Lesson #23

JOHN 12
Lesson #23
PASSION WEEK BEGINS

• Memory verse: John 12:26

• In John 12 we begin with the incident of a woman anointing Jesus. This incident is also mentioned in the other three gospels. However, there are some differences in the accounts.
• The accounts in Mat 26:6-13 and Mar 14:3-9 and Joh 12 seem to be the same event near the end of His ministry.
• The account in Luk 7:36-50 occurs in a different location and much earlier in His ministry.
• Therefore, there were two separate events where two different women anointed Jesus.

• Read Joh 12:1-11 The anointing for burial
• Six days before His last Passover when He was crucified, Jesus went to Bethany to stay with his friends during Passover week.
• John tells us the identity of this woman who anointed him. She is Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, three of His closest friends.
• The location of this event is in the house of Simon the Leper in the town of Bethany, about 2 miles from Jerusalem.
• Simon had also been healed by Jesus.
• In this passage we see the character of four people who are close to Jesus, and how they expressed their feelings for Jesus. Each one different from the others.
• Martha
• Martha loved to serve and had a gift for hospitality. She expressed her love for Jesus through this gift of serving.
• Lazarus
• He loved to simply spend time in the Lord’s presence as a friend, side by side. The phrasing of the text indicates this meal was in honor of Jesus for having raised Lazarus from the dead.
• Mary
• Mary was comfortable at Jesus’ feet. She had a sympathetic nature. No sacrifice was too great to make to express love for Jesus.
• Judas
• He was in charge of the purse for Jesus and the disciples. He had a mercenary nature and resented Mary’s extravagance. He did not have feelings for the poor. That was only an excuse to get his hands on the money.

• “…bare what was put therein.”

(6)

• This phrase indicates that Judas was a thief and stole money from the group’s treasury. However, Jesus never did anything about it.
• The anointing:
• It is difficult for us to conceive of the value of this act, for we do not count oriental perfumes among our family treasures. To use a full pound in such a manner was unheard of even for a wealthy family. The value of this perfume amounted to a year’s wages for an average working man.
• This perfume from India was often used for investment purposes and to anoint kings.
• What did Mary have in mind when she performed this act?
• Mary simply expressed her tremendous love, her gratitude for raising Lazarus from the dead, and worship for her Messiah.
• We can learn much from Mary’s act, for Jesus said that she would be remembered wherever the gospel was preached. (Mat 26:13)
• Worship that is pleasing to God is sacrificial, sincere, transparent, directed, and unashamed.
• Many people who go to church feel inhibited about displaying any kind of emotion for the Lord, but feel no such inhibitions at sport’s events.
• What meaning did Jesus give to this event?
• Jesus used this event to further indicate his coming crucifixion that was just days away.
• She anoints his body for burial 6 days before his death.
• According to Jewish custom a body had to be prepared for burial with perfumes and spices. Because of the timing of the Passover and Jesus’ hasty burial, his body was not completely prepared in this way. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea did hastily wrap his body with a mixture of myrrh and aloe. (Joh 19:39)
• From this account, we see that Jesus knew every detail of his death and burial. He knew there would be no time for this important aspect of Jewish culture after his crucifixion. He, therefore, attributes Mary’s actions to a pre-burial anointing.
• A Biblical attitude toward the poor:
• What was Jesus’ attitude toward the poor?
• Jesus had concern and compassion for the poor, but He also had a realistic view of life in this fallen world. There would always be poor people and many opportunities to help them.
• The Bible teaches compassion for the poor from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Compassion is based on God’s unconditional love.
• A godly perspective takes into consideration that poverty is not the worst thing that can happen to a person. Sin is the worst thing. Poverty is temporal, but the results of sin are eternal
• Notice the growing opposition, not only against Jesus’ life, but against Lazarus’ life, as well. (10)
• Summary:
• What do we learn about humility?
• Self-sacrifice is a form of humility. Only when service and worship to Christ costs us something, is it of great value to God.
• What do we learn about worship?
• True worship comes from a pure heart of love for Christ without considering the cost.

