THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 12, Mary anoints Jesus, Triumphal entry, Greeks seek Jesus, Jesus foretells His death

 

THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 12

Mary anoints Jesus, Triumphal entry, Part 1.

Focused. Through the unfolding events leading up to Jesus arrest and crucifixion, Jesus is ever focused on His Mission. Every step, every twist and turn always brings us back to His Purpose. He has not come to judge the world (at this time), but He has come to save it. He is clear that a day of judgment is coming and it will be through the Word that He is speaking. If any willfully deviates from His Word, they will be judged on the Last Day.

NOTE TO THEOLOGIANS, PASTORS, BIBLE TEACHERS, CHURCH LEADERS – those who carry influence within the church: If you continue to change, as you have been doing, even the smallest letter or stroke of a letter from the Law, or nullify one of the least of the commandments until all is accomplished, and teaches others to do the same, they shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. And to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. It is written.

Mary Anoints Jesus

John 12:1, Therefore, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

(Commentary Break): This phrase situates the events in a specific timeframe, just before the Jewish festival of Passover, which commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. The timing is significant as it marks the beginning of the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry, leading to His crucifixion. Passover is a time of pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and many Jews would be traveling to the city, heightening the anticipation and tension surrounding Jesus’ actions and teachings. The Passover lamb, central to the festival, is a type of Christ, the Lamb of God, who would soon be sacrificed for the sins of the world. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 2. So they made Him a dinner there, and Martha was serving; and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Verse 3. Mary then took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Verse 4. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to betray Him, said, verse 5, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” Verse 6. Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it. Verse 7. Therefore Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. Verse 8. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

(Commentary Break): This could be the profile for all the “Judas’s” among us. Self-centered, vocal, money-oriented, false compassion, manipulative and a thief, (and please notice scriptures do not say “Judas stole” – it says he is a thief! Unfortunately, this kind of person usually believes they are “basically good people” and have even convinced themselves that they mean to do good. They can be charismatic and persuasive and with the right educational background or credentials they find their way into leadership roles within the church. But their core is rotten. They are predisposed to lie, cheat, steal and kill. The lesson here? Ask the right questions beforehand. Watch the behavior. Be discerning and don’t doubt that uneasy feeling they leave you with. And finally, pray and check yourself while you are at it. The Church deserves humility and devoted holiness of its servants.

All this said and in this particular instance, Jesus knew about Judas’ character and what he would do, ahead of time. Judas was allowed, by God to execute his nefarious plan of deceit and complicity in murder. It was written. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 9. The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not on account of Jesus only, but so that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. Verse 10. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also, verse 11, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.

(Commentary Break): “He came but to steal, kill and destroy”, found in John 10:10, is the description of Satan and his minions. This is their mission. So when Jesus refers to the Pharisees and chief priests as hypocrites, fools, blind guides, robbers, self-indulgent, whitewashed tombs, lawless, snakes, vipers (see Matthew 23), He is identifying them with Satan. Again in John 8:44, Jesus says to them, “Your father is the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He as a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies”.

Let me say that anyone and everyone who practices these things are of the devil and no amount of good works or excellent oratory, (including sermons), will change that fact. You will know them by their fruits. You can see them in government, politics and they are in the church. And as pleasing as they may act, do not be fooled. Purge them out. (End Commentary Break).

The Triumphal Entry

Verse 12. On the next day, when the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, verse 13, they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, indeed, the King of Israel!” Verse 14. Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: verse 15, “DO NOT FEAR, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” Verse 16. These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things for Him. Verse 17. So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. Verse 18. For this reason also the people went to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. Verse 19. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not accomplishing anything; look, the world has gone after Him!”

(Commentary Break): Jesus’ message was clear and His actions were uncompromising. This instilled confidence and boldness in His disciples and stoke the flames of faith within them. When the people saw this fulfillment of prophecy being fearlessly played out before them, they went after Him. So it should me – must be – with us in these last days!

See these 2 video clips:

(End Commentary Break).

PART 2.

Greeks Seek Jesus

Verse 20. Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; verse 21, these people then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and were making a request of him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Verse 22. Philip came and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. Verse 23. But Jesus answered them by saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Verse 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. Verse 25. The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. Verse 26. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

(Commentary Break): These verses carry four major turns of events: (1). The Greeks (Gentiles) were taking notice of Jesus and want to know more about Him. (2). Jesus is reminding His disciples that He came specifically for the House of Israel – the Jews. Jesus knows that Paul will come later as a messenger to the Gentiles. Therefore they cannot know enough about Him at this point, but they will after Jesus is glorified (crucified, buried, raised again to life and ascended). (3). Jesus is the “grain of wheat” that will bear much fruit – as will those who follow Him. There will be a great spreading of the Gospel and a multiplication of believers to come. (4). There is the promise for those who follow Him in life and in death, that they will be with Him (again) and the Father will honor them.

