John 12
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Mary Anoints Jesus
Mary Anoints Jesus
1 Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.
3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said,
5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?”
6 Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.
7 Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.
8 “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”
9 The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also;
11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.
Discussion Questions
Verse 1-6
Verse 1-6
NH:What can we learn about generosity in verses 1-7? What keeps us from being generous?
They made Him a dinner
Martha was serving Him
Lazarus is reclining at the table with Him
Mary was worshipping
equivalent of 1/2 liter of perfume
the word for PURE here is used nowhere else in the Gospels
the use of an oil or perfume was very common in the first century especially on festive occasions
the oil was usually poured on the head but Mary chose to anoint Jesus’s feet which shows severe humility
Mary is taking the lowliest place she possibly can
finally, her hair is unbound for this act, which a Jewish lady would NEVER do in public
Jesus took up for Mary, the lowly servant, when Judas accosted her.
Holman New Testament Commentary: John A. Crisis of Values (12:1–11)
How altruistic Judas seems in this statement—a year’s wages was an enormous amount of money to be used in what seemed like a frivolous way. Soon he would sell Jesus for 120 denarii, just scarcely half the 300 denarii reflected in a year’s wages. Assuming Judas was linking the value of the perfume with the money that could have been given to the poor, we might assume a modern equivalent value of something in the neighborhood of ten thousand dollars. If that figure is even close, we get some understanding of the sacrifice involved as Mary may have used her entire life savings for this anointing.
Judas seems to be more concerned with worldly things, albeit good (helping the poor), than he is concerned about worship and adoration for Jesus. What are ways we can be focused on “good” even “churchy” things and let it shift our focus from Jesus?
Remember the truth concerning Judas and notice the information John gives us about him throughout this Gospel:
Holman New Testament Commentary: John A. Crisis of Values (12:1–11)
• He was a devil (6:70–71).
• He was an outwardly moral person (12:5).
• He was a selfish thief (12:6).
• He was a hypocrite (13:18).
• He was the son of perdition (17:12).
Why did the Chief Priests (Religious leaders) want to kill Lazarus along with Jesus? (v.9-11)
• He was a devil ().
• He was an outwardly moral person ().
• He was a selfish thief ().
• He was a hypocrite ().
• He was the son of perdition ().
Verses 7-8
Verses 7-8
Jesus Enters Jerusalem
Jesus Enters Jerusalem
Holman New Testament Commentary: John A. Crisis of Values (12:1–11)
A loose paraphrase capturing Jesus’ intended meaning might go like this: “Leave her alone. In God’s great plan, suffering and death for sin has already begun and this woman shows her love for me at a time when I am already headed for the tomb. As for the poor, taking care of them is a good and biblical act of righteousness and you should do it. However, you’ll have ample opportunity to demonstrate that concern; I’ll be gone within a week.”
Jesus Enters Jerusalem
Jesus Enters Jerusalem
Verses 9-11
Verses 9-11
Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, p. 233). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.Jesus Enters Jerusalem
12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”
14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written,
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.
17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him.
18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”
NH:Why did the Chief Priests (Religious leaders) want to kill Lazarus along with Jesus? (v.9-11)
Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, p. 233). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
The Triumphal Entry is one of the most signified days in the Christian community. We call it Palm Sunday. It is mentioned in all 4 gospels. Why is this moment so important? (v.12-17)
9 The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead.
Notice how easily theology and politics merge. Rather than being a hero or a medical phenomenon, Lazarus had become a threat to unbelievers because of his life and witness. The evidence of Christ’s truth was inescapable and indestructible. Many people believed in Jesus because of Lazarus. But not the religious leaders, whose anger and hatred increased in spite of the undeniable evidence of bodily resurrection. Once again, John seems to use the term Jews without any negative connotation. We have to assume that the faith identified at the end of verse 11 is genuine saving faith. The expression going over to Jesus assumes a conscious decision to leave the views and behavior of the chief priests and identify themselves with the Lord.
10 But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also;
Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, p. 233). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.The Triumphal Entry is one of the most signified days in the Christian community. We call it Palm Sunday. It is mentioned in all 4 gospels. Why is this moment so important? (v.12-17)
Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, p. 233). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.
Jesus Enters Jerusalem
Jesus Enters Jerusalem
12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”
14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written,
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.
17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him.
18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast;
12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”
14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written,
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.
17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him.
