1. Pray. Ask the Lord to open your eyes, that you might behold wondrous things out of his Word (Ps. 119:18). 

2. Read Sunday's passage. Feel free to read it more than once, or in another translation.

3. Review the sermon outline. Try to see how the points came out of the text.

4. Answer the questions below. Focus on personal application.

5. Pray. Praise and thank the Lord, then ask him to work in mighty ways. 

Remember, we live not by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God (Dt. 8:3; Mt. 4:4).

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

15  “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

Intro: We were made for community! However, something has gone wrong...

I. A community shares characteristics, acts in furtherance of shared goals, and is transformed by membership therein.

II. The actions of various people in John 12 reveal who really knew Jesus and was truly part of his community. (A) Judas betrayed Jesus for the price of a slave. (B) The crowds came to see the signs, but the same people shouting "Hosanna" on Sunday shouted "Crucify him" on Friday. (C) The religious leaders acknowledged Jesus' power, yet they refused to submit to him. (D) Mary, on the other hand, humbled herself at the feet of Jesus, and anointed him with an extremely costly ointment. This action seems absurd! But those who truly know Jesus understand, that no act of devotion to the Lord is too costly. Mary knew Jesus, and so she served him. (E) The final group is the Gentiles, who were genuinely seeking Jesus, and wished to see him. They were on the verge of community membership. 

III. What about us? Do we know Jesus? Getting to know Jesus is a choice. It requires pausing our busy lives, and giving him three things: (1) time, (2) effort, (3) communication, reading his Word and speaking with him in prayer. Get to know Jesus!

Conclusion: Getting to know Jesus is worth it. He gave himself on the cross to save us from sin and death! Like Mary, give yourself to him in faith and devotion, even if the world views it as absurd. 

1. Communities share characteristics, goals, and transformation.

- What are some non-religious communities that seem very strong? What makes them so? 

- What should characterize the community of Jesus?

- What would make the community of Jesus more compelling to those outside his fold?

2. Of all the people in John 12, Mary clearly knew Jesus.

- What stands out to you about her act of devotion to Jesus? 

- How might the world view Christians' devotion to Jesus?

- How might these view temper our willingness to serve him?

- Is there something you know Jesus wants you to do, but you are holding back?

3. Getting to know Jesus takes some effort, but it is worth it.

- How did build the relationships with the people in your life to whom you are closest?

- How are you building your relationship with Jesus now?

- What actions could you take in this new season to get to know the Lord even more? 

1. Praise Jesus for who he is!

2. Confess your sins and shortcomings, asking for forgiveness.

3. Thank him for all he has done to redeem and restore us. 

4. Ask him to work powerfully in your life. Specifically, if there are any calls to action for you from this passage or this sermon, then ask his help to take the steps he wants you to take, to get to know Jesus better, and to serve him more wholeheartedly.

Thanks for reading the Bible Study Guide! I pray it helps us "continue to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ" (Eph. 4:15).

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Tom Hansen, Senior Pastor