We, Christians throughout the ages and particularly in our day, must know that we too are that grain of wheat which must fall into the earth and so our life in Christ will bear much fruit. If you or I love our life and loses it, if we hate our life in this world then you and I will keep it to eternal life. Only if we serve Him, and follow Him – in our life and our death, will we be where He is; and in this way we can be said to have served Him, and the Father will honor us.

Just going to church and calling ourselves Christians and participating in programs, yet sitting idly by watching the sky for His return will not do it. We must actually follow Him, doing as He as done. There is no other way. (I admit that I am humbled and broken and troubled as I write this). (End Commentary Break).

Jesus Foretells His Death

Verse 27. “Now My soul has become troubled; and what am I to say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Verse 28. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” Verse 29. So the crowd who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him!”

(Commentary Break): Jesus soul is troubled? Yes. The word here for troubled is ‘tarassó’, meaning stirred, disturbed, terrified. It carries the idea of inner turmoil or outward commotion – a sudden shock that rattles the emotions. But He does not shrink back (see Hebrews 10:39). And in the face of this ‘tarassó’, Jesus prays, “what am I to say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour”. Father, glorify Your name.” God responded to the Son and He will respond to you as you take this step as you follow Jesus. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 30. Jesus responded and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for yours. Verse 31. Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. Verse 32. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” Verse 33. Now He was saying this to indicate what kind of death He was going to die.

(Commentary Break): Jesus, through these few words, gives us a synopsis, a brief summary of what is to come: The Judgment; The defeat of Satan, the antichrist and their forces; the salvation and rapture of the saints of God.

1. 1. 1. This Word is for us – so we will know. And now it has been said. “Now judgment is upon the world”. There are no clearer words to say to us that the Judgment of God has begun. This is a clear statement by Jesus that the first phase of the Last Days, the End of the Age, the tribulation period, also called the period of the Birth Pains of the tribulation has begun (see Matthew 24:4-8).
      2. After the final Judgments (see Tribulation Seals six through the Tribulation Trumpets and the Tribulation Bowls), The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords defeats the forces of Satan, and he and the false prophet are bound and cast into the eternal lake of fire.
      3. And He will be lifted up and draw all people to Himself – a picture both of salvation and of The Greek word from this term “rapture” is derived appears in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, translated “caught up.” The Latin translation of this verse used the word rapturo. The Greek word it translates is harpazo, which means to snatch or take away. (This is also seen in Matthew 24:30-31, “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather, (episunagó – to gather together; to bring together to others already assembled; to gather together in one place), together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” (End Commentary Break).

Verse 34. The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how is it that You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” Verse 35. So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; also, the one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. Verse 36. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”

These things Jesus proclaimed, and He went away and hid Himself from them. Verse 37. But though He had performed so many signs in their sight, they still were not believing in Him. Verse 38. This happened so that the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke would be fulfilled: “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED?” Verse 39. For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, Verse 40. “HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, SO THAT THEY WILL NOT SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED, AND SO I WILL NOT HEAL THEM.” Verse 41. These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke about Him. Verse 42. Nevertheless many, even of the rulers, believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, so that they would not be excommunicated from the synagogue; verse 43, for they loved the approval of people rather than the approval of God.

Verse 44. Now Jesus cried out and said, “The one who believes in Me, does not believe only in Me, but also in Him who sent Me. Verse 45. And the one who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. Verse 46. I have come as Light into the world, so that no one who believes in Me will remain in darkness. Verse 47. If anyone hears My teachings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. Verse 48. The one who rejects Me and does not accept My teachings has one who judges him: the word which I spoke. That will judge him on the last day. Verse 49. For I did not speak on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. Verse 50. And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” (End chapter 12 text).

Jesus has come to save the world. It is the person who does not believe Him are judged already because of their own unbelief. If you have any misgivings or doubts that lead to unbelief, then pray for help. If you have confusion about scriptures, just decided to believe even if you do not see. “Blessed is the one who has not seen but believes” (John 20:24-29).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 13, The Lord’s Supper, Jesus Washes the Disciple’s feet, Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF JOHN, Chapter 11, The Death and Resurrection of Lazarus, The Conspiracy to Kill Jesus.

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