‏ John 12

Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany

This section describes the events that took place six days before the Passover, when Jesus came to Bethany. It highlights the actions of Mary, the sister of Lazarus, and the reaction of Judas Iscariot. The passage shows Mary's act of devotion and Jesus’ explanation of its significance, as well as the growing opposition from the chief priests.

v. 1: Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived. This was the same Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead (John 11:43-44 ^a). The timing is significant, as it places this event just before the final week of Jesus’ life, leading up to his crucifixion.

v. 2: At Bethany, a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served the meal, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Jesus. This shows the close friendship between Jesus and this family and reminds us of their gratitude for what Jesus had done for Lazarus.

v. 3: Mary took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard and anointed Jesus’ feet. She wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance. Mary’s action was an act of deep love and devotion. Using such costly perfume showed she valued Jesus above all her possessions. Wiping his feet with her hair was a sign of humility and reverence.

v. 4: Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples, who was about to betray Jesus, objected to Mary’s action. He asked why the ointment was not sold and the money given to the poor. Judas did not say this because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and used to steal from the money bag (John 12:4-6 ^b). This shows both his greed and hypocrisy.

v. 5: Jesus defended Mary, telling Judas and the others to leave her alone. He explained that Mary had kept the ointment for the day of his burial. Jesus said that they would always have the poor with them, but they would not always have him (John 12:7-8 ^c). This does not mean Jesus did not care for the poor, but that he wanted them to understand the importance of honoring him at this special time.

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v. 9: A large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was in Bethany. They came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. The miracle had made a great impression on the people, and many were curious to see Lazarus for themselves.

v. 10-11: The chief priests planned to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus, because many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus because of him. This shows the hardness of their hearts—they wanted to destroy even the evidence of Jesus’ power rather than believe in him.

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The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

This section describes Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. It shows how the crowds welcomed him as king, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy. It also reveals that the disciples did not understand the meaning of these events at first, but later saw their significance. The excitement of the people points to Jesus as the Messiah, but the leaders are troubled by his popularity.

v. 12: The next day, a great crowd that had come for the Passover heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. The city was full of people gathering for the festival, and there was much talk about Jesus because of his miracles, especially the raising of Lazarus (John 11:43-44 ^d).

v. 13: The people took palm branches and went out to meet Jesus. They shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (Psalm 118:25-26 ^e). The palm branches and the words they shouted showed they saw Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Savior sent by God.

v. 14-15: Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt.” (Zechariah 9:9 ^f). By riding a donkey, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy and showed that he is the humble King of peace, not a warrior king.

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v. 16: At first, the disciples did not understand these things. Only after Jesus was glorified did they remember that these things had been written about him and had happened to him. This shows that sometimes God’s plan is not clear to us right away, but we can understand it better later.

v. 17-18: The crowd that had been with Jesus when he called Lazarus from the tomb kept telling others about this miracle. Many people went out to meet Jesus because they heard he had done this sign. The excitement was spreading, and many were believing in him.

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v. 19: The Pharisees said to each other, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” The leaders saw that they could not stop the crowds from following Jesus. They were frustrated because so many people were believing in him.

Some Greeks Seek Jesus

This section tells how some Greeks wanted to meet Jesus during the Passover festival. It marks a turning point, showing that Jesus’ message is for all people, not just the Jews. Jesus uses their request as an opportunity to teach about his coming death, what it means to follow him, and the judgment of the world.

v. 20-22: Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to worship at the feast wanted to see Jesus. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him to arrange a meeting with Jesus. Philip told Andrew, and together they went and told Jesus. This shows that people from other nations were interested in Jesus, and that his message was beginning to reach beyond just the Jews.

