CHAPTER 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.

All the people knew that the leaders wanted to kill Jesus.
And, everyone was wondering if He would come to the Passover.
Jesus also knew they wanted to kill Him.
Would He show up?

Six days BEFORE the passover, Jesus entered Bethany.
This was the place where He had raised Lazarus from the tomb.

There, Mary and Martha made a supper, and Lazarus sat with Jesus at the supper.

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 odour 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?
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.

It is highly unlikely that Matthew and Mark, in their relation of the story, would have omitted Mary's name if indeed this incident were the same as the one described in either of the gospels of Matthew or Mark. (See http://www.linktojesus.org/devotions/40_Matthew/CHAPTER_26.html or http://www.linktojesus.org/devotions/41_Mark/CHAPTER_14.html)

It seems that Judas was more concerned with the waste of money than with the seriousness of the situation!
Is it not true in our own era?
Are we genuinely concerned with the gravity of the situation if Jesus were to return TODAY?
Are we warning everyone we know?

Jesus said this woman had done a "good work!"
She had conferred honor upon her Lord!
The fact that the work was labeled as "good" meant that it was inspired by the presence of God's Holy Spirit in her (See Philippians 2:13)

Yes, we should be concerned for the poor!
And our giving for their aid should not be lessened.
But our HONOR for our Lord should be MORE pressing!
This is certainly one of the works that are inspired by the presence of God in Christians today!

Jesus knew that His death and burial were soon.
He stated that Mary had done this in preparation for His burial (vs 7).

It is true that "the poor always ye have with you."
We are ALWAYS to care for them.
But at this particular moment, Jesus would not always be with them physically.
It was a very special moment.

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;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

Now, the leaders not only wanted to kill Jesus, but Lazarus also!
The testimony of Lazarus was tremendous!
Jesus had raised him from the dead!

His testimony caused many to "believe on Jesus!"

Does YOUR testimony cause many to believe on Jesus?
Remember, you Christian, were RAISED FROM THE DEAD!
For you were "dead in trespasses and sin," and Jesus "quickened" you!! (See Ephesians 2:1)

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 Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
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.
17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

Remember, John began this chapter with the statement "...six days before Passover" Jesus came to Bethany.
But on "the next day" (vs 12 above), Jesus entered Jerusalem.
That was what we call today "Palm Sunday."

Jesus led the group in a southeasterly direction from Jericho to Jerusalem.
In that line, they would pass Bethany and Bethphage, then come to the eastern side of "the mount of olives."
From the 700 feet high cleft of the mount of olives, they would be able to see ALL of Jerusalem.

It was here that a large multitude of people gathered and began placing "branches of palm trees" before Him.
And they "cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the KING of Israel that cometh in the Name of the LORD!"

Notice John says "when He had found a young ass, sat thereon."
John tells about Jesus entering Jerusalem on the donkey, but doesn't tell how the donkey came to be there.
(For that story see: http://www.linktojesus.org/devotions/41_Mark/CHAPTER_11.html, or http://www.linktojesus.org/devotions/40_Matthew/CHAPTER_21.html)

In this multitude of people were some who had witnessed Jesus calling Lazarus from the tomb (vs 17).
Their testimony caused a great commotion!

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.

Many people came because they had heard of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
It was so many people that the Pharisees declared, "....the WORLD has gone after Him!!"

Jesus, the Son of God, came into Jerusalem at what has been named His "Triumphant Entry."
He came riding an untamed colt that God had prepared for Him.
He came as King of kings, and Lord of lords.

He did not come in the WRATH of judgment.
He came to bring a reign of "peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).
He came bringing the price for salvation - His own blood!

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.
22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, He went to the temple.
(See http://www.linktojesus.org/devotions/40_Matthew/CHAPTER_21.html. Start there with verse 12.)

At the temple, there were some "Greeks" who came to "worship at the feast."
They expressed to Philip a desire to "see Jesus."
Philip told Andrew, and both of them told Jesus.

Perhaps these Greeks were proselytes, or perhaps they were Jews who lived in Greece.
Obviously, they had heard much about Jesus, and wanted to meet Him for themselves.

It is indeed the duty of Christians to introduce those who would know 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.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
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 honour.
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.

Jesus realized that the time had come for Him to be crucified.
Yet, He spoke of it as the time He would be "glorified"!

