Discipleship & Hierarchy (John 12:1-11)

Passage: John 12:1–11

This passage places us in Bethany, just days before Jesus’ crucifixion. He’s at a dinner party—likely at Lazarus’ house—with his disciples and close friends. In this setting, we witness two radically different responses to Jesus, embodied by Mary and Judas. Their actions speak volumes about what true discipleship looks like.

A Tale of Two Disciples

Mary, likely from the outer circle of disciples (not one of the Twelve), performs a stunning, sacrificial act. She takes a jar of pure nard—a costly perfume worth about a year’s wages—and anoints Jesus’ feet with it, wiping them with her hair. This was an act of prophetic insight; Mary seems to understand that Jesus is about to die. Her action honors him as King and prepares him for burial. She doesn’t speak, but her act becomes a kind of sermon in itself—a radical, vulnerable, embodied declaration of love and loyalty.

In contrast, Judas, a member of the inner circle and the group’s treasurer, objects. Outwardly, his critique sounds reasonable: shouldn’t this expensive perfume have been sold to help the poor? But John peels back the layers of Judas’ heart—he wasn’t concerned about the poor; he was stealing from the money bag. His protest, while cloaked in the language of justice and responsibility, is rooted in self-interest and greed.

Judgement vs. Discernment

This interaction highlights a deep truth in Jesus’ teaching: be cautious about how and why we judge others. Judas’ critique looks righteous, but it comes from a dark place. In contrast, Jesus defends Mary—not because helping the poor is unimportant, but because her act reveals deep understanding and faith.

Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 15:11 when he says, “You will always have the poor,” reminding us that generosity should always be practiced. But in this moment, her act of devotion deserves attention. Jesus redirects the focus away from the manipulative voice of judgment and back to Mary’s prophetic gesture.

What Kind of Disciple Are We Becoming?

John’s Gospel consistently invites us to see beneath the surface—to look at motives, not just appearances. Judas held status and proximity to power but lacked love. Mary, with no official title or recognition, offered something far more valuable: her allegiance to him, wherever it might lead.

Jesus consistently dismantles worldly hierarchies. In God’s kingdom, the servant is honored, and the self-serving leader is exposed. Discipleship, then, isn’t about status or position—it’s about humility, love, and solidarity with Jesus, even in the face of suffering.

⸻

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Mary was able to understand and respond to Jesus’ impending death when so many others couldn’t? What might that say about the posture of her heart?

2. Have you ever experienced a moment when someone criticized a good or vulnerable act under the guise of “righteousness” or “wisdom”? How can we discern the difference between helpful critique and harmful judgment?

3. In what ways do we, like Judas, sometimes mask our self-interest with spiritual language or good-sounding arguments? How can we guard against this?

4. Mary’s worship was costly and deeply personal. What might it look like today to honor Jesus in a similar way—through sacrifice, vulnerability, or generosity?