“And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” John 17:3 ESV1
Last year about this time, I was watching my grandchildren so my daughter and son-in-law could go on a Valentine’s Weekend Retreat with their Small Group. I got to spend some special one-on-one with my preschool granddaughter while her baby brother took his morning naps.
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus, therefore, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So, they gave a dinner for Him there” (John 12:1-2a) “in the house of Simon the leper” (Matthew 26:6b). “Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with Him at the table. Mary, therefore” (John 12:3a) “came up to Him with an alabaster flask” (Matthew 26:7a) containing “a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard” (John 12:3b), “and she broke the flask and poured it over [Jesus’] head” (Mark 14:3b) “and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” (John 12:3c). What a touching scene—Jesus spending time with His dearest friends, celebrating a miracle, being emotionally encouraged as He prepared for the future, soaking up the personalized way each of those in attendance shared his/her adoration of Him, all while a beautiful fragrance filled the air. But not everyone was feeling the love.
In the autumn, Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths (see John 7:10). In the winter, He was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication (see John 10:22-23). But, in Jerusalem, His life was in danger, so “He went away again across the Jordan … and there He remained” (John 10:40) until He heard that His friend Lazarus from Bethany needed help. Against the advice of His disciples, He, to revive Lazarus, went dangerously close to Jerusalem again (see John 11:18).
After Jesus averted the attempt of the angered religious leaders of Jerusalem to seize Him (see John10:39) and stone Him (see John 10:31), “He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there He remained” (John 10:40). He stayed there with His disciples for a while until He was alerted of a friend in need. Out of love, He left His place of safety, and entered dangerous territory, to help this one whom He loved.