Study on the Gospel of John Chapter 12

Jesus had been saying, “it is not my time yet.” And now, the time had come. (23) Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

From chapter 12 John recorded Jesus’ actions on the Holy Week. Mary anointed Jesus with the expensive perfume unwittingly preparing his burial. Next day, Palm Sunday, Jesus entered into Jerusalem and, as old testament predicted, people called out “Hosanna” - “save us now.” The Jews’ leader hated more as the praising crowd getting larger and as his time was coming; the time of glory yet agony as his (27) soul troubled.

Outline and Exposition

Mary Anoints Jesus (1-11)

(1) Six days before the Passover: this most likely was the previous Saturday with Passover coming six days later on Thursday evening through sunset Friday.

(3) nard: the name of both a plant and the fragrant oil it yielded.

(5) denarii: a day's wage for a laborer

given to the poor: it was a Jewish custom to give gifts to the poor on the evening of Passover (c.f. 13:29)

(6) thief: he must been thought to be a man of some reliability, for he was keeper of the money bag

(7) keep: probably the meaning is “save for this purpose.” Perfume was normally associated with festivity, but it was also used in burials, and Jesus links it with his burial, which Mary's act unwittingly anticipates.

(8) For the poor you always have with you: Jesus was not to tell neglecting the poor but to tell how precious he is. And Mary showed that.

(10) So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well: now they wanted another death; sin grows.

• (Jas 1:15) Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

The Triumphal Entry (12-19)

(12) The next day: now it’s 5 days before Passover (see vv 1)

the large crowd: pilgrims who had gathered for the Passover Feast. Many of the pilgrims had doubtless seen and heard Jesus in Galilee, and they welcomed the opportunity to proclaim him as the Messiah.

(13) branches of palm: they were used in celebration of victory.

• (Rev 7:9) After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands

(14) donkey: humble and peace entry (not conquering in force, i.e., political)

as it is written: (Zen 9:9) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

(15) daughter of Zion: a personification of Jerusalem

• (2 Kings 19:9) This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him: “She despises you, she scorns you— the virgin daughter of Zion;
she wags her head behind you— the daughter of Jerusalem.

(16) did not understand:

• (16:13) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Jesus Predicts His Death (20 - 36)

(23) The hour has come: the hour to which everything else led - crucifixion and resurrection; see 2:4

(24) if it dies, it bears much fruit: the principle of life through death is seen in the plant world. The kernel must perish as a kernel if there is to be a plant.

(27) my soul troubled: not in anticipation of physical suffering but God’s righteous wrath on sins in which Jesus died for;

application (1) my prayer - to carry on His will, please give me the strength; to glorify Him, (2) seriousness of sin: we value God, Jesus, peace with Him, and salvation; as a response we surrender our life to Him

(28) Jesus’ prayer was not for deliverance but for the Father to be glorified and it was answered

(30) for your sake: otherwise the voice didn’t have to be heard to others

(31) the judgment of this world: the cross was God’s judgement on the world

the ruler of this world: Satan. The cross would seem to be his triumph; in fact, it was his defeat. Out of it would flow the greatest good ever to come to the world.

(32) lifted up: Jesus refers here first of all to his crucifixion (v 33),

• (3:14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up

But he most likely refers also to his resurrection and ascension into heaven to reign at God’s right hand (vv 32, 34, 41)

all people: Christ will draw people to himself without regard for nationality, ethnic affiliation or status. It is significant that Greek Gentiles were present on this occasion (vv 20).

(34) the Law: here seems to mean OT scripture in general; Ps 89:30-37, 110:4; Isa 9:7

(35) The light: closely identified with Jesus, as seen from the call to believer in the light

• (1:4) In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 
• (8:12) “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The Unbelief vs. Jesus’ Cry Out for Faith (37- 50)

(37) God’s ancient people should have responded when God sent his Messiah. They should have seen the significance of the sights he did. Here we can also observed God’s love toward Israel people; with His patient He had given plenty of chances (sings, voices …).

• (1:11) He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

(38) Isa 53:1

(39) could not believe: does not mean that the people in question had no choice. They purposely rejected God and chose evil, and v. 40 explains that God in turn brought on them a judicial blinding of eyes and hardening of hearts.

