Bible Commentaries
John 12

Verse 1

Joh 12:1

John 12:1

Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead.—The Passover began on the fourteenth day of the month of Abib or Nisan, the first month of the Jewish year. Six days before would be on the eighth day of the month. The most marked thing that had occurred at Bethany so far is that he raised Lazarus from the grave. The raising of Lazarus made him the most distinguished person in the vil­lage. [Bethany was the scene of the resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:44) and of Christ’s own ascension (Luke 24:50). These two great events gave the village its notoriety.]

Verses 1-11

Joh 12:1-11

Jesus Anointed at Bethany - John 12:1-11

Open It

1. *When have you indulged another person with an expensive gift?

2. How do you deal with the tension of helping people in need while enjoying your wealth and possessions?

Explore It

3. When did Jesus arrive in Bethany? (John 12:1)

4. *What was done in honor of Jesus in Bethany? (John 12:2)

5. What did Mary do to Jesus? (John 12:3)

6. *How did Judas respond to Mary’s act? (John 12:4-5)

7. What motivated Judas’s response to Mary’s act? (John 12:6)

8. *Why did Jesus say that Mary had anointed Him with perfume? (John 12:7)

9. What did Jesus say about the poor? (John 12:8)

10. Why did the large crowd come to Mary and Martha’s home? (John 12:9)

11. What did the chief priests plan to do? (John 12:10)

12. What motive did the chief priests have? (John 12:11)

Get It

13. How do you worship Jesus with your resources?

14. *What concern should we have for the poor among us?

15. In what way can we help those less fortunate than ourselves?

16. Why are there poor people?

17. *How do we selfishly use God’s resources for our own pleasure?

18. When have we masked our own selfishness with the appearance of concern for others?

Apply It

19. *How can you worship and honor God with your resources today?

20. How can you help someone less fortunate than yourself this week?

21. What impure motives do you need to confess to God and ask Him to purify?

Verse 2

Joh 12:2

John 12:2

So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him.—The supper was made on what we would call Saturday evening; but, according to their division of time, the beginning of the first day of the week, Saturday night, after six o’clock. It is not said that this supper was served at the house of Lazarus. Matthew 26:6-7 says that a feast was made for him at Bethany in the house of Simon the Leper, and that a woman poured on him an alabaster box of ointment. There has been diversity of opinion as to whether there were two occur­rences of this kind at Bethany the last week of his life. There is no means of definitely determining this question. There is no incompatibility in the idea that Martha with her talent for serving would serve at a feast at a neighbor’s house, or that Mary with her tender and earnest devotion should anoint his head, or that Lazarus should be a guest of honor at the table with Jesus who had raised him from the dead.

Verse 3

Joh 12:3

John 12:3

Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious,—The ointment was pure, costly, and of ex­quisite odor. [It was the most expensive anointing oil of that date.]

and anointed the feet of Jesus,—Matthew 26:7 and Mark 14:3 say that it was poured upon his head. Both head and feet and the exposed parts of the body were all anointed. To anoint him for his burial would suggest this.

and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.—John who alone tells who did the anointing says that the loving humility of Mary led her to anoint the feet and to wipe them with the hair of her head.

Verse 4

Joh 12:4

John 12:4

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples,—Judas was a lover of money, carried the purse kept by Jesus and his apos­tles, and, as with other men, it required evil surroundings to call the evil disposition into activity. His love of money now caused him to grumble at the wasteful expenditure of Mary.

that should betray him, saith,—When the prospects of Jesus grew darker still, and the evil passions were aroused, this evil spirit led him to betray his Lord.

Verse 5

Joh 12:5

John 12:5

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred shil­lings, and given to the poor?—Evil desires in men often clothe themselves under pretense of good. It is possible that Judas persuaded himself that he cared for the poor; but John, after seeing the full manifestation of his course, saw that he did not. It was selfish greed. [Judas, through his selfish motive, gives us an insight as to the worth of the ointment used by Mary in anointing Jesus. It was worth, according to his statement, around three hundred dollars. He was so narrow and covetous that he could see nothing in the gift but a “waste." He cared nothing for the poor. His plea was only a greedy pretext. It is a well-known fact to close observers that those who love Jesus most will do most for the poor.]