• Read Joh 12:12-19 Passion Week—the Triumphal Entry—Sunday (Mat 21:1-11 Mar 11:1-11 Luk 19:29-44)
• John’s description of the triumphal entry is the shortest account in the four gospels.
• John specifically tells us why the crowd is so enthusiastic to respond to Jesus the way they did and tried to make Him their king. (18)
• The people have heard about the raising of Lazarus. Therefore, there is great anticipation when Jesus comes to Jerusalem for the Passover.
• John relates the events to prophecies in the Old Testament.

THE PARALLELS OF THE PASSOVER PREPARATION

THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION	JESUS FULFILLMENT OF THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION
The Passover lamb was brought from the Mount of Olives through the Ester Gate into the temple by the high priest (Sunday)	Jesus rode a donkey from the Mount of Olives through the Eastern Gate into the temple (Palm Sunday)
The Passover lamb was tied in the courtyard of the temple for examination of perfection by the priests (Sunday to Wednesday)	Jesus comes to the temple for 4 days being questioned and examined by the priests (Sunday to Wednesday)

• Besides the fact that the road from Bethany to Jerusalem was lined with date palms, the waving of palms is significant.
• The palm is one of the ancient symbols for the nation of Israel when they stood up for the Lord and were fruitful.
• It was a usual occurrence to wave palm branches when the priest brought the Passover lamb from the Mount of Olives to the temple.
• The people cried, “Hosanna”, which means = deliver now or save now.
• Read Psa 118:19-29
• What is the difference between Joh 12:13 and Psa 118:25, 26?
• The king of Israel is mentioned in John. This tells us what the people had in mind. They wanted a king to deliver them from the political bondage of Rome.
• “…Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

(14)

• This was a common phrase of praise that was sung for the entrance of the Passover lamb into the city. This phrase echoes Psa 113-118, Psalms that were used during the Passover celebrations.
• Why did Jesus ride a donkey instead of a horse?
• Kings proudly entering a city in triumphal procession, rode horses.
• Jesus comes in humility. He did not come the first time to declare himself as King. He will proclaim his kingship at the second coming when He rides a white horse. (Rev 19:11)
• Jesus rode a donkey to fulfill prophecy.
• Read Zec 9:9
• This verse is a combination of the first coming of the Messiah and the second coming mixed together.
• Salvation is at the first coming.
• Kingship and justice are at the second coming.
• John gives an indication of various points of fulfilled prophecy, of which Zec 9:9 is only one.
• The fact of the triumphal entry is itself a fulfillment of prophecy. (Psa 8:2)
• There are some 196 prophecies of the first coming of Jesus Christ and 333 prophecies of the first and the second coming of Christ.
• For one person to fulfill all these prophecies, staggers the math.
• There is the probability of 1 chance in 840 with 97 zeroes after it.
• “These things understood not his disciples at the first:…”

(16)

• The disciples did not understand the significance of the triumphal entry and the fulfillment of all the prophecies of Passover week until after the resurrection of Christ.
• We can easily relate to this for we can better understand in retrospect God’s working in our lives than we can at the moment.
• Summary:
• What do we learn about omniscience (the knowledge of all things)?
• Jesus knew He was fulfilling every detail of prophecy.
• What do we learn about people’s hearts?
• Humans are emotional and fickle and easily persuaded by group influence.
• Humans make decisions based on selfish motives.
• What do we learn about the concept of the Messiah?
• The Jewish concept of the Messiah was very ego-centric and earthly.
• They looked for a Messiah who would free Israel from Roman authority and power.
• They paid attention to the prophecies that spoke of a Messiah King but ignored the prophecies that spoke of a suffering Messiah Servant.
• In fact, they did not see how one person could fulfill both aspects of the Messiah.
• As a result, they looked for two Messiahs:
• One they called Ben-Joseph = the Suffering Servant Messiah.
• One they called Ben-David = the Reigning Messiah King.

