JOHN

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John Chapter 12

John 12:1 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.

The whole resurrection of Lazarus showed us that Jesus was the Son of God and had the power of resurrection. Though we die in Christ, yet we live. This is why Jesus came.

We had no hope of eternal life in Heaven with a new body that can never die before the coming of Jesus. Our sins doomed us to the future judgment in a burning hell with no hope of redemption. Jesus came to sacrifice Himself as payment for our sins. To believe in Him means that we then repent or turn from sins and trust Jesus for our salvation. It is unmerited grace given to those who believe in Jesus as savior and Lord.

John 12:3 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 odor 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?

Sometimes we worry about whether to find fault or whether to keep silence. We don't always know when our speaking is fussing about trivial things or whether we are contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. In this case we see clearly the motive of Judas. He was fault finding in the wrong way. He of course cared nothing for the poor but was concerned about the price of the ointment. This is an example of the wrong kind of fault finding.

John 12:6 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.

Jesus said in other places that we are to give to the poor so we know this saying is no excuse for neglecting the poor. Mary was giving a sacrifice and offering from her heart knowing what was to befall Jesus shortly. Her gift was love and she had no ulterior motive for this act of kindness.

John 12:9 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;

They wanted to get rid of all evidence of the power of Jesus, the power of His resurrection and anything which caused the people to believe in Him. It is said that many of the chief priests were Sadducees which didn't believe in the resurrection.

John 12:11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
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 Zion; behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

This is Old Testament prophecy found in:

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

The Old Testament was the only scripture they had at that time in history. It must be read to see the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and the many scriptures that were fulfilled by His first coming and later will be fulfilled in full by His second coming.

The first coming fulfilled much of the Old Testament type of worship given to the children of Israel like the setting up the priesthood, the tithing system, sacrifices, ordinances and such things that pointed to the perfect one to come that would bring in the more perfect worship in spirit and in truth available to all, not just Israel. It was salvation, receiving God's Holy Spirit within us as individuals, and walking in the spirit as opposed to being in bondage to sin.

Before Christ they had to worship in a certain place and had to depend on priests, prophets and the high priest to intercede and lead in worship.

Through Christ we now can worship Him in spirit and in truth and need no other intercessor although the church is given apostles, prophets, pastors and teachers for the edifying of the church and teaching.

We see in the New Testament book of Acts and the epistles that there is no longer any set formula for worship but we are free to worship in spirit and in truth either as individuals or as a church. We are exhorted both by the apostles and in the book of Revelation to avoid idolatry and fornication in our worship. The people within the church are to spread the gospel, to teach and make disciples and to pray continually without ceasing. We are to comfort, edify and care for one another's needs. Whether we sing first or hear the word first, or pray first is not the main issue.

I do notice less praying and the teaching of the word in today's worship services. The apostles gave themselves continually in the word and in prayer. We do need a good balance because praise and worship give the participants a chance to enter into worship and it is very important. We must never lay that aside and just have the leadership doing everything. In saying that though the word, teaching, preaching and exhortation should never take a back seat. That is to be a priority. I personally love it when it is time for someone to bring forth the actuall word of God in the bible.

John 12:16 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.

This could happen to us to. We may hear something that we don't understand and the time but some event later could bring that word to our remembrance and we begin to understand something that wasn't clear before.

Joh 12:17 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.
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.

When we gather to together to worship will our visitors see Jesus? Will they hear the gospel that will save their souls? It would also be a crying shame if they would come in and have to ask us if they could see Jesus.

John 12:22 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.

Jesus was reminding us that He had to die in order to save us from sin. There was no other way for any soul to be saved. One lone seed could not produce anything if it is not planted in the ground as a dead seed. The seed has to die first and then be planted to bring forth fruit. His death was necessary to usher in the plan of salvation for the whole world. It only counts for those that believe this.

If our gardens would produce corn and beans, it would profit us only if we picked the vegetables and ate them. If we left them lie in the ground we would not reap the benefits of it. Although we believe the food is there, it would not profit if we didn't partake of the food. Although Jesus died for all mankind, both men, women and children, it doesn't profit anyone unless we come to Jesus in faith and believe in Him. Believe as I've stated many times means to believe in His deity, His word and do what He says.

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Another scripture says that the will of the Father is that we believe in the Son. Remember though believing in something means to partake of and accept. It is active not passive.

John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

To love the world would keep us from Jesus. We can't have both. We can't serve God and love the world. Hating our life in this world means that we turn from it, repenting of sin and turn our lives over to Jesus. We are actually hating the world's anti God system, not hating the planet we live on.

1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

God brings in a better system, a better way that leads to eternal life.

John 12:26 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 honor.
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.

In order to redeem the earth back to God, Jesus had to go through this time of suffering, death, burial and resurrection paying the price of sin and redeeming us back to God who created us. Adam was given dominion over the earth. When he sinned, Satan was able to become the prince of the world and bring in much sorrow and suffering.

A man sinned bringing in this curse. A man's righteousness had to get it back for us. That was Jesus the perfect sacrifice that had no sin but bore our sins. Now we can get victory of Satan's hold on our individual lives and when Jesus returns Satan literally will be cast out of this world and the hold he has had over it.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

All men of course is understood to mean all who believe including women and children not just adult males.

Joh 12:33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth forever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

Blindness still covered their eyes for they could not see past physical death into eternal life and the resurrection. Jesus had to be a son of man in order to be able to die for man. He also had to be the Son of God because no ordinary man at least without the infilling of the Holy Spirit could have lived on the earth without sin. If Jesus would have sinned just once, He could not have been the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

John 12:35 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.

Those that still do not believe in Jesus the light of the world is abiding in darkness. We can be His vessels to bring others into the light of the gospel.

Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

The gospel message is the greatest hope, the greatest answer, the greatest message of all time and eternity. It is for everyone.

John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38 That the saying of Isaiah 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?

This is found in:

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
John 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaiah 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.

I always wondered about this scripture but blindness in part happened to the Jews so the gospel would go to the Gentiles. It was temporary. In the end the gospel returns to the Jews.

Isaiah 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

I'm reminded of the man that begged Abraham to allow someone that was raised from the dead to witness to his brothers so that they would not come to the place of torment that this man was in. Abraham said that if they would not hear the words of the prophets and Moses then they would not believe in one that was raised from the dead.

If these people would not believe from hearing the word, they would not believe because of the miracles. Miracles are great but they have a way of disappearing. We don't always see miracles and one usually has to believe the word first to see one. The ones who believe because of miracles are the ones who would have believed by the hearing of the word also. Those that reject the word will usually forget the miracles after a few trials in this life. That is why the teaching of the word is so important to maintain our faith. Probably those that heard of the resurrection of Jesus and still didn't believe are the ones that heard the word and didn't believe.

John 12:41 These things said Isaiah, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
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.

We will have to decide at one point in our lives whether we want God enough to confess Him openly without shame.

Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

We must not be ashamed of Jesus or ashamed of His word.

John 12:44 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.

To reject the words of Jesus is to reject the words of God. To reject Jesus is to reject God. Here we see Jesus pouring out His soul to these who were finding fault with Him. He still pleads with us through faithful teachers who are crying out, "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." "Repent, and believe the gospel." DC