JOHN CHAPTER 12.

JOHN CHAPTER 12.

The first part of John's Gospel closes with chapter eleven, and has been designated, "The Book of Signs" and chapter twelve opens the way for a new section of the Gospel.

           

Jesus leaves a village called Ephraim where he had been in retreat' with his disciples, and six days before the Passover he arrived in Bethany.  Dr Brown places this on the Saturday evening before the Passover, but the Sabbath had finished, otherwise Martha could not have been serving.

           

12:1-9.  The Anointing.  At Bethany they made a dinner for Jesus to do him honour and Martha served while Lazarus was among those reclining with Jesus.  Then Mary who felt the significance of the occasion took about a pint or twelve ounces of an expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet.  She wiped his feet with her hair and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

           

Mary perceived that this was a proper occasion to show her personal appreciation of the Lord.  How grateful she felt that Jesus had raised her brother from the dead.  The perfume was costly, but she did not hesitate to pour it upon the feet of her Lord.  For so greatly did she esteem his worth and this for her was an act of worship, expressing both humility and devotion.

           

It was not the custom of Jewish women to let down their hair to wipe his feet, but she was willing to humiliate herself that she may give him honour.  Mary did this because she discerned that Jesus would be put to death.  "It was meant that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial."  However, she discerns that the true occasion was now.  Therefore her act was prophetic of his burial.  Mary discerned that Jesus must die and that he raised her brother aroused the Jews to envy that they might slay him.

           

Judas Iscariot was irritated that she spent the money in this way.  He was blind to the Lord's teaching concerning His death.  He pretended to have concern for the poor, but he was motivated entirely by greed.  A few days later the same man could sell his Lord for thirty pieces of silver.

           

Mary's devotion to her Lord was very great for the perfume she brought was worth three hundred denarii, that is, as much as a year’s wages for a working man.  Judas makes a pretence of concern for the poor, but John does not cover-up his character for he had no concern for the poor at all.  For he, Judas, was a thief, and helped himself to what was put in the bag.  This passage teaches that personal love and devotion to the Lord must always have first place.  That there is constant opportunity to help the poor at all times.

           

The large crowd in verse 9 were Jewish pilgrims who came to the Passover festival.  They came to see both Jesus and Lazarus, whose testimony brought many to become disciples of Jesus.  The chief priests planned to kill Lazarus, for through his testimony many Jews were putting their faith in Jesus.

           

12:12-19.  The Triumphant Entry.

           

Jesus made this journey to become an opportunity for the large crowd of pilgrims to proclaim Him as their King.  The crowd took palm branches and went out to meet him as he journeyed from Bethany to Jerusalem.  And as they met him they hailed Him as their Saviour and King in the words of Psalm.118:25-26, and from Zechariah.9:9.  A perusal of these two Scriptures suggest that the Messianic King as He comes, will bring Salvation and Peace.  Jesus was King, but not after the manner of kings among men.  He did not ride upon a horse as a military conqueror, but he rode upon an ass or donkey, the symbol of humility and peace.

           

The Messianic ministry is interpreted in terms of Kingship.  Although His disciples enthusiastically joined in the celebration they did not understand its real meaning until Jesus was glorified.  Nor did they understand the manner in which the Scriptures were fulfilled in Him.  Not until then did they see the true meaning of His Kingship.  Only after he was glorified would they perceive that His ministry was one of peace.

           

The crowd that was with him continued to spread the message how that he called Lazarus from the tomb.  Their enthusiasm was like a flame that spreads.  The Pharisees perceived they were getting nowhere, and they bitterly complained, "Look how the world has gone after Him."  However, Jesus would have his disciples know that His Kingship would not be based on popularity, but upon the Cross.  The Son of Man must die.

           

Firstly, we read of an inquiry by the Greeks who desire to see Jesus.  The Greeks were God-fearers from among the Gentiles.  These people had adopted the Jewish way of worship, but fell short of becoming full proselytes and not having been circumcised they could not participate in eating the Passover. These Greeks firstly contacted the disciples of Jesus who had Greek names, but nowhere is it written that they gained an interview with Jesus.  However, their desire to see Jesus would suggest the hour of His glory was near.  The Kingdom of God was about to experience a new dimension for the Gentiles were to be received into it.

           

"The Hour."  Jesus was fully aware that the hour had come when the Son of Man should be glorified.  In John's Gospel there are several references to "the hour."  His times were in the Father's hands.  The hour of his cross and the hour in which he would be glorified, His sufferings and his glory were amazingly involved.  The Cross was the way to Glory.  Jesus emphasizes that he must die before the Gentiles could be brought in.  "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed."  So Jesus must die or he remains alone.  Certainly unique, but He must die before others could share his life. 

           

We are united with Christ in that we share in his resurrection life.  He must first die, be buried and be raised before we can share in the harvest of His resurrection. Only in this way could there be a believing community of Jews and Gentiles.

           

The same principle must apply to the life of discipleship.  The Cross must become a way of living and of bringing forth of fruit to God.  The man who for Christ sacrifices his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.  Discipleship would involve trial, for they were disciples of the One who was rejected.  However, this was the path to a vast increase.  He who would serve Christ must follow Him and his reward will be the presence and companionship of Christ, and, the Father's honour.  The gift of eternal life stands in contrast to life in this world.

           

Gethsemane.  12:27.  This verse reminds us of Gethsemane.  The Lord did not shirk the Cross, but came to Glorify the Father, and for this He accepts the Cross.  In verses 31-33 Jesus speaks of the significance of his death.  Three things are mentioned:

           

1/   The Cross was the judgment of this world.  For the world was guilty of His rejection and death.  In crucifying him the world passed judgment upon itself.

           

2/   The Cross will mean that the prince of this world will be driven out.  By His death, Jesus would achieve a great victory over Satan.  At the Cross Satan was deprived of his authority and eventually overthrown, and his captives set free.  Note the repeated “Now” that marks the occasion.

           

3/  Jesus must die from crucifixion and not by stoning.  The Gentiles must be instrumental in his death.  However, in this Gospel the Jews form part of the world.  It is by means of his death on the Cross he will draw all men to himself.  This will be the hour of his triumph, and by means of the His Cross like a mighty magnet, he will draw all men, men of every race and nation to Himself.  He will have the central place and men shall be drawn from all nations to comprise a vast community around Himself.  He shall become by means of His death the Centre of a new fellowship.

           

The crowd argue that they had heard from the Law, that is, the Old Testament Scriptures, that Christ will remain forever.  Yet Jesus said, "The Son of Man must die."  Who then, was the `Son of Man' of which Jesus spoke?  They didn't understand that the Son of Man must first die and then enter His Glory.

           

Jesus enjoins them to walk or to conduct themselves in the revelation he brought.  They must put their trust in the light while they had the opportunity.  This revelation could only be received by faith.

           

However, the Jews continue in their unbelief.  The final verses of the chapter are concerned with Jewish unbelief.  They would not believe in Him, even after the miraculous signs he did.  They said, "If Jesus was the Christ, then we Jews would have believed."  Since their very unbelief fulfilled the words of the prophet, the Lord suggests that in this was manifested the foreordination of God.  Isaiah spoke of their unbelief and blindness when in the temple he saw the remarkable vision concerning the glory of Jesus, and he spoke of Him.  Isaiah 6.

           

Chapter 12 closes with the Lord expressing His oneness with the Father.  In both judgment and in giving eternal life, they are one.