John 12

The adulation is a bit ironic, because it’s not too long after this that a crowd shouts, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Mary stands in contrast to that. Her worship and adoration are sincere. She takes a costly possession and offers it completely and totally to Jesus. In addition, she performs a servant’s duty by using that perfume to wash Jesus’ feet, and then she dries His feet with her hair (3). Judas complains about the cost because he is a thief and Jesus rebukes Him (6). Mary has done even better than she knew (7). It was normal to “embalm” a body after death; she has done it beforehand.

The Pharisees are a bit bloodthirsty here! They not only want to kill Jesus, but Lazarus too (10). They also see the crowds hailing Jesus as He comes to the Passover, and they worry that His popularity has already grown too much (19). As Jesus enters Jerusalem the people shout the language of Psalm 118:25-26, and the whole episode is actually a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9. It all happens because word has gotten out about Lazarus (18). Their zeal has guaranteed His death, but it’s all a part of God’s plan.

Word has gotten out, and even non-Jews want to hear from Jesus! Jesus uses this opportunity to share the need for His upcoming death (23-24). Only His death can produce life. Those who want to live must give their lives over to Him in service, and the Father will honor them (25-26). Although the thought of what to come is extremely distressing, Jesus is going through with it, knowing it will glorify the Father (27-28). The Father speaks to Him, and everybody hears it, but only some understand (28-29). Jesus tells them that the Father has spoken for their benefit. They need to believe! Satan’s plans will be defeated, because the Son of Man will be lifted up (on the cross), and He will draw people to Him through His sacrifice (30-33).

The crowd seems to have some inkling that Jesus is talking about His death, but they don’t understand since they expect the Messiah to live forever (34):

2 Samuel 7:13 (WEB) “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

Jesus cautions them to believe in the light while there is still time (35-36)! Many, however, refuse to believe, as had been foretold by the prophet Isaiah (37-41). Jesus withdrawing from them seems to be a sign of God’s judgment (36). Some however, had believed, but didn’t want anybody to know, because they feared man more than God (42-43)!

Jesus ends His public ministry by reminding us that He is the light that brings eternal life (44-50). We must believe in Him to have a relationship with God. If we don’t believe He doesn’t judge us, but the words that He spoke will, since He spoke the words of God. In order for us to have eternal life we need to accept His words, believe in His name, and obey the truth!

Thought for the day: This isn’t the first time a donkey is mentioned with reference to the coming Messiah!

Genesis 49:10-11 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people. Binding his donkey to the vine, and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes.”