Exposing the Heart
The Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Read John 11:45-57.
Read John 11:45-57.
Key Points
Key Points
1. Jesus’ miracles did not affect everyone in a positive way. The Pharisees, for example, grew to hate him more and more.
1. Jesus’ miracles did not affect everyone in a positive way. The Pharisees, for example, grew to hate him more and more.
Some Jews believed others went to the Pharisees
Who were the Pharisees?
Members of the Jewish party, active from 150 BC to 135 AD
Strict adherence to the Mosaic law
They were commited to a twofold law; the written Torah and the Oral Torah
There name means “to separate,” “divide,” or “distinguish”
Not all were bad (i.e. Nicodemus); others no doubt came to believe in Jesus.
They in turn go to the Sanhedrin.
The most common opinion is that the Judaean Sanhedrin consisted of the elders of various sociopolitical Jewish classes, both priestly and nonpriestly. At least according to the New Testament and Josephus, the Sanhedrin was closely related to chief priests, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees, the latter being probably a minority
The Sanhedrin, chaired by a high priest, had authority over religious matters in the Jewish community
There authority stretched over the entire Jerusalem temple community
The great concern is that Jesus will gain popularity and Rome will swoop in and take over there temple and their nation.
Note they acknowledge the fact that Jesus is “performing many signs”
We are then introduced to the high priest, Caiaphas.
Mentioned by name in Matthew, Luke, John and Acts
Mentioned in the writings of the 1st century historian Josephus (a Pharisee) and possible on a recovered ossuary in a tomb outside of Jerusalem.
His comment about one mans life for a nation is more prophetic than he realizes.
This is the moment that they plot to kill Jesus.
It’s worth mentioning that even though these men hated Jesus and plotted to kill him this must understood in the context of God’s sovereignty. God has operated this way throughout the Jews history.
Before we get into Mary’s inter action with Jesus let’s take a minute to recognize that John gives us some important context as we move into the last 10 chapters but deal exclusively with Jesus betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection.
John points out that it is the Passover.
Sacred observance of 10th plague in the book of Exodus. Death of the first born but the angel of death “passes over” those who marked their doorways with the blood of the sacrificial lamb.
John wants us to think about what goes on during the passover especially
selecting an unblemished lamb for sacrifice. and
sacrificing the lamb
John has been building up to this from the beginning of his gospel John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
And that lamb is about to die.
Read John 12:1-11
Read John 12:1-11
2. Mary’s love and admiration for Jesus is demonstrated by the extravagant gift she gives.
2. Mary’s love and admiration for Jesus is demonstrated by the extravagant gift she gives.
I thing we are supposed to see that her response is in stark contrast to the Pharisees.
There are couple reasons to anoint something
Consecration to a holy or sacred use (ex. high priests, kings and prophets_
Hospitality
John points out that she anointed his feet. Touching the feet was regarded by Jews as gross and yucky.
Mary doing so demonstrates her love for Jesus.
I believe that there is a connection here between this anointing of Jesus feet and Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
There is one more one other person John makes a special point about. It’s one of the 12, Judas...
3. Judas was viewed as an insider but he begins to show his true colors.
3. Judas was viewed as an insider but he begins to show his true colors.
John has nothing nice to say about Judas at all...
He was inherently an evil thief who had no concern for the poor (12:6). Thus John would never agree with some modern portrayals of Judas as a tragic hero who merely misunderstood Jesus. For John, Judas was a devil-man (diabolos; 6:70), a receiver of Satan (13:27), and the son of doom or destruction (17:12). For John, he was the unforgivable betrayer (hōparadidous) who stood with the enemies of Jesus (18:5; cf. paradidonai; 12:5). For a discussion of Iscariot, see my comments at 6:71.
Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 36.
What a killjoy, this money could have been used for something else (even though he didn’t really mean it).
Jesus rebukes Judas but than says something a little unexpected. John 12:8
You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
Jesus is not advocating the poor should be neglected (much of his teaching and ministry centered around the poor) rather he is pointing a big neon sign at the fact that the most important event in human history is upon them.
John wraps up this section by pointing out 3 things. Again things that important for us to know as the gospel narrative moves forward
Jesus popularity with the people is increasing and they are coming out in droves to see him and Lazarus.
The hatred the Jewish religious leaders have for Jesus is so intense that they are not only interested in killing him but also covering up the evidence.
Jesus was changing the hearts of some Jews.
APPLICATION & IMPLICATION
1. The hardened heart will reject and despise Jesus.
1. The hardened heart will reject and despise Jesus.
These are the Pharisees
The hardened disobedience of men’s hearts leads not to the frustration of God’s plans, but to their fruition.
John Piper
Isn’t it interesting that the Jewish leaders would be guilty of the same thing that Pharaoh was…a hardened heart.
My prayer for you if this is you
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
2. The selfish heart will exploit the name of Jesus.
2. The selfish heart will exploit the name of Jesus.
This is Judas
I often wonder why Jesus chose Judas Iscariot.
Is there ever a time when Judas wasn’t genuine or honest? In John 6:70
Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
This is the same heart that would betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
Unfortunately this is the heart I see in to many of the TV preachers today. I’m not saying that preachers ought to live in poverty but I don’t think a pastor should live in a multi-million mansion, drive 3 Mercedes Benz and have a private jet fueled and ready to whisk you away to your private island.
This may not every apply to you like that but you should guard yourself against such people.
But be aware that a selfish heart easily leads one all sorts of evil.
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
The remedy is found in Psalm 119:36
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
3. The humble heart will give up everything for the sake of Jesus.
3. The humble heart will give up everything for the sake of Jesus.
This is Mary
The best protection one can have from the devil and his schemes is a humble heart.
—Jonathan Edwards quoted in Frank S. Mead, 12,000 Religious Quotations
Jonathan Edwards
Mary’s gift was meaningful, it cost her something. And was given with humility.
David and Arunah
Then the angel of the Lord ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”