1. Two days before the Passover (1-5)

The Passover celebrated God's deliverance of his people from slavery in Egypt (Ex 12). The blood of the Passover lamb was sprinkled on the doorposts. Those under the blood were saved when the angel of death passed over Egypt. Jesus came to be the Passover Lamb. He delivers us from slavery to sin and death (Jn 1:29). Evil men plotted Jesus' death. They fulfilled prophecy and condemned themselves.

2. She has done a beautiful thing (6-16)

Jesus was eating dinner in Bethany when a woman came in and poured some very expensive perfume on his head. Perhaps she was Mary of Bethany (Jn 12). Perhaps she was a woman made dirty and useless by her sins, but now made whole and pure by Jesus' love. Jesus' disciples (Judas) did not think about Jesus' love or God's grace (or the poor). They only thought about money (14-16). Jesus accepted this woman's act of love and gratitude and drew her into gospel history.

Application: Lord, help me to love Jesus more than anything else, and to share his love with others.
One Word: A beautiful thing