• Read Joh 12:20-36 The contrast of belief and unbelief

• “And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast.”

(20)

• These people are probably Gentile proselytes who seek Jesus.
• These verses contrast with those who reject Christ at the end of the chapter.
• Verses 20-22 Gentiles seek Jesus.
• Verses 23-50 Jews reject Jesus.
• “…The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified..”

(23)

• Through the first part of the gospel of John, Jesus frequently said His hour had not yet come.
• Now we see that His hour of crucifixion and resurrection is come. Finally He is in the last week of His physical life on earth, and He knows it.
• “…Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit..”

(24)

• An important Biblical principle:
• Out of death comes life.
• From agriculture Jesus gives us this important principle that we can easily see in this physical world. However, the principle is true in the spiritual world as well.
• In the physical world, a plant dies, humans die, but life continues in the seed of the next generation.
• In the spiritual world, Jesus refers to His own death. When He said, “it abideth alone”, He was talking about how He must bear the sin of the world alone. From that death on the cross, He was resurrected to new life. Like the grain, He would not stay in the ground, but He would raise to new life. With His resurrection, He produces much fruit to bring life to all believers…new life in the world now and new life eternally in the future.
• Jesus expands the principle to the Christian:

• “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

(25)

• When the body dies and is buried, it will be resurrected to life one day. (1Cor 15:36, 42-44)
• The believer who puts aside his own desires and dies to them to serve the Lord, will find eternal life with Christ.
• To put into practice this principle of death and life is the meaning of discipleship. (26)
• What do we learn about discipleship?
• We must die to our own will, our own planes, our own desires to serve the Lord. As we serve Him in this way, we produce much fruit, and He gives us eternal life.
• Jesus’ anguish begins. (27)
• The hour of his crucifixion and resurrection is coming. Jesus knows the tremendous burden ahead of Him. He must bear the sins of all the world, not just the sins of believers, but the sins of non-believers, as well.
• His humanity cries out to be saved from this heavy burden.
• His deity understands that this is why He came into the world.
• What do we learn about glorification of the Father?
• Jesus’ death on the cross would glorify God.
• Read Isa 53:10
• Notice in this passage is the Biblical principle of death and life.
• Notice that the crucifixion pleased God, the Father, not because God is cruel to crucify His Son, but because of the fruit it would produce.
• Self sacrifice glorifies God. Jesus proved it, and so can we.
• The voice from heaven: (29)
• The voice of God, the Father, spoke from heaven as He did twice before. God spoke when Jesus was baptized (Mat 3:13-17). God spoke at the transfiguration of Jesus (Mat 17:1-13).
• There were three times in Jesus’ ministry when He spoke from heaven, once at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, once in the middle of His ministry, and here at the end of Jesus’ ministry. All three times relate to Jesus’ death on the cross.
• #1= Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River. (Mat 3:13-17)
• #2= Jesus’ transfiguration (Luk 9:30-31)
• #3= after Jesus’ triumphal entry and before the crucifixion (Joh 12:28-29)

• “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

(28)

• Many of the people around Jesus did not understand the words but heard it as a powerful sound. John, the author of this gospel understood the words spoken.
• God had glorified His name through Jesus and would continue to do so through the crucifixion and resurrection
• God’s purpose was to encourage His Son in the anguish of the days ahead.
• God’s primary purpose was to announce judgment on Satan. (31)
• “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”

(31)

• If the prince of this world, Satan, was cast out at the crucifixion, why do we still have him around now?
• “Judgment of this world” refers to the judgment of sin in this sinful world that God judged when He put all the sins of the world on Jesus Christ at the crucifixion.
• “Judgment of this world” also refers to the judgment on Satan, the god of this world (2Cor 4:4), the prince of darkness, whom God judged at Calvary.
• Satan was defeated at the cross. His power over death was broken. Because of the cross, life is possible. Therefore, the crucifixion and resurrection were the beginning of casting Satan from this world. This action will be completed at the second coming of Christ when Satan will be bound for 1000 years and finally cast into the lake of fire after the 1000 years. (Rev 20:10)
• “…if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

