and stormed out of the house. He never reconciled with his father and remained estranged until the day his father died. As the son went through his father’s belongings, he came across the Bible his father had given him years ago. He brushed off the dust and opened it. To his surprise and utter horror, he found a cashier’s check between the pages of Scripture. It was dated the day of his graduation for the exact amount of the car he and his dad had chosen together. Beloved, God’s greatest gifts are still found in the pages of Scripture, but we sometimes allow greed to destroy relationships and divert our attention elsewhere. Contrast Judas' first words with his last words "saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” (Matthew 27:4) (Sinners have some tragic last words - BORROW Hebert Lockyer's interesting book Last words of saints and sinners). Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, or about 120 denarii. Mary gave an offering of two-and-a-half times that amount in worship of the Lord! -- Lowell Johnson
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Ryle says "This is one of those solemn prefaces which are so frequent in John’s Gospel, and indicate some very weighty truth coming." Truly, truly - 25x/25v - only used by Jesus and always calls for utmost attention to what follows - Jn. 1:51; Jn. 3:3; Jn. 3:5; Jn. 3:11; Jn. 5:19; Jn. 5:24; Jn. 5:25; Jn. 6:26; Jn. 6:32; Jn. 6:47; Jn. 6:53; Jn. 8:34; Jn. 8:51; Jn. 8:58; Jn. 10:1; Jn. 10:7; Jn. 12:24; Jn. 13:16; Jn. 13:20; Jn. 13:21; Jn. 13:38; Jn. 14:12; Jn. 16:20; Jn. 16:23; Jn. 21:18
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Ryle - The meaning is plain: “He that loves his life, or thinks more of the life that now is than that which is to come, shall lose that which is the best part of his life, his soul. He that hateth his life, or cares little for it compared to the life to come, shall preserve to eternal glory that which is the best part of his life, to wit, his soul.” Bob Utley on "He who loves his life loses it" - This is a play on the Greek term psuche, which refers to the essence of a human's personality or life force (cf Matthew 10:39; Matthew 16:24-25; Mark 8:34-35; Luke 9:23-24). Once someone trusts Christ, he is given new life. This new life is a gift from God for service (ED: SEE Jn 12:26), not for personal use. Believers are stewards of this new life. We are freed from slavery to sin to become servants of God (cf. Ro 6:1-6). The false shepherds of John 10 tried to "save" their lives by running. But Jesus lays down His life, so too, must believers do the same (cf. 2Co 5:12-15+; Galatians 2:20+). Pulpit Commentary on "He who loves his life loses it" - If life be regarded as an end in itself; if it be treated as complete when rounded with its own individuality; if life shrink from sacrifice, if it "love itself," and will at all hazards preserve itself; if the natural and instinctive fear of death, and instinct of self-preservation, become a self-idolatry; — that life will "abide alone." John MacArthur on "He who loves his life - Clearly, the message is that those who focus on self-love, self-esteem, and fulfilling all their desires, dreams, and ambitions in this life, even with a superficial interest in Jesus, will lose their eternal soul (cf. Mt. 7:21-23). (See Commentary)
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Ryle - The word “hate” here must be taken comparatively. It is a Hebraism, like “Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated.” “Your appointed feasts my soul hateth.” (Ro 9:13; Isa 1:14.) Merrill Tenney - The expression "who hates his life" need not be understood to mean a contempt for oneself or a suicidal impulse. Rather, it is a hyperbolic expression that means one is to base his priorities on that which is outside of himself. He is to place others or another above himself. In this instance, it is to make Christ the Master of one's life. (BORROW The Expositor's Bible Commentary) David Guzik on hates his life - We are called to hate our life not in the sense that we disregard it, but in the sense that we freely give it up for God. William MacDonald on hates his life - To hate one's life means to love Christ more than one loves his own interests. (BORROW Believer's Bible Commentary) Will keep is more literally will guard, which pictures the one hating his life now as watching over, protecting, preserving his present life with a view to his life eternal. The ethical and spiritual qualities of the life which God is, are communicated to the sinner when the latter places his faith in the Lord Jesus as Saviour, and this becomes the new, animating, energizing, motivating principle which transforms the experience of that individual, and the saint thus lives a life which now has an eternal perspective and supernatural power! THOUGHT - If you believe what Jesus has just said and if you believe your best life is yet to come, you will hate (relatively speaking) this present life and will focus on your future life, your life eternal. You will live "other worldly" in the midst of this temporal, worldly world. You will redeem the short time you have left in this life, with an eye on the impact this life will have on your future life (Mt 6:20, 1Ti 4:8, 2Co 5:10). You will seek to live this horizontal life (so to speak) by choosing to daily see with (and behave in light of) vertical vision, fixing your eyes continually on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2+). Jesus is to be given top priority in the life of those who claim to be His disciples! Colin Kruse - In parallel passages in the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus mentions certain important aspects of life in this world which nevertheless must not be given priority over following him. These include desire for riches (Luke 15:12–21), love of father and mother, brothers and sisters, wives, sons and daughters, and even life itself (Mt. 10:37–39; Luke 14:25–27; 17:33). None of these may be given the top priority in the lives of Jesus’ disciples. (BORROW The