Magnify Our Messiah

I. Honor Jesus through your sacrifice. (1-8)

John 12:1–8 ESV

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive 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 perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

a. Worship of Jesus is most meaningful when it is sacrificial.

b. Worship of Jesus is most controversial when it is sacrificial.

II. Honor Jesus through your resurrected life. (9-11)

John 12:9–11 ESV

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

John 12

Ephesians 2:1 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

Ephesians 2:5 ESV

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Romans 6:4 ESV

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 5:7 ESV

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

Rom

Romans 5:6 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

“God will not use dead tools for working living miracles.” Charles Spurgeon

Can it be said that because of you “Many are going away believing in Jesus”?

Could it be said that because of you “Many were going away and believing in Jesus”?

III. Honor Jesus by making much of the cross. (12-36)

John 12:12–36 ESV

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, 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, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And 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 earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

John 12:

a. The Cross is God’s means of saving sinners.

John 12:13 ESV

13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

Feast of Tabernacles

Sukkot. One of Israel’s three great annual festivals, celebrated at the time of the agricultural harvest, in gratitude for Yahweh’s present and historical provision. Once a day during the feast, worshipers would walk around the altar and say,

Once a day during the feast, worshipers would walk around the altar and say,

Once a day during the feast, worshipers would walk around the altar and say,

Psalm 118:25 ESV

Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!

Psal

On the seventh day, it was repeated seven times; this seventh day is called the Hoshana Rabbah. “The hosanna ritual combines the ideas of praising realized victories over the nations and sympathetic prayers for salvation”.

“Save now, we beseech thee, O Lord! We beseech thee, O Lord, send now prosperity!” (; m. Sukkah 4:5). On the seventh day, it was repeated seven times; this seventh day is called the Hoshana Rabbah. “The hosanna ritual combines the ideas of praising realized victories over the nations and sympathetic prayers for salvation” (Avery-Peck, Review of Rabbinic Judaism, 94).

During the Feast of Tabernacles, when the priest reached a certain point in the ceremony, a trumpet sounded and all the people waved palm branches.

Hosanna - Save Us Now

Hosanna - Save Us Now

While the crowd didn’t understand it, make no mistake about it God’s salvation came riding on a Donkey! Over the Mt of Olives the savior went. Where was he going? He was heading to the cross.

“Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us, we have to see it as something done by us.” John Stott

John Stott

b. The Cross is God’s means of condemning sin.

John 12:33 ESV

33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

The cross of Jesus Christ is all about God’s holiness. That may seem strange, that a place of blood and suffering and torment would be all about holiness. But the cross answers this question: How can a holy God be reconciled to unholy people? That question demands this one: How can the relationship between a holy God and an unholy people be restored without some gross act of injustice?

At the cross we see just how much God values his holiness. We see that God will not violate his own holiness even in order to save the ones he loves. Here at the cross we see wrath and mercy meet. We see both of them in their glorious fullness–the ultimate display of God’s wrath and the ultimate display of God’s mercy.

At the cross we see just how much God values his holiness. We see that God will not violate his own holiness even in order to save the ones he loves. Here at the cross we see wrath and mercy meet. We see both of them in their glorious fullness–the ultimate display of God’s wrath and the ultimate display of God’s mercy.“To deny the great doctrine of atonement by the blood of Jesus Christ is to hamstring the gospel, and to cut the throat of Christianity.” Charles Spurgeon

“To deny the great doctrine of atonement by the blood of Jesus Christ is to hamstring the gospel, and to cut the throat of Christianity.” Charles Spurgeon

Will you bow before the cross.

Will you bear the burden of the cross.