Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume and wipes them with her hair, an act of devotion and preparation for His burial.
Theological significance
This event highlights the theme of sacrificial love and devotion to Christ. It also foreshadows Jesus' impending death and burial.
In the broader story
Mary's act of anointing prefigures the anointing of Jesus' body after His crucifixion, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and honoring Jesus' sacrifice.
Jesus speaks about His impending death, using the metaphor of a grain of wheat dying to produce much fruit, and calls His followers to serve and follow Him.
Theological significance
This passage emphasizes the necessity of Jesus' sacrificial death for the salvation of many and the call to discipleship through self-denial.
In the broader story
Jesus' prediction of His death is central to the Gospel message, highlighting the purpose of His incarnation and the path to eternal life through His sacrifice.
Despite Jesus' many signs, many people do not believe in Him, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy about the hardening of hearts.
Theological significance
This event underscores the theme of unbelief and the fulfillment of prophecy, highlighting the spiritual blindness that prevents recognition of Jesus as the Messiah.
In the broader story
The unbelief of the people contrasts with the faith of those who do believe, illustrating the division Jesus brings and the fulfillment of God's sovereign plan.
Jesus declares that He has come as a light into the world, urging people to believe in Him to avoid darkness, and reiterates His unity with the Father.
Theological significance
This teaching emphasizes Jesus as the light of the world, the necessity of faith in Him for salvation, and His divine authority and mission.
In the broader story
Jesus' final public teaching encapsulates His mission and message, urging belief in Him as the path to eternal life and relationship with God.
In the order the chapter tells them. The corpus records sequence, not dates — biblical chronology is contested, and this does not take a position on it.