========================

Verses 1-11  Jesus Anointed at Bethany

========================

1Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.

2“But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

3While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?

5It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.

8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.

9Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.

11They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

----------------------------------------

 

Concerning the religious leaders looking for a way to kill Jesus,

----------------------------------------

1)       What was the occasion on the religious calendar of the Jews?

o   The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away.

 

2)       What does the Passover celebrate?

o   The Passover celebrates the sparing of the Israelites when God passed over them in Egypt but killed all the firstborn of Egypt.

o   The miracle compelled Pharaoh to let the Israelite slaves come out of Egypt.

 

3)       What does the Festival of Unleavened Bread celebrate?

o   The Festival of Unleavened Bread celebrates God bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. 

o   It begins after the celebration of Passover.

o   It is celebrated for seven days when the Israelites

§  Eat bread baked without yeast. 

§  Keep yeast out of their house. 

 

4)       What were the chief priests and the teachers of the law trying to do?

o   They were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.

 

5)       What was taken into consideration by the chief priests and the teachers of the law in the timing of their scheme?

o   They opted not to arrest Jesus during the Festival or the people might riot.

----------------------------------------

 

 

Concerning Jesus being anointed at Bethany,

----------------------------------------

6)       Where was Jesus while in Bethany?

o   Jesus was reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper.

 

7)       What does it mean to be reclining at the table?

o   In Jesus’ time Jews did not sit in chairs when they ate but rather reclined on the floor at the table.

 

8)       What happened while Jesus was reclining at the table?

o   A woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard.

o   She broke the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head.

 

9)       What is an alabaster jar?

o   Alabaster is a pale mineral that's soft enough for carving. 

o   An alabaster jar is a perfume vase carved from the mineral.

 

10)   What is nard?

o   Nard is an aromatic oil derived from a plant for use as perfume.

 

11)   What did the woman do to Jesus?

o   She anointed Jesus on the head with the perfume.

 

12)   How did some of those present feel about what the woman did?

o   They were indignant.

 

13)   What were these indignant people saying to one another?

o   They were saying to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?  It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.”

 

14)   What was the indignation over?

o   The indignation was over the perfume being poured out on Jesus’ head resulting in waste.

 

15)   How much had been wasted from the perspective of these indignant people?

o   More than a year’s wages had been wasted.

 

16)   How could the money have been beneficially used instead according to these indignant people?

o   The money could have been given to the poor.

 

17)   From what perspective did these indignant people view the woman’s treatment of Jesus?

o   They viewed it from a utilitarian perspective.

 

18)   What motivated the woman to treat Jesus the way she did?

o   She was motivated by her Love for Jesus.

 

19)   What was the extent of the woman’s love for Jesus?

o   Her expression of love for Jesus was extravagant.

 

20)   What did these indignant people do to the woman?

o   They rebuked her harshly.

 

21)   How did Jesus come to the woman’s defense in pointing out the nature of what she had done?

o   “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me."

 

22)   How many times did Jesus tell these indignant people to get off her back?

o   Twice.

 

23)   What did these indignant people miss in their utilitarian view of what the woman had done that Jesus characterized as beautiful?

o   The woman’s love for Jesus.

 

24)   Would these indignant people have complained if their concern for the poor had originated from their love for Jesus and why?

o   No, because otherwise they would

§  Have recognized that what the woman did was an expression of her love for Jesus instead.

§  Not have considered what she did out of her love for Jesus a waste.

 

25)   What did these indignant people fail to appreciate regarding what the woman did when their concern for the poor did not have its origin in their love for Jesus?

o   They failed to appreciate the beauty of what the woman did.

 

26)   Was Jesus referring to external aesthetics or inner beauty?

o   Jesus was referring to Inner beauty as a reflection of what was in the woman’s heart.

 

27)   What did Jesus tell the disciples concerning the convenience of their helping the poor?

o   The disciples

§  Will always have the poor with them.

§  Can help the poor anytime they want.

 

28)   What did Jesus tell the disciples concerning his presence among them?

o   The disciples will not always have Jesus with them.

 

29)   What did Jesus say was the reason of what the woman did?

o   She

§  Did what she could.  

§  Poured perfume on Jesus’ body beforehand to prepare for his burial.

 

30)   What would be done as part of the preparation for burial for a body in the middle-eastern culture in Jesus’ time?

o   A body is anointed as preparation for burial.

 

31)   Did the woman conscientiously set out to pour perfume on Jesus’ body beforehand to prepare for his burial?

o   No.

 

32)   Who then intended for the woman to pour perfume on Jesus’ body beforehand to prepare for his burial?

o   God did even though the woman did not intend it that way, but did what she could as an expression of her love for Jesus.

 

33)   What did God use in the case of the woman to accomplish his purpose?

o   God used what is beautiful, i.e., what is done out of a person’s love for Jesus, to accomplish his purpose.

