John
© copyright 2008 Darroll Evans, all rights reserved

 

Chapter 12

 

John 12:1-11

1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

 

Six days before Passover, Jesus went to Bethany where Lazarus had died and been raised.


There, in Bethany they made supper for Christ and Martha served it!


Lazarus himself sat at the table with Christ.

Afterward, Mary Lazarus’ sister took a pound of very costly ointment of spikenard, and anointed Jesus’ feet. Then, she wiped His feet with her hair! The house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

Judas Iscariot was appalled! He asked, “Why wasn’t the ointment sold and the money given to the poor?”

In actuality, he was not concerned about the poor! He was a thief, and kept the money bag!

But, Jesus said, “Let her alone!

 

“In doing this she has anointed Me for burial!

“You will always have the poor [in spirit] with you!

 

“But, I will not always be here!”

Many of the Jews discovered that Christ Jesus was there, and they came to see Him, but not all came for His sake! Many came to see Lazarus, because he had raised from the dead!

However, the Chief Priests conspired to murder Lazarus! After all, it was because Lazarus had been raised that many believed in Jesus.


John 12:12-19
12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

 

The very next day, many Jews came to the opening of the Passover celebration! Passover was one of the annual days when all male Jews are required to attend.  However, many were there because they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.

Many of the Jewish people considered Christ Jesus to be the Messiah, the promised One of God!  They brought branches of palm trees and went out to meet him! As they greeted Christ Jesus, they shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord!”

That greeting must have been embarrassing to the Jewish leaders!

Jesus entered the city riding on the colt of a donkey! He did that to fulfill the prophecy, from Zechariah 9:9 “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt.” (NIV)

At first, the disciples did not understand all this, but when Jesus was glorified (resurrected), they remembered what was written about Him, and all that had been done.

Those who were present when Lazarus was raised are witnesses to these things!

Many who had heard of His miracle came to meet Him during that Passover week!

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “Do those folks really understand? Will you look at that? The world is following Him!”

John 12:20-36
20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33  This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

At this point, John tells us that “certain Greeks” had come to the feast.  We should not assume that they were Gentiles. Greek born Jews came to Passover! As on the day of Pentecost in Acts! Many Jews who were born outside of Israel could not speak Hebrew.  Today, many Jews do not read or speak anything more than rote Hebrew of a few verses in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Some of them came to Philip and told him that they wanted to see Jesus. Philip went up the chain of command. He went to Andrew, who went to Jesus.

Jesus responded in an interesting way, “The hour hass come that the Son of man should be glorified!

“Truthfully, except a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it abides alone, but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit!

“He that loves his life shall lose it! He that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

There has been some discussion as to whether Christ Jesus actually meant “hates his life.”  All other things aside, that is what He said!

Christ Jesus continued, “If anybody serves Me, let him follow Me! Where I am there shall My servant also be! If anybody serves Me, My Father will honor him!

“Now, My soul is troubled!

“What shall I say?

“Father, save me from this hour, but for this cause I have come to this hour!

Jesus, as a human being did not want to experience physical death just as we too do not want to experience physical death.  But, that is what planned for each of us, barring our being alive at the second coming.

Christ Jesus came into the world to take responsibility for our sins!  To do that he had to be crucified!  To become the curse for us he had to die a death that was required for one who was cursed, hanging on a tree!

The Torah says, “And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:” (Deut 21:22)

When Jesus took responsibility for our sins, the penalty was death by hanging on a “tree.”  That “tree” included any implement of death made of wood!

Then Christ exclaimed, “Father, glorify Your name!”

At that moment, a voice came from heaven, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

God has glorified His name in the creation, and He shall again do in the consummation!

1 Cor 15:27-28
27 For he [the Father] hath put all things under his [the Son] feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him [the Son], then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him [God the Father] that put all things under him, that God [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] may be all in all.

As the voice of God sounded, some people thought it was thunder.

Others said, “An angel spoke to Him.”

But, Jesus said, “This voice did not come because of Me! It was for your sakes.

“Now judgment of this world has come!

“Now shall the prince of this world be cast out!

Christ may not have come into the world to judge (John 3:17), but all judgment is based on acceptance or rejection of Him by each and every individual (John 3:18)!

Then Christ Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto me!

The word “men” in the KJV is an added word! The Greek text just says “all!”

Did He mean that He would draw all men?  Or, did He mean that He would draw all creation? Or perhaps Christ was referring to Him drawing all judgment in His taking responsibility for all or sins.

In any case, Jesus was signifying how He would die!

On the cross at Calvary, He was lifted up and died for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2)!

The people around Him said, “We have heard that the Law says that the Messiah shall abide forever! So, why do You say, “The Son of man must be lifted up? 

“And, by the way, who is this Son of man?”

Then Jesus said, “The light will be with you for only a short time longer.

“Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you!

“He that walks in darkness doesn’t know not where he is going!

“While you have the light, believe in the Light, so that you may be the children of light!”

The Greek definite article appears before the word translated “light” is both instances!  That means the light is specific! The “light” is The Light!  It is Christ Jesus!

Jesus spoke those things and left to hide from the people.

John 12:37-41
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

Though Christ Jesus had done many miracles, they still did not believe in Him!

All that happened to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah, “Lord, who has believed our report? And, to whom has the Arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1)

The fact is that they could not believe!

Isaiah prophetically said, “He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, so that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them!” (Isaiah 6:10)

None may see, hear, or be converted UNLESS the Holy Spirit causes that action!

1 Cor 12:3b no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

John 12:42-43
42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Many of the members of the Sanhedrin trusted in Christ, however due to the venomous words of the Pharisees, they would not make a public profession!  It seems that they loved the praises of men more than the praise of God. 

In that men have not changed! Even today, many do things to please the mob rather than to please God!

John 12:44-50
44  Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Jesus shouted, “He that believes on Me does not just believe on Me alone! He also believes on Him that sent Me!

“And, he that sees Me also sees Him that sent Me!

“I have come as a Light into the world so that whoever believes on Me should not abide in darkness!

“And, if anyone hears My words, and does not believe, I will not judge him, because I did not come into the world to judge the world, but to save the world!”

Please do not be offended, but do you actually believe that Christ Jesus was sent to save the world?

Perhaps the vast majority of Christians do not believe that!

In other words, many, if not most, Christians do not believe Christ Jesus!

Or, they may believe that although He came to save the world, Inferior human beings thwarted the plan of God and refused to be saved.

What do you believe?

Jesus continued, “He that rejects me, and does not receive My words, none judges him!

“The word that I have spoken shall judge him in the last day.

“Because, I have not spoken about Myself, but the Father which sent Me gave Me a commandment of what what I should say and what I should speak!

“And, I know that His commandment is life everlasting!

“Therefore, whatever I speak is what the Father has spoken to Me!”

 

Chapter 13
Index