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v. 23: Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (John 12:23 ^g) This means that the time was near for Jesus to die, rise again, and return to his Father. His death would bring about his glory, not just for himself, but for all who would believe in him.

v. 24: Jesus said, “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.” (John 12:24 ^h) He was teaching that his death was necessary so that many people could be saved. Just as a seed must be buried and die to grow and produce more seeds, Jesus would give his life so that many others could have life.

v. 25: Jesus explained that anyone who loves his life will lose it, but anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25 ⁱ) He was saying that true followers must be willing to give up their own desires and even their lives for his sake. Those who live only for themselves will lose what really matters, but those who give up their lives for Jesus will find true, everlasting life.

v. 26: Jesus said, “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.” (John 12:26 ^j) This means that Jesus’ followers must walk in his footsteps, even if it means suffering or sacrifice. But God promises to honor those who serve and follow Jesus.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Is Glorified

In this section, Jesus speaks openly about His coming suffering and death. He reveals His inner struggle, prays for God’s glory, and receives an answer from heaven. He explains that His death will bring judgment on the world and draw people to Himself. The crowd is confused, but Jesus urges them to respond while they still have the light.

v. 27: Jesus is deeply troubled as He faces the thought of His approaching death. He says, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour” (John 12:27 ^k). Jesus honestly expresses His human fear and distress, but He also shows His willingness to go through suffering because it is why He came into the world.

v. 27-28: Jesus was troubled about his coming suffering but prayed, “Father, glorify your name.” God answered with a voice from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” (John 12:27-28 ^l) Jesus’ main concern was to honor God, even though it meant going through great pain. God’s voice showed approval of what Jesus was about to do.

v. 28: Jesus prays, “Father, glorify your name.” God answers with a voice from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again” (John 12:28 ^m). This shows that Jesus’ greatest desire is to honor God, even above His own comfort. The voice from heaven assures Jesus and those listening that God is pleased with Jesus and will continue to show His glory through Him.

v. 29: The crowd who heard the voice are confused. Some think it thundered; others say an angel spoke to Him. They do not understand the heavenly message, but it is clear that something supernatural has happened.

v. 30: Jesus tells them, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.” He means that the sign is given to help the people believe and recognize God’s work through Him.

v. 31: Jesus declares, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out” (John 12:31 ⁿ). His death on the cross will defeat Satan’s power and begin the final judgment on the evil in the world.

v. 31-32: Jesus said, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:31-32 ^o) Jesus’ death on the cross would defeat Satan and open the way for people from every nation to come to God.

v. 32: Jesus adds, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 ^p). “Lifted up” means His crucifixion. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus will bring people from every nation to Himself.

v. 33: Jesus said this to show what kind of death he was going to die—being “lifted up” meant being crucified. The Gospel explains that Jesus said this to show by what kind of death He was going to die—being lifted up on the cross.

v. 34: The crowd questioned Jesus, saying that they had always heard that the Messiah would remain forever. They did not understand how he could say he must be “lifted up” and die. They asked, “Who is this Son of Man?” The crowd questions Jesus, reminding Him that the law says the Christ will remain forever. They cannot understand how He can say He will die, and they ask, “Who is this Son of Man?” They did not realize that the Messiah would suffer and die before entering into His glory (Isaiah 53:3-5 ^q).

v. 35-36: Jesus answered, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.” He urged them to believe in him while they still had the chance, so they could become “sons of light.” After saying this, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

v. 35: Jesus answers, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you” (John 12:35 ^r). He urges them to believe in Him while He is still with them, because soon He will be gone, and they will lose the opportunity to follow the true light.

v. 36: Jesus continues, “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light” (John 12:36 ^s). After saying these things, Jesus departs and hides Himself from the crowd. He calls them to faith one more time, but then withdraws, showing that the time of opportunity does not last forever.

The Unbelief of the People

This section describes how, even though Jesus did many miracles, most people still refused to believe in him. This unbelief was sad, but it was not unexpected. The Old Testament prophets, especially Isaiah, had already foretold that many would reject the Messiah. Their prophecy showed that this rejection would both fulfill Scripture and reveal the hardness of people’s hearts.

v. 37: Even though Jesus had performed many miracles in front of the people, they still did not believe in him. These miracles were clear proof of his power and authority. The miracles were many and public, not hidden, giving everyone a chance to see and believe (Matthew 21:14 ^t).

v. 38: This unbelief fulfilled what the prophet Isaiah had said: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1 ^u). The gospel message was shared, but most did not accept it. Only a few truly believed. The problem was not the lack of evidence, but the hardness of their hearts.

v. 39-40: It is also said that “they could not believe,” because Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them” (Isaiah 6:9-10 ^v). This means that because many people continually rejected God’s message, God allowed them to become spiritually blind and hard-hearted. God’s judgment sometimes comes in the form of giving people over to their stubborn choices (Jeremiah 13:23; Acts 13:40 ^w).

