The Gospel According to
John 12
50 verses≈ 8 min4 peopleBSB
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In this chapter
Mary Anoints Jesus
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
Six days before the Passover
Jesus had withdrawn to Ephraim near the wilderness. Now He came back to Bethany, “the hometown of Lazarus,” on the far slope of the Mount of Olives. The next day He would ride the short road over the hill into Jerusalem.
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Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.
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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
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Then 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.
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,
Judas Iscariot
“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
Judas 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.
Jesus
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.
you will not always have Me
John 12:8
The Plot to Kill Lazarus
Meanwhile 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.
So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.
Reflect
Poured out
Mary gave Jesus something costly, and “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” Judas saw only waste. Jesus said, “Leave her alone.” What is the most precious thing you could pour out for Jesus? What holds you back from giving it?
The Triumphal Entry
The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
They 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!”
Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written:
See, your King is coming
John 12:15
At 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.
Meanwhile, many people who had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. That is also why the crowd went out to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
The Pharisees
Then 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
But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Truly, 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.
Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
where I am, My servant will be as well
John 12:26
Now 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. Father, glorify Your name!”
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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again
John 12:28
The crowds
The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered.
The crowds
Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.
In response, Jesus said, “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours. Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
will draw everyone to Myself
John 12:32
He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.
The crowds
The 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?”
Then 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. While 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.
Question
Quick question
At the feast, some visitors came looking for Jesus and found one of His disciples first.
Who came to Philip and said, ‘Sir, we want to see Jesus’?
Belief and Unbelief
Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.
Lord, who has believed our message?
John 12:38
For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says:
“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so that they cannot see with their eyes,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn,
and I would heal them.”
Isaiah saw His glory
Whiteboard
John joins two passages of Isaiah. One is the suffering Servant who would be lifted up. The other is Isaiah’s vision of the Lord on His high throne. John says both were about Jesus: the prophet saw His glory, centuries before.
Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him.
Nevertheless, 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.
they loved praise from men more than praise from God
John 12:43
Pray
Out of the darkness
Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.” Some believed but kept quiet, because they “loved praise from men more than praise from God.” Ask Jesus for the courage to walk openly in His light, and thank Him that His Father’s word “leads to eternal life.”
You’ve experienced
John 12
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A verse to carry with you
Truly, 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.
John 12:24
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