John 12
Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany
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.”
Before we even look at the words of Jesus, let’s see the words of Judas, and the words about Judas. We’ve known that he was the one who would betray Jesus, but here we also read that he was ‘a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it‘ – with this in mind, we see another possible reason why he questioned Mary’s extravagant action.
Well, above the obvious, anyway. Ever since my visit to Dubai I’ve discovered and enjoyed the value of a good scent. I followed the example of my good brother from another mother in whose home I stayed in along with his family: 5 spritzes of the cologne I eventually bought for myself, and he was good. Now, I tried that same stunt here where I live, and sure, I got attention… but sometimes I was told that it was a bit much, and I assumed it had a more negative effect; Imagine the impact, therefore, of an entire pound of ointment in the room where Jesus, Mary, and the disciples were!
Thing is, Judas (or anyone else, for that matter) could have reacted by saying the smell was strong, or it was just too much to place in one area – however, the one who would eventually betray Jesus chose to remark, instead, on how expensive all of that ointment cost, and even going as far as to play financial advisor and saying that the money she used could have been given to the poor instead (and, perhaps, he was referring to himself).
When we have our own interests in mind, not only do they meddle with our own understanding, but, as we see here, it’s pretty easy for others to read.
Now Jesus rebuked Judas. By Jesus’ choice of words, and by other digital sources of Scripture I was reminded – First, that nard, or spikenard was one of the herbs(?) used to prepare a body for burial. Clearly, there was much more that Mary was aware of, certainly more than Judas had in mind: She (probably bought) and brought that much to prepare His body (or maybe it was left over from Lazarus’ ‘botched’ burial?), while he was fixated on just the cost; Second, she may very well have been aware of what Jesus meant when He said, ‘you do not always have me‘.
According to commentary, Mary’s act of preparing Jesus’ body was an indication that she had an idea of how things were going to turn out – I’m assuming that she knew, at the very least, that Jesus was very close to dying, and this was the only time she had to prepare Him, even if He was still alive. The same commentary would also have us consider that her wiping the costly ointment on the feet of Jesus was her act of devotion towards Him, defying all conventions of decency and financial sense… again, because she may very well have known that He was not going to be with them for long.
I suppose now that we know how the story panned out, that this sort of detail isn’t as important as the rest of the chapter. However, I am reminded of how we bring ourselves to worship, and even our choice of words in prayer.
What I mean is, some of the words are technically stating the obvious. We sing of how we are ‘nothing without Christ’, even if we know that His finished work absolutely guarantees that we will never be without Him. We’re quicker to say thanks to God for ‘never leaving us’, more than ‘always being with us’. That sort of thing. Now, at the time, Mary didn’t know the story, but look at how she worshipped Him – it was like one last extravagant hurrah because she thought she would never have the chance to see Him again.
There’s something here. It’s not just stating the obvious, but it’s a perspective that stirs up gratitude – a perspective we were fully aware of, especially considering how we really were absolutely nothing before Christ, and how we were hopeless on our own. Judas didn’t see beyond the bag of money.
I guess my point in all this is that when we’re too tied up with the concerns of the world (and trust me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we’ll know when that happens, more than Judas knew), we would do best to take a step back, a step away, and remember the death and darkness we were once in… if only to remember what we believe in, WHO we believe in: Jesus, the Life and the Light we have (and will never not have), now and forever.
The Plot to Kill Lazarus
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.
Again, just as in the case of Judas, people would go so far to protect their own interests. Judas went as far as to betray Jesus – and in this case, the chief priests were willing to kill Lazarus again, if only to keep their fellow Jews from ‘going away and believing in Jesus.‘ Now that I think of it – is it that people would go so far to protect their own interests, or do they do what they do to destroy any threats to them?
Well, apparently they were going to get a whole lot more intimidated…
The Triumphal Entry
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.
Scenes and words from the triumphal entry of Jesus show us even more perspectives of devotion, and maybe even indications of what we ought to mean when we say that we believe in Jesus Christ.
The crowd proclaimed that He is the King of Israel – an indication that they had a good idea of who this Man was, and the power He had.
The crowd acknowledged Christ as blessed, and that He came ‘in the name of the Lord‘ – they’ve seen and/or heard of all He has done, going so far as to proclaim, off of these observations, that He came in the name of the Lord.
The crowd prepared the path ahead, waving palms and laying them before His path – They support the beast on whom He rode, and more importantly, they clean and beautify the path He is taking.
Belief is more than knowing Christ’s attributes, collecting data on His actions, and treating Him as a piece of data – it is appreciating His identity, acknowledging His integrity, and trusting His intention.
