AM April 27th John 12

April 27^th John 12

Mary’s devotion

1: Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2: There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3: Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4: Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5: Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6: This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7: Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8: For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. 9: Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10: But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; 11: Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

The Lord enters Jerusalem

12: On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13: Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14: And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15: Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. 16: These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. 17: The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. 18: For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. 19: The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

The Lord predicts his death

20: And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22: Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23: And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25: He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26: If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27: 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. 28: Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29: The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30: Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31: Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32: And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33: This he said, signifying what death he should die. 34: The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? 35: Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36: While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

People do not believe the Lord

37: But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39: Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40: He hath 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. 41: These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. 42: Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Faith in the Lord

44: Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45: And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. 46: I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47: And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48: He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49: For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50: And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Six days before the Passover on the Sabbath, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was. Martha served and Mary came and anointed Christ. Mary took a pound of very precious ointment to anoint the feet of Jesus she wiped it with her hair and the aroma of the ointment filled the house. Judas complained at the so called waste. He said it was worth nearly a year’s wages. (In 2010 about £17.000.) John records his thoughts about Judas. He says he didn’t care for the poor but was obsessed with money. Jesus told Judas to leave her alone. This wonderful act of worship was like a red rag to Judas. He was all take but Mary was all give. They could not understand each other. This act of worship is told wherever the Gospel is preached. The Lord and Mary carried the remnant of her worship for a long time. People came now not just to see Jesus but to look at Lazarus. The religious leaders plotted to murder Lazarus. On the following day Jesus entered into Jerusalem on the donkey. And the people gathered and cut palm branches for him to walk on. The Disciples didn’t understand all this. The Greeks were probably proselytes who attached themselves to Israel and they wanted to see Jesus. They approached Philip who told Andrew and together they came to Jesus. This Passover week was to be Christ’s hour when he would be glorified. Then he said, ‘Verily, verily, Truth, truth, unless a grain of wheat is buried it remains one grain but if it is buried, it produces much grain. Then he told of the contrary attitude of those who are blessed they think of the future life and their love for it is so great that this mortal life is like hatred in comparison. These people with experience resurrection to immortal life. Then he said if you want to be my servants then follow me in this. Then Christ confessed great trouble of soul over his future And he said what do l ask of the father do l ask to be delivered from this hour? This hour is by destiny. Then he cried, ‘Father, glorify thy name’. And his Father responded ‘I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again’. Some people who stood nearby only heard a rumble like thunder. Some said an angel spoke. Then Christ said, ‘now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out’. Christ was describing a momentous event. God himself was going to judge the world in the atoning sacrifice of his Son. And in the crucifixion Christ would draw all men unto him. This is not saying that all men will be saved what he is saying is that in the cross Christ was going to become to point of contact of men with God. Then the people were confused about what Christ had said. They understood that the Messiah would be eternal and they could not understand Christ’s reference to a cross. Christ said, ‘l am only here for a short while you are to live in the light that l bring’. Then Jesus departed to a secret place. The people did not believe in him inspite of all his signs. Isaiah the prophet was right in him prophecy when he said who will believe our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? And they were unable to believe because Isaiah also said, ‘God hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts so that they will not believe and be converted and Christ would heal them. Isaiah saw the glory of Christ when he said these things. However there were many among the chief rulers that did believe in him but they did not confess him openly because they were afraid of the excommunication of the Pharisees. They loved the praise of men rather than the praise of God. Christ again called upon Israel to believe in him. He outlined his whole message declaring himself to be the light of the world and the Saviour of men.

• How did Mary express her devotion to Christ.
• What did it mean for Christ to enter into Jerusalem?
• How do you feel about those who refused to believe in Christ and those who did?