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v. 41: The apostle John explains that Isaiah said these things because he saw the glory of Jesus and spoke about him. The vision of God’s glory in Isaiah’s day pointed forward to the glory of Christ. This shows that Jesus shares the same divine glory as the Father, and that unbelief, though sad, was part of God’s plan and prophecy (Isaiah 6:1 ^x).

The Cowardice of the Rulers

This section describes how some of the Jewish rulers secretly believed in Jesus but were afraid to say so openly. They struggled between their faith in Christ and their fear of losing the respect and approval of others. Their example shows us how the desire for human praise can keep people from fully following God.

v. 42: Some rulers believed in Jesus and accepted that he was sent by God. However, they did not confess their faith because they were afraid of the Pharisees and did not want to lose their place in the synagogue. This shows that it is possible to have faith in the heart, but lack the courage to show it openly. Sometimes, there are more true believers than we realize, but their faith is hidden because of fear or weakness. God knows those who are his, even if people do not always show it (Romans 10:9 ^y).

v. 43: The reason these rulers did not confess Jesus was that they loved the praise of people more than the praise of God. They were afraid of losing their reputation and social position among the Jewish leaders. This desire for human approval can be a powerful enemy to true faith. When we care more about what people think than what God thinks, we may miss out on pleasing God and on the praise that comes from him (Romans 1:25; Romans 2:29 ^z).

Christ's Last Discourse with the Jews

This section records Jesus' final public message to the Jewish people. It is a summary and farewell, delivered with seriousness and passion. Jesus wanted everyone to listen, understand, and choose wisely. He reminded people of the importance of believing in him, the blessings for believers, and the dangers of unbelief. This was his last public teaching before turning to private instruction with his disciples.

v. 44–45: Jesus cried out loudly to make sure everyone heard him. He said, "Whoever believes in me does not believe only in me, but in the one who sent me. Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me." (John 12:44-45 ^aa). If you believe in Jesus, you are also believing in God the Father. Jesus is not just a man; he is the Son of God, equal with the Father. Faith in Jesus brings us close to God. By knowing Jesus, we come to know God, because God shows himself to us through Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:6; Hebrews 1:3 ^ab).

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v. 46: Jesus said, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." (John 12:46 ^ac). Jesus came to bring light to people who were living in darkness. If we trust in him, we do not stay lost or without hope. Believers are no longer trapped in the darkness of sin or ignorance. Even if they face hard times, Jesus gives them hope and a way out of darkness (John 3:19 ^ad).

v. 47–48: Jesus continued, "If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge them. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day." (John 12:47-48 ^ae). Jesus showed patience to those who did not believe him. He did not punish them right away, because his first goal was to save people. But those who hear his words and reject them will face judgment in the future. On the last day, Jesus’ words will be the standard by which everyone is judged (Hebrews 2:3; Matthew 26:64 ^af). There is no middle ground; people are either for Jesus or against him.

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v. 49: Jesus explained, "For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken." . Jesus did not act or speak on his own. Everything he said was given to him by God the Father. He was like an ambassador, faithfully sharing God’s message with the world (John 7:16 ^ag). Unlike the prophets, who sometimes spoke their own thoughts, Jesus always spoke by the Spirit, exactly as God wanted.

v. 50: Finally, Jesus said, "I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say." (John 12:50 ^ah). Jesus knew that his message was about eternal life. He spoke with confidence, knowing that those who believe and obey will have everlasting life (1 John 5:11; John 17:2 ^ai). Rejecting Jesus’ words means rejecting life itself. Jesus was perfectly obedient to God, and we should also trust and obey his words. By doing this, we honor him and receive the life he promises.