(40) Isa 6:10

With their unbelief (God hardened), Jesus, God, still cried out for their repentance … We can find patience of God with Noah (120 years of warning before the judgment with flooding), Pharaoh (9 plagues before death of every first born son), ~350 years before destruction of Israel kingdoms by Babylon, Jesus (Son of God himself) 1st come but Israel’s rejection, and today over 2000 years before 2nd coming (final judgement). He is patient and merciful but His mercy won’t be given forever - need to take it when it’s given

The section (44-50) is the summery of Jesus’ public teaching which contains major Christian’s theologies; principle of trinity, salvation by believing Jesus, and his 2nd coming (judgement). Also it was the final cry to Israel to repent and believe.

(46) I have come into the world: points to both Jesus’ preexistence and his mission

(47) judge: not the purpose of Jesus’ coming, but judgment is the other side of salvation. It is not the purpose of the sun’s shining to cast shadows, but when the sun shines, shadows are inevitable. (48) will judge him on the last day

(49) the Father … given me a commandment: Jesus’ hearers have a great responsibility. His “word” is that which the Father commanded him to say. To reject it, therefore, is to reject God.

Topical

Mary’s Devotion

Since ointment was very expensive, Mary’s act of devotion was costly. It was also an unusual act, both because she poured the oil on Jesus’ feet (normally it was poured on the head) and because she used her hair to wipe them (a respectable woman did not unbind her hair in public). Further, it showed her humility, for it was a servant’s work to attend to the feet and her love for him.

And other Gospels (Mt 26:8, Mk 14:4,) recorded that, over her action, not only Judas but also other disciples criticized; probably Judas said first and encouraged others to follow; sins blind to see God and His glory (see vv 40).

Other disciples didn’t know how valuable Jesus is as much as Mary did which shows Mary’s devotion/faith to the Lord was more even over those twelve key disciples.

Another incident recorded In Luke 10:38-42, Mary knew what is more important and she chose to listen and learn from the direct wisdom of Jesus over worrying about preparing meals. Jesus complimented her, “Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Mary knew who Jesus (God, Savior and Lord) is and reacted on/valued him as he deserves; we Christians should have same appreciations; or even more, since we have full revelation (through the Bible including NT) than Mary had.

• (Mt 13:44) The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Hosanna

A Hebrew expression meaning “Save” or “Save us now” and it expresses both prayer and praise.

• (Jer 31:7) “O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.”

Here, the Hebrew for “save” is the basis of “Hosanna,” the cry of the people of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

In Luke, the Pharisees asked Jesus to quite the crown and his answer was, (Lk 19:40) “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Though the crowd shouted “Hosanna” their crying was for political reason (salvation from Roman’s rule, as we can see that the same crowd called out for “crucifixion” several days later), Luke recorded more Jesus’ compassion over Israel’s unbelief and, as a result, coming destruction.

• (Lk 19:41) And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it

Regardless, God’s plan of salvation from sins of the world was being carried on at His time; for the time of His glory with Son’s obedience and His resurrection.

Hates His Life

(25) whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life: to love one’s life here and now - to concentrate on one’s own success - is to lose what matters. Supremely, of course, the principle is seen in the cross of Jesus.

hates: love for God must be such that all other loves are, by comparison, hatred —

Paul’s confession, (Phi 3:8) For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

On the contrast, Jews (43) loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God: their faith was so weak that they refused to take any position that would threaten their position in the synagogue. This is one of the saddest statements about spiritual leadership, for they preferred the praises of men above the praises of God in their refusal to publicly acknowledge Jesus as Messiah and Son of God.

• (Lk 9:26) For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

We must follow Jesus’ example;

• (Mt 16:24) If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Then, will keep it for eternal life.

Jesus’ Glory

(41) his glory (NIV) Jesus’ glory: Isaiah spoke primarily of the glory of God

• (Isa 6:3) “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

John spoke of the glory of Jesus and made no back distinction between the two, attesting Jesus’ oneness with God.

• (Heb 1:6, 10) And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God's angels worship him.” (10) “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;

The thought of glory here is complex. There is the idea of majesty and there is also the idea (which meant so much to John) that Jesus’ death on the cross and his subsequent resurrection and exaltation show his real glory. Isaiah foresaw the rejection of Christ, as the passages quoted show. He spoke of the Messiah both in the words about blind eyes and hard hearts, on the one hand, and about healing, on the other. This is the cross and this is glory, for the cross and resurrection and exaltation portray both suffering and healing rejection and triumph, humiliation and glory.

References

• 2002 NIV Study Bible (Zondervan)
• John MacArthur Study Bible
• https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12&version=ESV
• http://kcm.co.kr/bible/kor/Joh12.html
• https://biblehub.com/john/12-1.htm
• https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-meaning-of-hosanna-in-the-bible.html