This entry is part 16 of 17 in the series John

John

Gospel according to John, Chapter 12:  Read &/or listen from the Bible.

Part 1:

1/ The Anointing at Bethany            – Jn 12:1-8
2/ The Plot to kill Lazarus                  – Jn 12:9-11
3/ The Triumphal Entry                       – Jn 12:12-19
4/ Some Greek Seek Jesus                – Jn 12:20-26

Part 2:
5/ Jesus Predicts His death on the Cross    – Jn 12:27-36
6/ The Unbelief of the Jews                                – Jn 12:37-43
7/ Judgment by Jesus’ Word                             – Jn 12:44-50

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1/ The Anointing at Bethany            – Jn 12:1-8

 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 They prepared a supper for Him there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pint of very costly ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief. And having the money box, he used to steal what was put in it.

7 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

In this gospel of John we learned that Jesus started His public ministry with the miracle of the water made into wine in a wedding at Cana. With this visit to Bethany Jesus ends His public ministry.

Here we find the resurrected Lazarus enjoying fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Mary worshiping at the feet of Jesus, and we see Martha serving others. This reminds us that there are 3 essential elements in the Christian church today:

1/ Lazarus reminds us of our relationship & new life in Christ (we were dead in our sins & trespasses Ephe.2:1-5, but now we are alive in Christ Jn 11:25-26).

2/ Mary, reminds us about the importance of worship, she anointed Jesus’ feet with a very costly perfume of pure spikenard, and wiped them with her hair. This was an expression of affection, & adoration, giving her best, &

3/ Martha, the need for service.

This should be a real image in the Christian community today. All this happened in a home where Jesus was with those who loved Him. The Church began in a home. This homely image should be a reference to examine the reality of the modern church, in the face of the need for a return to these spiritual values.

2/ The Plot to kill Lazarus                  – Jn 12:9-11
9 When many of the Jews learned that He was there, they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
Besides planning to kill Jesus, they also wanted to kill Lazarus, because of the miracle Jesus did many Jews believed in Him.

3/ The Triumphal Entry                       – Jn 12:12-19

12 On the next day a great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 They took branches of palm trees, and went out to meet Him, and cried out:

“Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!”

14 Then Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written:

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; see, your King is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first. But when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

17 Now the crowd that was with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. 18 The crowd went and met Him for this reason: They heard that He had performed this sign.

19 So the Pharisees said among themselves, “See, you are gaining nothing! Look, the world has followed Him!”

In gospel of Matthew’s account, when Jesus was born & visited by the wise men, they called him “King of the Jews.” Now, at the end of His ministry, He was again presented as the “King of the Jews”. Also there was a prophecy found in the book of Zech.9:9 about their Messiah that was being fulfilled here by Jesus, so He presented Himself as their Messiah in His last public presentation. But also He knew He would be crucified.

4/ Some Greek Seek Jesus                – Jn 12:20-26

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life will lose it. And he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

It seems Jesus went to the temple & went inside. And since there was a courtyard for women & another for the non-Jews, these Greeks could not enter the place where Jesus was.
Jesus turned the attention to the cross. He was well aware of the time. You probably remember that He had told His mother at the beginning of His ministry that His hour had not yet come. But now, his hour had truly come. He was heading toward the cross.

Being a servant of Jesus requires following Him. His true disciples, that is, those who served Him, would follow Him first in His self-denial & love for others.
Series Navigation<< Gospel of John- Chap. 11, Pt.2Gospel of John, Ch.12, Pt.2 >>