Gospel According to John) Steven Cole on hates his life - To “hate” our lives (John 12:25) is the same thing as denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily to follow Jesus (Luke 9:23+). It means that we must daily repudiate a self-centered life. It means living for God’s glory and His purpose by submitting every thought, word, and deed to the lordship of Jesus. It means moment by moment seeking to love God and love others for Jesus’ sake by saying no to my inherent selfishness and pride....The need to hate my life or die to self is never finished in this life; it is a daily battle. A. T. Pierson said, “Getting rid of the ‘self-life’ is like peeling an onion: layer upon layer-and a tearful process!” (ED: BUT REMEMBER "GETTING RID OF THE SELF LIFE" SO TO SPEAK IS [1] A LIFELONG ACTIVITY UNTIL WE ARE GLORIFIED AND [2] IS A COOPERATIVE EFFORT: [a] BELIEVERS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO DAILY MAKE CHOICES REFLECTING SELF-DENIAL AND [b] WE ARE SUPERNATURALLY ENABLED TO MAKE THOSE CHOICES BY RELYING ON THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO GIVES US THE DESIRE AND THE POWER TO DO SO! IT IS NOT "LET GO, LET GOD," BUT "LET GOD, LET'S GO!" - SEE "Paradoxical Principle of 100% Dependent and 100% Responsible") (Why You Should Hate Your Life ) Bob
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Ryle- If any man desires to serve Christ, and be a Christian, he must be content to follow His Master, walk in His footsteps, share His lot, do as He did, and partake of His Master’s inheritance in this world. He must not look for good things here,—for crowns, kingdoms, riches, honours, wealth, and dignity. Like His Master, he must be content with a cross. He must, in a word “take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matt. 16:24.) As St. Paul says, “we are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Rom. 8:17.) Bob Utley on must follow - This is a present imperative which speaks of an ongoing relationship (cf. John 15:0). This is the neglected biblical issue of perseverance....Perseverance is evidence that we know Him (cf. Matthew 10:22; Matthew 13:20-21; Galatians 6:9; 1 John 2:19; Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:26; Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 3:21). And where I am, there My servant (diakonos) will be also - Some think this invokes the picture of Jesus' promise in Mt 18:20, but I don't think that is an accurate interpretation. Although noted above we need to ask the question follow Jesus where? What is the context? Clearly this is the last week of His life. He is walking toward the Cross, to death. So in one sense, to follow Him means to walk toward the cross. If this is a valid interpretation, we can see it parallels Jesus' words in other Gospels "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself (aorist imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey), and take up (aorist imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) his cross and follow (akoloutheo) Me (present imperative command)." (Mk 8:34+). (See Related Passages) Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things; give heart and mind and soul and strength to serve the King of kings. Rise up, O men of God! His kingdom tarries long. Bring in the day of brotherhood and end the night of wrong. Rise up, O men of God! The Church for you doth wait, her strength unequal to her task; rise up, and make her great! Lift high the cross of Christ! Tread where His feet have trod. As brothers of the Son of man, rise up, O men of God! -- William P. Merrill, 1867–1954 J C Ryle on where I am - This is the first thing that Christ promises to those who follow Him. They shall be with Christ wherever He is, in paradise, and in His glorious kingdom. He and His servant shall not be parted. Whatever the Master has, the servant shall have also. It is a comfortable thought, that however little we know of the life to come and the state after death, we do know that we shall be “with Christ, which is far better.” (Phil. 1:23.)....The clearest conception we can form of heaven is that which is here stated. It is being with Christ, and receiving honour from God. Heaven is generally described by negatives. This is, however, an exceptional positive. It is being “with Christ.” (Compare Jn 14:3; Jn 17:24; 1Th 4:17.) Bob Utley on where I am, there shall My servant also be - This theme is repeated in John 14:3; John 17:24; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:17! Christianity is primarily a personal relationship with God! The goal is relational: His presence, His fellowship! We were created for fellowship with God (cf. Genesis 1:26-27). Salvation is the restoration of the broken fellowship of the Garden of Eden. John emphasizes that this fellowship is restored now! The best service you can render to Christ is to imitate him. If you want to do what will please him do as he did. -- C H Spurgeon Steven Cole on where I am, there shall My servant also be - Jesus here doesn’t say that He will be with us, although that is true (Matt. 28:20). Rather, He says that we will be with Him. In John 14:3, He promises, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” “Where I am” refers to heaven. To be with Jesus in heaven throughout eternity is more than sufficient reward for all of the trials and persecution that we may go through in this life! And on top of that, Jesus promises that the Father will honor us! I’m sure that we can’t imagine what that entails, but all the honors that this world can give will pale by comparison to the honor that the Father will give to those who have faithfully served His Son. (Why You Should Hate Your Life ) THOUGHT - Is the price we pay today to serve the Son really worth it? That's rhetorical David writes "How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you." (Ps 31:19NIV)
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Ryle - He meant, “He that sees Me sees not only Me, but through Me and by Me he sees Him that sent Me, for we cannot be divided.” Marvin