Mary Anoints Jesus
(Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50)
Two stories build simultaneously. A growing number of...
- Two stories build simultaneously. A growing number of people are praising Jesus (this climaxes in 12:12–13), and the authorities are increasingly determined to arrest him and put him to death.
- John records three events that occurred just days prior to Passover (12:1–11, 12–19, 20–36). Then he explains why most of the people refused to believe and details Jesus’ final public appeal (12:37–50).
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 2So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. 3Then Mary took about a pint† of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii† and the money given to the poor?” 6Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
7“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial. 8The poor you will always have with you,† but you will not always have Me.”
The Plot to Kill Lazarus
9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.
The Triumphal Entry
(Zechariah 9:9–13; Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–40)
12The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting:
“Hosanna!”†“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”†“Blessed is the King of Israel!”14Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written:
15“Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion.See, your King is coming,seated on the colt of a donkey.”†16At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.
This scene describes the apex of Jesus’ popularity.
This scene describes the apex of Jesus’ popularity.
17Meanwhile, many people who had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. 18That is also why the crowd went out to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
19Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”
Jesus Predicts His Death
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus.
23But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
27Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.
30In response, Jesus said, “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours.
The time for judging does not occur only...
- The time for judging does not occur only on Judgment Day; it began when the light penetrated the darkness and unmasked it (3:19; 5:24; 9:39).
- Satan, the ruler of this world, is the architect of darkness, corrupter of the world, and promoter of death. Although Satan’s final demise lies in the future, the work of Christ unraveled Satan’s domain (see Luke 10:17–18; Mark 3:27). Christ is now enthroned as ruler in heaven (Acts 7:55–56; Eph 1:19–22).
31Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
when I am lifted up from the earth...
when I am lifted up from the earth (see 3:14; 8:28): The crowd did not understand what Jesus meant. The Greek verb refers to being exalted (Matt 23:12) or honored (Luke 10:15). In John, the cross was not a place of shame and disgrace for Jesus, but the place where Jesus’ true glory was shown.
32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.” 33He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.
34The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever. So how can You say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”
35Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.
Belief and Unbelief
37Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message?And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”†
The people couldn’t believe: John quotes Isa 6:10...
The people couldn’t believe: John quotes Isa 6:10 to explain Israel’s unbelief (see Matt 13:13–15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:26–27). When revelation comes, we must believe. If we refuse, the light disappears (John 12:35–36). When God’s light departs from the world, the darkness closes over unbelieving hearts.
39For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says:
40“He has blinded their eyesand hardened their hearts,so that they cannot see with their eyes,and understand with their hearts,and turn,and I would heal them.”†41Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him.
Many people did believe in him, but they...
Many people did believe in him, but they wouldn’t admit it. To follow Jesus involves telling others about him despite the social consequences (1:35–51; 4:1–42).
42Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. 43For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
Jesus makes a final appeal for belief. These...
Jesus makes a final appeal for belief. These verses summarize chs 1–12. Jesus was sent by the Father, the sole source of his ministry. Jesus is the light shining in darkness to bring salvation and eternal life to all who believe in him.
44Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me. 45And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
47As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
The greatest error is for people to see...
The greatest error is for people to see the light and reject it, thinking it has no connection with the Father who sent the light.
49I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. 50And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”