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
Seeing the overwhelming response of the crowd, the Pharisees, who just a couple verses earlier, sought to kill Lazarus to keep people from believing Jesus… Well, I imagined they tossed their hands to the heavens in abandon. But see, here’s something else. Could it be possible that they also had an idea of who Jesus was, what He did, and even that He had the best of intentions and purposes – and still prioritized their own interests, and still called Him a threat?
I’m not putting them in line with the devils in James 2:19, but could it be possible that we could say that even they believed… and they trembled? Do we see a difference here – between a suppression of works prioritizing our own interests, and a belief unto faith that has us taking out coats off and laying them on the street, crying out that that Man – that Man who’s just there riding on a donkey like any other traveller – is the Son of God and the Messiah?
Are we seeing a collective lesson so far in these verses from John 12: A demonstration of how faith without works is dead?
Some Greeks Seek Jesus
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.
Some Greeks – Gentiles, to the Jews – ‘went up to worship at the feast‘; I’m assuming they at the very least had an idea of the triumphal entry of Jesus, and now they wanted to come closer, to see Him. Eventually when word came to Jesus about them, He responded:
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.
Jesus mentioned the example of the grain of wheat for those he answered to visualize what it means for the Son of Man to be glorified. For us in the New Covenant reading this, we understand that if Christ did not fall into the earth (or, if He was not born as One of us), and if, while in the earth, did not die, then He is as the seed that ‘remains alone‘; And though we’re left to interpret what this means, He brings us to focus on what He will do: That is, to die, and as the seed, to bear much fruit.
It is in this context that we should be reading the next two verses: keep your life and lose it – that is, remain alone, or lay down your life and keep it – that is, to bear much fruit, or to be glorified.
He then follows by saying to anyone that serves Him, to follow Him – that where He goes, so the one who serves – the servant – goes as well. The Father will honor those who serve Him.
Before I go any further, I’m curious – why did Jesus say all this as a response to the news that some Greeks came to see Him? They went up ‘to worship at the feast’. Now, ‘Worship’ in the Greek is proskuneō – pros-koo-neh’-o ; to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand; to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): – worship; Could all this mean that they wanted to see Jesus to pay homage, do reverence to Him, and to adore Him – thus, prompting such a response regarding servitude from Him?
I would have us consider that Jesus was referring to Himself in verses 23, 24 AND 25, versus a good number of people who would have us ‘hating our life’, implying that verse 25 was for us. I’m not implying that Jesus was the One who was ‘hating’ His life in this world either. I read it as a setup for verse 26, which is for both the Jews Philip and Andrew, as well as the Greeks, and, really for everyone else in the crowd: If you assume to serve Him, then follow Him – Follow Him in losing His life, and falling into the earth and dying… and just as the Son shall bear fruit and be glorified, so you will be honored by the Father.
It’s one of two things, really: The Son of Man shall be glorified, and those who wish to serve Him must lay down their own lives with Him… or, we take heed of what Christ said according to Matthew 20:28 and then in Mark 10:45:
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
See, that’s the thing – it’s only the Son of Man who can give His life as a ransom for many. You can say you serve Him, even unto death, but you’re just going to die and be honored.
The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up
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.”
The Son of Man was to be glorified, but He was fully aware that He had to lose His life. As to why His soul was troubled, well, He was aware that He could ask His Father to save Him from doing exactly that, and yet He knew that He came to suffer, and to lay down His life. He knew was born to die.
To this He says, in what I imagine for myself is similar abandon – ‘Father, glorify Your name‘; In the same manner as He prayed in Gethsemane – ‘Not My will, but Your will be done‘; so He says, ‘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.”
Really quick, before we move on. I love the words of the Voice from heaven (who I am assuming is our Father)… they just project something that I’ve always been considering: That just as our God is timeless and boundless, eternal and infinite, so His Words, His Revelations (and, as we’ve written recently, His salvation, His healing, His provision)… and here, so His glory is also timeless, boundless, eternal and infinite, fulfilled and being fulfilled, yet also final and forever, complete and absolute.
Here is a rare, contemporary account of the infinite directly communicating to the finite… and, as we expect, it’s something that we’re perpetually unprepared to take in. John called it a voice from heaven. A good number of the crowd (‘that stood there‘ – in awe, perhaps?) said that this voice ‘had thundered‘… and still others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.
To clarify things, Jesus sets the record straight and tells the speculating crowd – the voice was for you to hear, and not for my sake. In other words, in spite of all their consequent speculation, the voice was for them to hear, and they were supposed to hear what He said. They were supposed to take in that this Father whom Jesus spoke to was incomprehensibly real, but real nonetheless – and, in light of His laments regarding His purpose and eventual glorification (His death and His resurrection), this Father’s name has been glorified, and, indeed, He shall glorify it again.
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.”
