A Place of Honor

A Place of Honor

(John 12:1-9)

1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where  Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; he poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciple, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't thi perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6 He did not say this because he cared a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
 7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should wave this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests plans to kill Lazarus as well 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. 12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
     "Hosanna"
     "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
     "Blessed is the King of Israel!"
 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,
 15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;
           see, your king is coming,
           seated on a donkey's colt."
    16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.
   17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"