John chapter 12 has so much in it. As I read the Word, I remember that these are all real people at a real time, doing real things. Don’t forget to check out the other entries this week on this chapter…go here
Mary anoints Jesus (12:1-8)
Marys offering of an expensive oil, was probably her life savings…she gave HIM everything, even at the cost of being unrightfully judged by Judas. Jesus responded in “Leave her alone”. This was a time when there was little regard for women, so it wouldn’t have been a necessary thing for HIM to defend what she had done. HIS point was choosing the better. Being HIM as the better. How often do we really give HIM everything? Yes we should, but in all honesty…really.. do you?
Pharisees plan to kill Lazarus (12:9-19)
Still amazed…Lazarus is raised from the dead, the people are thrilled, and believing in Jesus. The Pharisees (the teachers of the Holy Writ) are looking to keep their own life..full of authority, and a higher place than the rest, sooo “lets kill Lazarus”. Didn’t their Law also say ..THou shalt not kill?
Jesus tells of his own death (12:20-36)
Jesus speaks of HIS own death to the disciples, but all they can see is the Glory that is happening, I really don’t think they got it…how could they? Jesus was speaking of something yet to come, and it didn’t actually fit with what was happening at that time.
Truimphal Entry/Isaiahs prophesy fullfilled (12:37-43)
Jesus riding on a colt, exactly like Isaiah said it would happen. The Pharisees also new this, yet to keep their positions of authority they still planned for Jesus death.
Jesus summary of HIS mission (12: 44-50)
Jesus mission was to come and die to save the world (not judge, HIS words will judge), but not to stay dead. yet another thing that I am sure the disciples did not understand..Jesus gave them warning. I just wonder if at the time of HIS death although fear over took them, if they pondered these things HE said…just thinking out loud.
Verses that jumped out at me..(Holman Christian Standard)
25The one who loves his life will lose it,£ and the one who hates£ his life£ in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant£ also will be.£ If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor£ him.
31Now is the judgment of this world.£ Now the ruler of this world£ will be cast out.£ 32As for Me, if I am lifted up£ from the earth I will draw all ëpeopleû to Myself.”
35Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become sons of light.”
44Then Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in Me£ believes not in Me, but in Him who sent Me. 45And the one who sees Me sees Him£ who sent Me. 46I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness. 47If anyone hears My words and doesn’t keep£ them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world£ but to save the world.£ 48The one who rejects Me£ and doesn’t accept My sayings has this as his judge:£ the word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.£ 49For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father£ Himself who sent Me has given Me a command as to what I should say and what I should speak. 50I know that His command is eternal life.£ So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”£
ponderings of a princess... 
“32 As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to Myself.”
This one of the ‘all men’ verses used to assert that everyone, without exception, are ‘drawn’ to the Cross of Christ in the same way and that a ‘free will decision’ determines their salvation. John 6: 37,44,65 teach that all who are drawn to the Son by the Father WILL come to the son.
If ALL men in 12:32 meant every person, without exception, they ALL would come, and ALL would be saved. Therfore, we can use other scripture to find the true meaning of ALL in v. 32. Revelation 5:9 is an excellent verse to clarigy the issue:
“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
Dan- agree, and will get back to this…but I need to go back to work now.. Peace!
Dan- when I am doing an outreach, I give the Gospel message…thus lifting Jesus up (or thats my prayer), and does everyone respond positively? no but those who God is pulling towards HIM do. So I never know who will respond, but putting the Gospel out is what it is all about. I am not disagreeing with you, I am saying that the non-believer needs to hear the Gospel and not me telling them some of you are chosen and some are not…I was told that i was not chosen by some very “meaning well calvinists” yes I was raised Calvinist…and although God pulled my heart, I fought HIM every inch of the way..why? because I was told that I could not have been chosen. So I leave the elect vs free will alone, and I let God work those things out. Because I believe although HE has chosen, we still have free will to refuse HIM, I know this I did it for 20 years, and they were the worst 20 years.
Hope you understand what I am saying, love the knowlege, love the dig…and although mostly believers comment here, my email is bulging some days with non-believers who want to know a little more about this Jesus I love. And that is what I am here for, to honor and glorify my King, and to let HIM be God in a heart, and not me so much. Peace bro, thanks for your input
Darla, You are absolutely right! Ours is to proclaim and let God do His work. We have no idea who are the elect of God and it hurts to hear you were told you were not. No man has that right. I would agree we have free will, according to the inclination of our hearts.The problem with our hearts is that they are are not inclined to God until He regenerates and ‘draws’, as you have said. I like to refer to the human will that has become, by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, as ‘freed will’. I hope that makes sense.
John 6:44 taught me that one……many blessings as you continue to share the precious Gospel!
Thank you Dan
Wow, Darla. Comprehensive post.
I love that clear Word spoken. What hit me most is that the judgment won’t happen until the last day. We are so quick to judge and yet He says He won’t judge til then…the only One who can.
Thanks.
Sometimes the Word just has to be the Word.. And you just have to let Him be the Word.
Love ya sis.
Wow – you really filled this one up this week! So much there! I love what you’ve pulled out. And your heart … so beautiful.
The mission of Jesus – wasn’t the primary mission of Jesus to secure the salvation for the ones given to Him by the Father? John 6:37 – those the Father would draw to the Son? John 6:44 – to die for our sins? 1 Cor 15:1-5
Jesus saying in verse 47 here speaks primarily of His first coming as a Savior, but He WILL come the second time to judge.
Dan- yes HE will, and HE will judge by the words HE has spoken…mmmmm makes a person want to make sure they know what HE said, and then apply 😉
Darla: You are so right when you say that these are real people, living real lives. How often we forget those that first heard His words. This goes back to a basic law of Biblica interpretation, the Word cannot mean to us, what it never would have meant to its original hearers.
For a verse by verse study of John 12 and other books in the Bible visit http://www.cfcindia.com/web/mainpages/verse_by_verse.php?book=vbv_john by Zac Poonen