NLT Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 51
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12:1
John 11:1
12:2
Luke 10:38-42
12:3
Luke 7:37-38
12:4
John 6:71
12:6
John 13:29
12:7
John 19:40
12:8
Deut 15:11
•
J ohn 1 2
A Woman Anoints Jesus with Perfume (182/Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9)
Six days before the Passover celebration began, J esus arrived in Bethany, the
home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2A dinner was prepared
in J esus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate* with him. 3Then
Mary took a twelve-ounce jar* of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and
she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with
the fragrance.
4But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5“That perfume was
worth a year’s wages.* It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6Not
that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’
money, he often stole some for himself.
7Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8You will
always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
9When all the people* heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see
12
12:2 Or who reclined.
12:3 Greek took 1 litra [327 grams]. 12:5 Greek worth 300 denarii. A denarius was
equivalent to a laborer’s full day’s wage. 12:9 Greek Jewish people; also in 12:11.
CAIAPHAS WAS A LEADER of the religious group called the Sadducees.
Educated and wealthy, they were politically influential in the nation and on
fairly good terms with Rome. They hated Jesus because he endangered their
secure lifestyle and taught a message they could not accept. A kingdom in
which leaders served had no appeal to them.
Caiaphas’s usual policy was to remove any threats to his power by whatever means necessary. For Caiaphas, whether Jesus should die was not in question; the only point to be settled
was when his death should take place. Not only did Jesus have to be captured and tried, but the
Jewish high council (the Sanhedrin) also needed Roman approval before they could carry out
the death sentence. Caiaphas’s plans were unexpectedly helped by Judas’s offer to betray Christ.
Caiaphas did not realize that his schemes were actually part of a wonderful plan God was
carrying out. Caiaphas’s willingness to sacrifice another man to preserve his own security was
decidedly selfish. By contrast, Jesus’ willingness to die for us was a clear example of loving selfsacrifice. Caiaphas thought he had won the battle as Jesus hung on the cross, but he did not
count on the Resurrection!
Caiaphas’s mind was closed. He couldn’t accept the Resurrection even when the evidence was
overwhelming, and he attempted to silence those who could have borne witness to the risen
Christ (Matthew 28:12-13). Caiaphas represents the people who refuse to believe because they
think accepting Jesus as Lord will cost them too much. They choose the fleeting power, prestige,
and pleasures of this life instead of the eternal life God offers those who receive his Son. What is
your choice?
Caiaphas
Strengths and
accomplishments:
• High priest for 18 years
Weaknesses
and mistakes:
• One of those most directly responsible for Jesus’ death
• Used his office as a means to power and personal security
• Planned Jesus’ capture, carried out his illegal trial, pressured Pilate to approve the
Crucifixion, attempted to prevent the Resurrection, and later tried to cover up the fact
of the Resurrection
• Kept up religious appearances while compromising with Rome
• Became involved in the later persecution of Christians
Lessons from
his life:
• God uses even the twisted motives and actions of his enemies to bring about his will.
• Even when we cover selfish motives with spiritual objectives and words, God still sees
our intentions.
Vital statistics:
• Where: Jerusalem
• Occupation: High priest
• Relative: Father-in-law: Annas.
• Contemporaries: Jesus, Pilate, Herod Antipas
Key verses:
“Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, ‘You don’t know what you’re talking
about! You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people
than for the whole nation to be destroyed.’” (John 11:49-50)
Caiaphas is mentioned in Matthew 26:57; Luke 3:2; John 11; 18; Acts 4:6.