 

34)   From Jesus’ remark what could constitute the justification that it was appropriate for the woman to be extravagant on the occasion?

o   Such extravagant anointing of Jesus was

§  Done only once, not repeatedly.

§  Needed for Jesus’ burial.

 

35)   What did Jesus say should be done in memory of the woman?

o   Jesus emphatically said that wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.

 

36)   Who was Judas Iscariot?

o   He was one of the twelve apostles.

 

37)   What did Judas Iscariot do?

o   He went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.

 

38)   How did the chief priests respond to Judas Iscariot’s offer to betray Jesus to them?

o   They

§  Were delighted to hear Judas Iscariot’s offer.

§  Promised to give him money.

 

39)   What did Judas Iscariot do from that point on?

o   He watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over.

 

40)   Was Judas Iscariot one of these indignant people who rebuked the woman harshly?

o   Yes.

 

41)   Was Judas Iscariot really concerned about the poor and why?

o   Not according to John 12:4-6.

 

·  Ask a volunteer to read out loud John 12:4-6 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,

5 “Why wasn’t this 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 about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

42)   What in reality motivated Judas Iscariot to rebuke the woman harshly?

o   He was ticked off by the missed opportunity of laying his hand on the money otherwise available to him as keeper of the money bag.

 

43)   What did Jesus’ reference to his burial sound to Judas Iscariot?

o   Jesus’ reference to his burial

§  Was consistent with Jesus’ repeated reference to his death in previous chapters.

§  Pointed to the imminence of his death.

 

44)   What conclusion did Judas Iscariot draw concerning what remained to be gained in following Jesus?

o   He came to the conclusion that there was nothing more to be gained in following Jesus.

 

45)   What kind of motive was behind Judas Iscariot’s following Jesus?

o   He followed Jesus with a self-serving motive.

 

46)   What prompted Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus to the chief priests?

o   He knew that the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.

o   His self-serving motive of following Jesus drove him to cash in on Jesus when he came to the conclusion that there was nothing more to be gained in following Jesus.

 

47)   What about the other disciples among these indignant people?

o   They genuinely wished that

§  The perfume had been sold.

§  The money had been given to the poor.

----------------------------------------

 

·  Ask for a volunteer to summarize.

·  Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the summary.

 

========================

Verses 1-11  Jesus Anointed at Bethany

========================

 

 

 

 

========================

Verses 12-26  The Lord’s Supper

========================

12On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

13So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.

14Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’

15He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

16The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.

18While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

19They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

20“It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me.

21The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

23Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

24“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.

25“Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

26When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

----------------------------------------

 

Concerning Jesus giving his disciples instruction on making preparations for the Passover,

----------------------------------------

48)   What was customarily done on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

o   It was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

 

49)   What did Jesus’ disciples ask him about?

o   Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

 

50)   What did Jesus do in response to the disciples’ question?

o   Jesus sent two of his disciples and gave them the instruction on how to make preparations for the Passover.

 

51)   Where were the two disciples supposed to go?

o   They were supposed to go into Jerusalem.

 

52)   Who would meet them when they went into Jerusalem?

o   A man carrying a jar of water would meet them.

 

53)   What was special about a man carrying a jar of water in Jesus’ time?

o   In Jesus’ time only women carried water jars.

 

54)   Would the two disciples have difficulties meeting up with the man and why?

o   No, because there would be no other men who would be carrying a water jar.

 

55)   What were the two disciples supposed to do when they saw a man carrying a water jar?

o   They were supposed to follow the man into a house.

 

56)   What were the two disciples supposed to say to the owner of the house?

o   They were supposed to say, "The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"

 

57)   What would the owner of the house do upon hearing the question?

o   He would show the two disciples a large upper room, furnished and ready.

 

58)   What were the two disciples supposed to do with the large upper room?

o   They were supposed to make preparations for the Passover there.

 

59)   What did the two disciples find when they went into Jerusalem?

o   They found things just as Jesus had told them.

 

60)   What did the two disciples do then?

o   They prepared the Passover.

----------------------------------------

 

 

Concerning Jesus foretelling his being betrayed,

----------------------------------------

61)   What happened when evening came?

o   When evening came, Jesus arrived with the twelve apostles.

 

62)   What did Jesus tell the disciples while reclining at the table?

o   While they were reclining at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

 

63)   What was the disciples’ reaction?

o   They were saddened.

 

64)   What does the act of eating a meal together signal in the Jewish culture?

o   It signals friendship and good will.

 

65)   Why were the disciples saddened?

o   They were saddened because

§  Jesus would be betrayed.

§  One of them would betray Jesus.

§  Jesus revealed the matter of his betrayal on an occasion for fellowship.

 

66)   What did the disciples say to Jesus?

o   One by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

 

67)   Did Judas Iscariot pretend that he was innocent and why?

o   Yes, because he also said to Jesus, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

 

68)   What did Jesus say to the disciples?

o   “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me.  The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him.  But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man!  It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

 

69)   How did Jesus respond to the disciples’ claim of innocence?

o   Jesus reiterated that one of the twelve disciples who were eating with him would betray him.