This is a wonderful proclamation that we really should be sharing more, especially considering our propensity to talk about the Endtimes and the increasing darkness: Consider what we now know at this time, and how the crucified Christ shall literally be lifted up from the earth – hoisted up just as the bronze serpent on the pole was lifted in the wilderness by Moses – and how the Pharisees, travellers, John, Mary, the Romans, and even the two other crucified criminals were drawn to Him.
Consider also that when the Son of Man has been glorified – that is, when He has been buried, and then ‘lifted up from the earth‘ by way of His resurrection: Not only do we say that our complete salvation has been guaranteed, but also: That the world has already been judged, and the ruler of this world has already been cast out.
This is what we believe. This is what is implied when we confess Jesus with our mouths and believe in our hearts that He rose from the dead (Romans 10:9): That when He rose from the dead, not only have we been completely saved, but that the world has been judged, and the ruler of this world, even as early as then, has been cast out.
To think that this salvation has held true for our brothers and sisters who have come to believe, for hundreds of years, up until today, and for hundreds of years more, until the end of time..
To think that today’s chaotic, miserable world will only get even worse, because ever since then, it has been condemned…
And to think that the ruler of the world, the enemy of our souls, persists for the same said period, knowing he has already been cast out…
Well, I suppose we’d say the same thing, in faith – Father, glorify Your name. This is what our living faith stirs up to do, first and foremost.
The Unbelief of the People
When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.
42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
The goodness and glory of God leads to repentance… or so we want it to be. Unfortunately, though the Christ had spoken to His people – from all walks of life, from all levels of intelligence, and even coming from other nations; with stern or sweet, ultimately gracious words coming from a loving heart, or in the form of signs demonstrating absolute authority beyond knowledge and power – ‘they could not believe‘.
I suppose it’s one of two things – You can behold His identity and appreciate His integrity with your eyes, and you can believe in His good and righteous intentions with your heart, and in so doing, let faith arise, that you would cry out in worship that precedes natural works, in words in the tune of Christ’s own: ‘Father, glorify Your name!‘
Or, you would allow your eyes to continue to be blinded that you refuse to see His glory, and your heart hardened, that you refuse to take in His grace and goodness.
But then again, this is us going back to Romans 9-10 – for we read a slight nuance that could change our perspective in the words of Isaiah – that is, that it was God who blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, just as Paul mentioned that it was also God who hardened Pharaoh’s heart in the times covered by the book of Exodus.
With all that in mind, I do recall that when we did talk about those difficult chapters in Romans, we came to the conclusion that, again, God is not to be understood, more than He is to be trusted.
We could only understand so much about why God chooses to harden hearts, but we ought to trust that according to His wisdom and power, and according to His everlasting love for us, it will all work out for the good of the body of Christ.
Besides, we sort of know why the Pharisees’ hearts were hardened. On top of the constant ‘reasons’ we’ve established in the past days (for the body of Christ, when people say ‘everything happens for a reason’) – (1) He makes all things new, (2) For the works of God to be displayed, (3) For the glory of Christ, and (4) Again, for the good of the body of Christ – we also read that it was for the Gospel to be received first by the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy, that they would eventually also receive the Messiah.
So whether we’re on the fence regarding the ‘status’ of our own belief, or if there are certain mindsets we’re having trouble unlearning, or if there are any struggles we have regarding our faith, let’s just keep focusing on Christ, and give thanks. After all, again, we have a God who ought to be more trusted that figured out, and He loves us with an everlasting love – much so, that, again, we respond naturally by crying out: ‘Father, glorify Your name!‘
Jesus Came to Save the World
44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words 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 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
And in conclusion, my beloved brothers and sisters – We give thanks and praise to God, for as Messiah navigated through the recent resurrection of Lazarus, and the approach of the Greeks who wanted to worship, and the questions of the crowd regarding who the Son of Man is; As Messiah navigated through the contentions of the Pharisees, entering the gates of Jerusalem in such a humble yet overwhelmingly powerful manner… We… pause.
We pause, in remembrance of the Pharisees with their hardened hearts, who, in a momentary lapse of arrogance, beheld the futility of their efforts, spoke to each other, saying ‘You/We are gaining nothing.‘
We pause also, in simple awe of the fact and Truth – that through all these confrontations and ultimately taxing situations, the Christ proclaims in the end of the chapter, as He proclaimed earlier: I am the Light. Walk with the Light. Believe in the Light, and believe in Him who sent Me. He speaks His commandment through Me, and His commandment is eternal life.
Indeed, we see the light, unburdened, in all its full magnificence, understanding that even as the darkness may seem to grow, it doesn’t stop the light, and the Light from shining all the more brighter. And what can we say as we behold the infinite and eternal impact of Christ and His efforts?
Father, glorify Your name!
We have John 13 and John 14 to go… God, give me wisdom. Make me fast and accurate.
Until the next post, May our Father bless us all!
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