John 11:55-12:11 – Broken And Spilled Out
One day a plain village woman
Driven by love for her Lord
Recklessly poured out a valuable essence
Disregarding the scorn
And once it was broken and spilled out
A fragrance filled all the room
Like a prisoner released from his shackles
Like a spirit set free from the tombBroken and spilled out
Just for love of you, Jesus
My most precious treasure
Lavished on thee
Broken and spilled out
And poured at your feet
In sweet abandon
Let me be spilled out
And used up for theeLord you were God’s precious treasure
His loved and His own perfect Son
Sent here to show me the love of the Father
Just for love it was done
And though You were perfect and holy
You gave up Yourself willingly
You spared no expense for my pardon
You were used up and wasted for meBroken and spilled out
Just for love of me, Jesus
God’s most precious treasure
Lavished on me
Broken and spilled out
And poured at my feet
In sweet abandon
Let me be spilled out
And used up for thee(“Broken and Spilled Out,” written by Gloria Gaither and Bill George. Copyright 1984 Gaither Music Co./Yellow House Music)
Read John 11:55 to 12:11
1) The closing verses of John 11 set the tone for the remainder of the events recorded by John. Describe the atmosphere in Jerusalem as the feast of the Passover draws near.
2) The dinner John records in chapter 12:1-8 is also recorded in Matthew 26:6-16 and Mark 14:3-11. Compare the accounts. What similarities and differences do you note? Does anything in particular stand out to you?
3) Another story of a woman anointing Jesus with oil is told by Luke in Luke 7:36-50. What similarities and differences do you note with this story?
4) This story has been told around the world for 2000 years now as a memorial (something by which the memory of a person, thing, or event is preserved) to Mary, just as Jesus said it would be. While she probably did not intend this as at the time, what does this tell you about the things that Jesus thinks are worth remembering?
5) The value of the ointment represented approximately a year’s wages. What does the disciples’ and Judas’ criticism of Mary tell you about what they believe is valuable and what is not?
6) How does the same act produce both a fragrance worth remembering to Jesus and the smell of wastefulness to Judas and the other disciples? (See 2 Corinthians 2:14-16)
7) John offers some background information in verse 6 that would not be obvious from Judas’ words in verse 5. How did Judas spend three years in close association with Jesus and remain a thief?
8 ) Considering Judas’s words and motivations here what kind of person might he represent today?
9) Should Jesus’ comments in verses 7 and 8 mean that we should not be concerned for the poor? What do his comments mean?
10) Jesus states that Mary did this in preparation for his burial. In what sense did she view Christ’s impending death? Was it simply that she forsaw that since people were out to kill him eventually he would killed? Or was it something more? (See John 1:29, and Daniel 9:24)
11) Jesus raising of Lazarus certainly made him a popular figure for a time. Compare Jesus’ story in Luke 16:19-31 and his words to the Pharisees in John 5:44-47 with what John now relates in verses 9-11 of chapter 12. What stands out to you?
12) The stories in scripture are recorded in order to be examples to us, both positive (Romans 15:4) and negative (1 Corinthians 10:6). What example does Mary set for us, and how can we follow her example today considering that the physical body of Jesus is no longer here?
