John 12

Pilgrims from throughout Israel began arriving in Jerusalem the week before the Passover. The festival was on Thursday that year. Jesus arrived in the area late on the previous Friday, just before the Sabbath.

• In this part of John’s Gospel, two stories move forward at the same time.

  First, more and more people begin to praise Jesus. Their excitement reaches a high point when crowds welcome him into Jerusalem with shouts of joy (12:12–13).

  Second, the religious authorities become more determined to arrest Jesus and put him to death. As public support grows, their opposition grows as well.

• John's Gospel describes three events that happened only days before Passover (12:1–11, 12–19, 20–36). Then he explains why most of the people refused to believe and describes the final public message spoken by Jesus (12:37–50).

those reclining: People usually sat or leaned back at a low table while eating.

• Mary … anointed Jesus' feet. This was not awkward because Jews reclined at formal meals, but it was still a dramatic gesture (compare Matthew 26:6–16; Mark 14:3–9).

• Nard was a valuable spice from North India. It was sweet, red, and smelled like the perfume made from the gladiola plant. Twelve ounces of nard cost one year's wages (John 12:5).

  According to Mark's Gospel, Mary also anointed the head of Jesus (Mark 14:3). The perfume ran down and made his clothes smell good (Mark 14:8).

• her hair: Women never took their hair covering off in public (see Luke 7:38). Mary was acting with deep and costly devotion.

three hundred denarii: Judas may have been exaggerating, but Mary’s sacrifice was certainly very costly.

Leave her alone: Jesus defended Mary by explaining her actions. The nard was a burial spice for his death. Jesus was readied for burial as he approached the hour of glorification and death (see study note on 12:23).

Jesus would not ignore the poor. He cared deeply for people in need.

However, this moment to honor and serve him was unique. It was a special opportunity that would not happen again.

• The next day was Sunday (see 12:1).

• A large crowd of religious travelers, many from Galilee, camped in this area. As Jesus traveled the road to Jerusalem, they cheered for him. This triumphal entry appears in all four Gospels (Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:29–38).

• Palm branches: The date palm symbolized pride in the Jewish nation and celebration.

• meet Him: The Greek word often describes crowds welcoming a king returning in triumph from a war.

• Blessed is He: The crowd quoted Psalm 118:25–26, with a greeting for those who came to Jerusalem.

  The phrase "Blessed is the King of Israel!" is not in the psalm (but see Zephaniah 3:15). Although the people saw Jesus as a national political liberator, he rejected this role (John 6:15).

By choosing a young donkey instead of a warhorse, Jesus calmed the excited crowd that was eager for him to become king. He also fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah (see Zechariah 9:9). He made it clear that his kingship was not based on violence. He did not come as a warrior to conquer nations. He came to give life. His rule would bring peace, not military victory.

The crowds did not fully understand who Jesus was. Even his disciples did not grasp the full meaning of what was happening. They saw the events, but they did not yet understand their true significance (their deeper meaning).

After Jesus was glorified (raised up in death, resurrection, and return to the Father), things changed. When the disciples received the Holy Spirit, they began to understand more clearly (see 2:22).

This scene describes the highest point of the popularity of Jesus. At this time, large crowds followed him. Many people were excited about his teaching and his miracles.

the whole world (literally the world): The Pharisees' words were more meaningful than they realized. Jesus came to reach the world (3:17), and the Pharisees said that Jesus had accomplished his task.

Among those people attracted to Jesus were some Greeks who believed in Israel's God. They had come to the Passover feast to worship (12:19). The mission of Jesus was not only for Israel but for the entire world (10:16; 11:52). After the resurrection of Jesus, the church's mission was to go beyond Judea to Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8).

The Greeks approached Philip because he had a Greek name and was most likely also Greek.

Jesus often said that the hour had not yet come (2:4; 7:30; 8:20), but now it had. The arrival of the Greeks marked the beginning of the most important moment in the ministry of Jesus. This was the time of his glorification.

This happened when the saving work of Jesus on the cross was completed. He rose from the dead, gave the Holy Spirit, and returned to his place of glory in heaven (19:30; 20:1–31; 20:22; 17:5, 11).

The connection with the Greeks who had come to Jerusalem was important (12:20). The public ministry of Jesus among the Jews was coming to an end. His mission was not limited to one nation. Through his death and resurrection, he would belong to the whole world.