Verse 6

Joh 12:6

John 12:6

Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put therein.—He wished to get possession of the money and keep control of it. [Jesus and his disciples had a common treasury from which they drew money to defray their ex­penses. Judas was treasurer. He carried the money around with them in a “bag”—purse. Being a thief, he desired the ointment to be sold and the money turned into the treasury so that he could steal it. The fact that a few days later he sold his Lord and Master for about seventeen dollars shows his greed for money. But the Judases are not all dead. He is a good type of all those treasurers, cashiers, and managers of business institutions who steal trust funds and money en­trusted to them. He will have plenty of company at the resurrection and beyond the judgment, many like himself claiming to be very religious and friends of the poor.]

Verse 7

Joh 12:7

John 12:7

Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying.—Jesus reproved his complaint at her and told him that this was anointing him for his burial. Not that he expected to die then and be buried, but he knowing his end was near said it could serve as the anointing for his burial. [Judas virtually accused Mary of robbing the poor. So Jesus came forward in her defense and complimented her, saying she has anointed my body before death and prepared it for burial. This was the only anointing the body of Jesus re­ceived from the hands of his female friends since he arose from the grave before they reached the sepulchre with their spices. Mary did not know the full import of her act of love at the time she bestowed it.]

Verse 8

Joh 12:8

John 12:8

For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always.—Jesus knew that it was not care for the poor that moved Judas, so he told him that he could at all times help the poor, but these acts of kindness could not be always extended to him [for the reason he would shortly return to his Father, and what is done to my fleshly body must be done now.]

Verse 9

Joh 12:9

John 12:9

The common people therefore of the Jews learned that he was there:—Jews here refer to the inhabitants of Judea as distinguished from the Galileans. The twelve apostles were all Galileans save probably Judas. The Jews in a self- righteous way held aloof from Jesus, but he now by the miracles he had done wrought up the idea of making him their king and hence gave him that royal reception of a king.

and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.—His most noted miracle was raising Lazarus from the dead. He, as one who had been in the grave until the fourth day, was an object of curiosity to all.

Verse 10

Joh 12:10

John 12:10

But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death;—The presence of Lazarus alive was a continual reminder of the power of Jesus over death and the grave, and the chief priests, seeing this, felt the neces­sity of putting him out of the way. It is singular that they did not see that if Jesus had restored him to life once he could easily do it again, and their madness gives added testimony to the claims of Jesus to be the Christ the Son of God.

Verse 11

Joh 12:11

John 12:11

because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.—The sight of Lazarus alive after he had been four days in the grave was a striking proof of the claims of Jesus as the sent of God.

Verse 12

Joh 12:12

John 12:12

On the morrow a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,—[Josephus tells us that from two to three millions attended a passover. All four of the divine writers of the gospel give an account of his entry into Jerusalem. (See Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44).]

Verses 12-19

Joh 12:12-19

The Triumphal Entry - John 12:12-19

Open It

1. *How do people usually react when they meet a celebrity? Why?

2. Who are today’s religious celebrities?

Explore It

3. What had the crowd heard about Jesus? (John 12:12)

4. *How did the crowd greet Jesus when He arrived in Jerusalem? (John 12:13)

5. What title did the crowd ascribe to Jesus? (John 12:13)

6. What prophetic event took place? (John 12:14-15)

7. What had been written about this event? (John 12:15)

8. When did Jesus’ disciples realize the significance of these events? (John 12:16)

9. *What did the crowd that was with Jesus do when He raised Lazarus? (John 12:17)

10. *Why did many of the people go out to meet Jesus? (John 12:18)

11. How did the Pharisees react to this event? (John 12:19)

Get It

12. *What did you hear about Jesus that led you to seek Him?

13. How should Jesus be the ruler in our lives?

14. When are you reluctant to allow Jesus to take His rightful place as King in your life?

15. What area of your life is difficult for you to surrender to Christ’s authority?

16. How should we honor and worship Jesus as King?

17. *How should we spread the Word about Jesus?