18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”
This is leading into the week of the Passover Feast. Just like we are beginning the week of Thanksgiving and we are talking about what we are going to eat and who’s cooking what and how mean is too mean to be to your cousins pulling for Falcons! It’s a big deal with a lot of preparation and build up! Much like Thanksgiving is for us, this was a time each year they remembered the plight of their ancestors and the crowd was almost as large as the crowd for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade at 2.7 million. Then they see Jesus coming and begin crying “Hosanna” which means “save now,” which was probably a plea for action against the Romans.
Are you that excited to see Jesus in your life? The lives of others?
Greeks Seek Jesus
Greeks Seek Jesus
Do you truly see Jesus as your saviour from sin or just the way to Heaven?
The disciples recognized prophesy fulfilled after the fact; have you ever seen the evidence of God’s hand in a given situation after the dust settled, when it was “OVER” in your perception?
NH:The Triumphal Entry is one of the most signified days in the Christian community. We call it Palm Sunday. It is mentioned in all 4 gospels. Why is this moment so important? (v.12-17)
Greeks Seek Jesus
Greeks Seek Jesus
Everything about Jesus’ life and ministry fulfilled Old Testament promises. This triumphal-entry event forced people to make a decision, fulfilled what the Bible promised, and offered the Passover Lamb—the only lamb in the city that day riding on a ceremonial donkey.
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast;
21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
22 Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, “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 “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.
26 “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Greeks Seek Jesus
Greeks Seek Jesus
Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, p. 234). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.Greeks Seek Jesus
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast;
21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
22 Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, “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 “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.
26 “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
Everything about Jesus’ life and ministry fulfilled Old Testament promises. This triumphal-entry event forced people to make a decision, fulfilled what the Bible promised, and offered the Passover Lamb—the only lamb in the city that day riding on a ceremonial donkey.
Sacrifice and service are two requirements for following Jesus in verses 20-27. To “hate his life in this world” means that you prefer God’s will over your own interests or selfish desires. It does not mean to literally hate life. Think of the word hate to mean preference. You prefer God’s will over what you would want for your life. We don’t want to sacrifice or serve! Why?
Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, p. 234). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
NH:Sacrifice and service are two requirements for following Jesus in verses 20-27. To “hate his life in this world” means that you prefer God’s will over your own interests or selfish desires. It does not mean to literally hate life. Think of the word hate to mean preference. You prefer God’s will over what you would want for your life. We don’t want to sacrifice or serve! Why?
Jesus Foretells His Death
Jesus Foretells His Death
Jesus Foretells His Death
Jesus Foretells His Death
28 “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
29 So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes.
31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.
34 The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.
36 “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”
These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.
37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.
38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again,
40 “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.”
41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.
42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;
43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
44 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me.
45 “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.
46 “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.
47 “If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.
49 “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.
50 “I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”
In verse 32 it says, “…will draw all men to Myself.” this is Jesus speaking; what does He mean by this?
Holman New Testament Commentary: John C. Crisis of Timing (12:20–36)
But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. Certainly the Lord had no intention that we should read into this text the idea that everyone would be saved because we know only believers find eternal life.
Morris takes this view on the subject: “We must take the expression accordingly to mean that all those who are to be drawn will be drawn. That is to say, Christ is not affirming that the whole world would be saved. He is affirming that all who are to be saved will be saved in this way. And he is speaking of a universal rather than a narrowly nationalistic religion. The death of Christ would mean the end of particularism. By virtue of that death ‘all men’ and not the Jews alone would be drawn. And they would be drawn only by virtue of that death” (Morris, pp. 598–99).
In verses 35 and 36 it talks about the Light is only here for a little while so we should walk in the Light while we have it so that the darkness does not overtake us. We know this is referring to Jesus will die, be buried, raise from the dead and eventually ascend and will no longer be on the earth. But have you ever considered what if we no longer had our Bibles and the organization of church? What if a foreign nation overtook the U.S. and left us completely without our Christian resources? Would you be able to see your way through those dark times without the benefits you have today? My fear is most of, including me, are too complacent in the abundance of easy faith. How do we prepare ourselves to walk in Christ even without the conveniences we have right now?
NH:What is the difference between the glory that comes from man and the glory that comes from God? (v.43)
NH:Jesus says he did not come into the world to judge the world but to save it. Why does Jesus focus on salvation here and not judgment? The Law is the judge, Jesus is the Savior. Why do we tend to focus on judgment rather than our Savior??