 

70)   Who is the Son of Man?

o   Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man, laying emphasis on his divinity.

 

71)   Why did Jesus apply the title to himself in referring to his death?

o   Jesus reminded the disciples that he sovereignly decided as God what was going to happen to him.

 

72)   What did Jesus say his death is consistent with?

o   Jesus’ death is consistent with what is written about him, i.e., prophecies about him in the Old Testament in the bible.

 

73)   What did Jesus say was the condition of the man who betrayed the Son of Man?

o   Woe to the man meaning that great distress would come upon him when he betrayed the Son of Man.

o   It would be better for him if he had not been born, meaning that he made such a bad choice that only not having been born was a better alternative for him.

 

74)   Did what Jesus say about the misery the man who betrayed the Son of Man deter Judas Iscariot from betraying him?

o   No.

----------------------------------------

 

 

Concerning the Lord’s Supper,

----------------------------------------

75)   What did Jesus do with the bread while he and his disciples were eating?

o   Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples.

 

76)   What does the breaking of the bread symbolize?

o   The breaking of the bread symbolizes Jesus’ body broken for us on the cross.

 

77)   What did Jesus do with the cup?

o   He took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

 

78)   What does the cup symbolize?

o   The cup symbolizes Jesus’ blood poured out on the cross for the establishment of the covenant that grants forgiveness of the sins of many.

 

79)   What did Jesus say about the fruit of the vine?

o   Jesus said to them.  “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

 

80)   When will Jesus drink of the fruit of the vine again?

o   Jesus will drink of the fruit of the vine when he comes again to establish the millennial kingdom of God on earth.

 

81)   What are the bread and the cup collectively called?

o   The bread and the cup are collectively called Communion or the Lord’s Supper.

 

82)   What does the Lord’s Supper commemorate?

o   The Lord’s Supper commemorates Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for our sins until he returns.

 

83)   What did Jesus and his disciples do next?

o   When they had sung a hymn, Jesus and his disciples went out to the Mount of Olives.

 

84)   Where is the Mount of Olive located?

o   The Mount of Olives is east of Jerusalem where the temple was.

 

85)   How did Jesus and his disciples get to the Mount of Olive from Jerusalem?

o   They left Jerusalem and headed east for the Mount of Olive.

----------------------------------------

 

·  Ask for a volunteer to summarize.

·  Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the summary.

 

========================

Verses 12-26  The Lord’s Supper

========================

 

 

 

 

========================

Verses 27-31  Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

========================

27“You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:

 

“‘I will strike the shepherd,

    and the sheep will be scattered.’

 

28But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

 

29Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

30“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”

31But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

----------------------------------------

 

Concerning Jesus predicting Peter’s denial,

----------------------------------------

86)   What did Jesus tell the disciples concerning their falling away?

o   “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’“

 

87)   What did Jesus base his prediction of the disciples’ falling away on?

o   Jesus based his prediction of the disciples’ falling away on what is written in Zechariah 13:7.

 

·  Ask a volunteer to read out loud Zechariah 13:7 that says,

+++++++++++++++++++++

7 “Awake, sword, against my shepherd,

    against the man who is close to me!”

    declares the Lord Almighty.

“Strike the shepherd,

    and the sheep will be scattered,

    and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

88)   Whom does the shepherd represent?

o   The shepherd represents Jesus.

 

89)   Whom do the sheep represent?

o   The sheep represent the disciples.

 

90)   What does it mean for the shepherd to be struck?

o   It means that Jesus would be crucified.

 

91)   What does it mean for the sheep to be scattered?

o   It means that the disciples would fall away and flee.

 

92)   Where did Jesus say he would go after he rose from the dead?

o   He would go ahead of the disciples into Galilee.

 

93)   Why did the disciples go to Galilee after Jesus was crucified?

o   They returned home to Galilee where it would be safer than in Jerusalem.

 

94)   What did Peter declare about the disciples’ falling away?

o   Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

 

95)   What did Peter correct in Jesus’ assessment of the disciples?

o   He declared that he was more loyal to Jesus than the other disciples such that he would not fall away.

 

96)   What was Jesus’ response to Peter’s declaration?

o   “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”

 

97)   What did Jesus mean by his response?

o   Jesus meant that Peter would disown

§  Him, not just fall away.

§  Him three times.

§  Him soon enough, literally within hours.

 

98)   What was Peter’s response?

o   But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”

 

99)   What did all the other disciples say?

o   All the other disciples said the same.

 

100)     What did Peter correct in Jesus’ assessment of him?

o   He corrected Jesus’

§  Statement that he would disown Jesus.

§  Insinuation that he would be worse than the other disciples who only fell away.

 

101)     What kept Peter from accepting Jesus’ assessment of him?

o   His pride and self confidence.

----------------------------------------

 

·  Ask for a volunteer to summarize.

·  Ask for the rest of the participants to supplement the summary.

 

========================

Verses 27-31  Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

========================