(32)

• Jesus was speaking of His crucifixion, rather than death by stoning, though many thought He meant that He would be lifted up to a position of a reigning king.
• How do we know which He actually meant?
• John, writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us that Jesus meant the crucifixion. (33)
• John made the connection earlier in the gospel.
• Read Joh 3:14
• The crucifixion is illustrated by type in Num 21.
• Read Num 21:8-9
• “While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.”

(36)

• Jesus refers back to Joh 8 where He said that He was the light of the world.
• What do we learn about spiritual darkness?
• It is impossible to walk in spiritual light without Jesus Christ in your life. Therefore, everything else is spiritual darkness.
• Darkness and light are frequently contrasted in scripture to represent evil and good.

Darkness		Light
It represents hopelessness	Isa 9:2	It represents hope
An inability to see the light	Joh 1:4-5, 9	An ability to enlighten the world
The power of Satan	Act 26:18	The power of God
The works of evil	Rom 13:12-13	The works of good
The heart’s natural condition	2Cor 4:6	The new condition of the heart through Jesus Christ
Fruitless deeds	Eph 5:8-11	The source of all that is good and true
The spiritual forces of evil	Eph 6:12-13	The armor of God
Bondage under the powers of Satan in Satan’s kingdom	Col 1:12-14	Forgiveness and redemption in the kingdom of God
It cannot exist in the presence of God	1Joh 1:5,7	It is the characteristic of God’s presence
A temporary condition in this world	1Joh 2:8-11	An eternal condition
Exemplified by hatred	1Joh 2:8-11	Exemplified by love

• Read Joh 12:37-50 A review of Jesus’ public ministry
• Quotations for Isaiah:
• John, the author of the gospel, ties the rejection of the Jews to prophecies from Isaiah.
• What does the passage teach about the purpose of miracles?
• Read Isa 6:10
• This Old Testament prophecy speaks of Israel’s spiritual blindness that would come.
• Read Isa 53:1
• This passage is also quoted by Paul in Rom 10:16.
• This passage comes from the chapter in Isaiah concerning the prophecy of the crucifixion.
• Summary:
• What do we learn about belief and unbelief?
• Belief is an individual choice.
• Belief must be wholehearted and not expedient (42-43)
• Otherwise, it is unbelief. This is the worst kind of unbelief in that it is a clear-sighted refusal of Christ and the truth.
• Belief in Jesus is belief in God, the Father. (44)
• Belief puts one into the light of truth.
• Unbelief brings judgment, not at the first coming of Christ, but at the second coming.
• What do you learn about the hardness of the heart?
• Every person decides whether to believe or not. If a person will not believe, God eventually hardens the heart so that he cannot believe.
• Scripture gives us examples of hardened hearts in Exo 9:12 Rom 1:24-28 and 2The 2:9-12.
• What do we learn about judgment?
• Unbelievers will be judged by Jesus’ words. (48)
• To respond to Jesus’ words is to respond to God. To receive Jesus is to receive God. To reject Jesus is to reject God, for which one will pay in the final judgment.

HOMEWORK
John 13
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of Joh 12
• How would you compare your depth of love for the Lord compared to Mary’s demonstration of love?
• How would you compare your depth of discipleship in light of the biblical principle of death and life?
• Preparation for Joh 13
• Read the corresponding scriptures in Mat 26:17-30 Mar 14:12-26 Luk 22:7-30
• Read Joh 13:1-17
• What does verse 10 mean?
• What is the central truth that Jesus is teaching in this section of scripture?
• Read Joh 13:18-30
• What do verses 18 and 19 mean?
• What do you learn about Judas?
• What do you learn about Jesus?
• Read Joh 13:31-38
• What is the test of true discipleship?
• Memory verse: John 13:34