Jesus likened the incident to a grain of wheat being placed in the ground.
The wheat grain DIES, but, out of its death a STALK of corn arises!

Indeed, Jesus' death, burial and resurrection would bring "much fruit!"
For believing Jews and Gentiles would be joined in one church.
And that church would tell the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to ALL THE WORLD!

See in verses 25-26, a tremendous teaching for Christians!
When we love Christ more than our own life, THEN we know and have "life eternal!"
When we are willing to follow Him, regardless of cost, THEN we will have the "honour" of eternal glory with God!

This thought has been running through my heart and mind all week.
I will put it in quotes, so that the entirety of it may be grasped.

"The only RIGHT way to stand in life is IN Christ!
If I do not stand WITH Him, then I stand AGAINST Him!
And, if I stand IN christ, and WITH Christ, then - even though I must stand against ALL, I will stand FOR Christ!"

According to verse 27, Jesus acknowledge His heart and mind being "troubled."
Of course, it was troubling to know that He was facing physical DEATH!
And, especially, since He knew it was the most horrible death the world would ever invent -- the CROSS!

Yet, He also said, "...for this cause came I unto this hour!"
Therefore, His desire was to glorify GOD, and not self.
To grasp this tremendous thought read Philippians 2:5-11.

Jesus was God in flesh.
Yet, He gave up all that He was in order to provide justification, sanctification and ultimate glorification to fallen man!

God's answer to Jesus (vs 28) was a two-fold statement.
First, God had "glorified" His Name, when He formed Jesus from the womb of a virgin!
Second, God would further glorify His Name by raising Jesus from the dead!

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.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Some people did not understand the audible voice of God from heaven.
Jesus explained, the voice had not spoken for Him, but for the people's sakes.

It was for them to know that the time had come for "judgment!"
The power of Satan would now be BROKEN!!
For those who surrender to and follow Jesus, Satan's power and influence is GONE!
He has, by Christ, been "cast out" of the lives of believers!

And, this was done by Jesus' death on the cross!
Through this selfless, loving act, Jesus defeated Satan and delivered all believers!

34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
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.

The people didn't understand.
Many of them had been taught tradition, but not truth!
They didn't know the part about Messiah dying, because none of their teachers would teach it!
(See Isaiah 53:8-12)

Jesus referred back to an earlier teaching.
He is THE "LIGHT" of the world!
He is THE "LIGHT," and ONLY light which leads to God!
(See John 8:12, and John 9:5)

If one does not live in the "light" of Christ, then he/she walks in "darkness" - without the illumination of salvation!
Do YOU walk "in the Light?"
Do you KNOW where you are going?

Jesus is STILL the Light of the world!
Come to Him now, and you can become "children of light!"
You can KNOW the illumination of God for eternal salvation!

37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38 That the saying of Esaias 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?
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias 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.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

Some of those among the crowd did not believe Jesus was Messiah - God come in flesh.
This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah (See Isaiah 53:1)

By refusing to believe the truth of Christ displayed, God allows man's eyes to be blinded, and their hearts to be hardened.
(See Isaiah 29:14-16)

However, God WILL HEAL (save) all who will LOOK and BELIEVE on Christ Jesus!

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.

As we learn in other Scriptures, two of those leaders of the Jews DID believe in Jesus:
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
Even though their faith was weak at that time, they later came to be known as followers of Christ.

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.

Verse 44: to believe in Christ is to believe in the One and Only God!
Verse 45: To know Christ is to know God!

It is Christ Who is the "Light" of God in this world (verse 46).
By Him, and by Him ALONE can man come to know God and eternal salvation!

Even though man wills NOT to believe, Jesus does not "judge" the man lost YET!
There IS a day coming when Jesus will judge ALL mankind!
When Jesus was physically in the world, His purpose was to bring the offer and payment of eternal salvation.
However, when He comes AGAIN, there will be JUDGMENT!

And, the judgment will come by the WORD of God spoken through Jesus Christ!
"He that is not WITH me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad!" (Matthew 12:30)
THAT is the "line in the sand!"
On the "final day," all will be judged by whether they stood on the side of Jesus or not!

The commandment of God to surrender to Jesus as Lord brings "life everlasting!"

Have you OBEYED that commandment?

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.