The central event of the glorification of Jesus was the cross (12:23). Like a kernel of wheat planted in the soil, the death of Jesus would bring abundant life.

For disciples (followers of Jesus), sacrifice and self-effacement (choosing not to put oneself first) are part of this path. They do not lose life by following Jesus. Instead, they gain the fullness of life that comes through his sacrifice.

Those who renounce (turn away from) the world’s priorities will be with Jesus forever. God will honor those who serve his Son. In this way, the path of humble obedience leads to eternal life and honor.

My soul is troubled: John used the same term (Greek tarassō) to describe the strong emotion of agony that Jesus felt when he stood before Lazarus’s tomb (11:33; also 13:21).

When Jesus faced his coming death, he was not without emotion. He did not act as if nothing troubled him. He experienced real anguish (deep sorrow and distress). Even in his distress, Jesus remained obedient to the Father’s will. Throughout his ministry, he had said that he did only what the Father sent him to do (5:19–23; 6:37; 8:29, 38; 14:31).

• A voice came from heaven: Compare Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35.

• God had already brought glory to himself when Christ entered the world, and through the work of Jesus. This showed God's power to the world (John 1:14).

• I will glorify it again: The final display of glory would come at the cross (see 12:23; 17:1). In John's Gospel, the cross is an event of glory as Christ was "lifted up" and glorified there (12:32).

  Jesus was prepared for crucifixion like a king coming to his coronation. The cross was like a throne (see 19:19–22). They buried Jesus like a king.

• The time of his glorification included all the events from his arrest through his resurrection.

It was impossible for people to comprehend what was happening with Jesus, and many of his signs led to confusion and division in the crowd. Only later did his disciples understand (2:22; 12:16), when Jesus was glorified and the Spirit was given. Still, God’s voice symbolized his validation of his Son before the world.

• In John’s Gospel, judgment does not happen only on the final Judgment Day. It began when Jesus came into the world as the light (3:19; 5:24; 9:39).

• Satan is the prince of this world. Satan promotes darkness, leads people into sin, and spreads death. Although Satan’s final defeat is still future, his power was broken through the work of Jesus (see Luke 10:17–18; Mark 3:27).

  Now Christ reigns as king in heaven (Acts 7:55–56; Ephesians 1:19–22).

when I am lifted up from the earth (see 3:14; 8:28): The crowd did not understand what Jesus meant. The Greek verb can also mean "be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). Or, it can refer to honor (Luke 10:15). In John's Gospel, the cross was not a place of shame for Jesus, but where his true glory was shown.

• Many people in the time of Jesus believed that the Messiah would live forever and defeat his enemies. They expected a strong and victorious ruler.

  Because of this belief, the words Jesus spoke confused them.

• Who is this Son of Man?: The Jews did not understand what sort of Messiah planned to die.

• Jesus was the Light (1:4, 7–9; 3:19–21; 8:12). He urged the crowd to choose to believe in him before it was too late.

• They could become sons of the light by being spiritually born through God's power (1:12–13).

• was hidden from them: He first withdrew from Judea and then from this audience (11:54; 12:36). Soon, he would withdraw from the world (17:11).

Jesus finished his work, but they still did not believe in him. His sermons before the world were complete and the signs had been displayed, but he was rejected (1:11).

they were unable to believe: John quotes Isaiah 6:10 to explain Israel's lack of belief (see Matthew 13:13–15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:26–27). When God's revelation comes, we must believe. If we refuse, the light disappears (John 12:35–36). When God’s light departs, the darkness closes over unbelieving hearts. This means that continued rejection leads to deeper spiritual blindness.

The prophet Isaiah had seen the glory of the Messiah and how the world would respond (see Isaiah 6:10).

Many people did believe in Jesus. However, they were afraid to admit it in public.

They feared the reaction of the religious leaders and the social consequences that might follow.

To follow Jesus means more than private belief. It includes openly identifying with him and telling others about him, even when this may bring rejection (1:35–51; 4:1–42).

Jesus makes a final appeal for faith in him. These verses summarize chapters 1–12. The Father sent Jesus, who is the only source of his ministry. Jesus is the light shining in darkness to bring salvation and eternal life to all who believe in him.

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.