Bible Study & Questions
This would make a good study to do alone or with a small group.
Read Psalm 126
God does great things for us
126:1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
126:2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
126:3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
126:4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
126:5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
126:6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.
126:1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
126:2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
126:3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
126:4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
126:5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
126:6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.
Read John 12:1-8
Mary anoints Jesus for his burial
12:1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
12:2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him.
12:3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus's feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
12:4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said,
12:5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?"
12:6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)
12:7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.
12:8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
12:1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
12:2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him.
12:3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus's feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
12:4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said,
12:5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?"
12:6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)
12:7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.
12:8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
Study Questions
- In Psalm 126, the writer remembers the laughter and rejoicing that accompanied God’s deliverance and restoration. How can recalling the great things the Lord has done for us sustain us in difficult times? Can you think of a time when you said, “I made it through that; I can make it through this”?
- Though we don’t like to say it, it could be easy to become like Judas in John 12:1-8 — an utter outsider to the scene between Jesus and Mary. Mary has surrendered to the love of God that seeks us in Jesus, and she shows it through her extravagant gesture. Meanwhile, Judas can see only the monetary gain he loses out on. What ways can a Judas-like spirit infect our spirits? [1. Our leadership role in the body of Christ is no longer connected to our primary and profound love of God. 2. We start to calculate the cost of discipleship - weighing the costs versus the benefits.]
- John 12:3 tells us, “the house was filled with the fragrance of faith.” What does the “fragrance of faith” look like in our lives? [We naturally think of Paul’s description of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.]
- What are some ways we can misread Jesus’ words in verse 8, “You will always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me”? [Is Jesus prioritizing worship over meeting the needs of the poor? No. Is Jesus saying that poverty is an accepted fact of life? No. Jesus is saying that his followers will always live in close proximity to the poor. It is integral to our identity in Christ.]
- Judas uses the poor as a means to an end. He co-opts the language of solidarity with the least and the last for his purposes. Politicians and the powers-that-be are proficient at Judas’s pious language, too. Do Christians have a responsibility to speak out on behalf of the poor in public spaces? In what ways?
- The worship planning notes for this Sunday describe the task of the psalmist in Psalm 126 this way:
- Suffering limits our vision; redemption raises our vision. Let’s celebrate the new hope that we have or the constant hope that we remember…So, cast the vision. What is there to laugh about? What joy is within reach? What testimony can we give to redemption, rescue, and hope?
- In what situation or setting are you called to cast a vision of redemption, rescue, and hope?
Prayer
Help us, Lord. Help us this week to follow in the footsteps of Mary who gave her all to you and practiced radical generosity. Alert us to those parts of ourselves we hold back from you. Let our lives give out a Christ-like fragrance that is unmistakable and always honors you.
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