Apply It

18. What specific area of your life do you need to submit more consistently to the authority of Jesus? How?

19. With whom do you need to share the good news about Jesus Christ? How can you?

20. *How will you honor and worship Jesus with your life today?

Verse 13

Joh 12:13

John 12:13

took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.—It had been the expectation of the Jews that a king would arise to deliver them from their bondage to the Roman Empire. The miracles and wonders wrought by Jesus drew their minds to him as the deliverer, so they work themselves into a state of enthusiasm over him as their king. They came out to Bethany to meet him, and they treated him as their coming king. They cast their garments in the way and when these did not suffice they cut the branches off the palm trees and cast them in the way that the king and even the ass on which he rode might not be defiled by walking upon the earth. [They literally carpeted the Master’s pathway with leaves of the palm trees. He is not seeking privacy now. He is now publicly forcing the issue.]

Verse 14

Joh 12:14

John 12:14

And Jesus, having found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,—It had been foretold that the king would come as here described. He came in fulfillment of these promises and was the King, but they misunderstood the nature of his kingdom, and when a few days later, the prospects of an earthly kingdom having vanished, it is likely that many of those who honored him as a King, joined them in the cry, “Crucify him, crucify him.”

Verse 15

Joh 12:15

John 12:15

Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.—He found the young ass, as related by Matthew 21:1-11 and Mark 11:1-9 and rode upon this ass to the city of Jerusalem as foretold by the prophet: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass.” (Zechariah 9:9).

Verse 16

Joh 12:16

John 12:16

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.—His disciples did not at this time understand that these things had been foretold of the Messiah by the prophets, but after he ascended to his Father, they remembered these things had been written concerning Christ and that they had been done as foretold.

Verse 17

Joh 12:17

John 12:17

The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, bare witness.—The raising of Lazarus and the fact that he was present in their midst kept it fresh in their minds, and many who were present and saw him come forth from the grave were now in Jerusalem and testified to the facts and so caused added honor to be bestowed on Jesus. [The mir­acle, raising Lazarus to life, had its effects on this great demonstration.]

Verse 18

Joh 12:18

John 12:18

For this cause also the multitude went and met him, for that they heard that he had done this sign.—On account of these witnesses, the interest of the people in Jesus was great­ly increased.

Verse 19

Joh 12:19

John 12:19

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye prevail nothing; lo, the world is gone after him.—These Pharisees were determined not to believe, and to such then as now added testimony excited wrath and bitterness rather than produced faith and repentance toward God. So in wrath they say the world is going after him. But they persist in a course that would have done them honor if they had been in a good cause. [These opposers had joined the Sanhedrin to put Jesus to death, and were astounded when they thought that practically the whole nation had gone over to him and demonstrated his popularity.]

Verse 20

Joh 12:20

John 12:20

Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast:—It has been a question of doubt as to who these Greeks were. The Jews dwelling in Greece were called Grecians. All the texts call them Greeks. They were proselyte Greeks most likely. As strangers they desired to see Jesus and came to Philip.

Verses 20-36

Joh 12:20-36

Jesus Predicts His Death - John 12:20-36

Open It

1. *Who or what in life encourages you to be self-centered?

2.When have you set aside your own needs temporarily to meet the needs of other people?

Explore It

3. What did the group of Greeks ask Philip? (John 12:20-22)

4. What did Jesus say had come? (John 12:23)

5. What did Jesus say about a kernel of wheat? (John 12:24)

6. *What did Jesus say about loving and hating life? (John 12:25)

7. What did Jesus say about the person who wants to serve Him? (John 12:26)

8. How did Jesus feel? (John 12:27)

9. What was Jesus’ attitude? (John 12:27)

10. *Why didn’t Jesus ask the Father to save Him? (John 12:27)

11. What did Jesus ask the Father to do? (John 12:28)

12. How did the crowd react to God’s voice? (John 12:29)

13. What time did Jesus say it was? (John 12:31)

14. *What did Jesus say would happen when He was lifted up? (John 12:32)

15. How did the crowd respond to Jesus’ words? (John 12:34)

16. In what way was Jesus’ audience running out of time? (John 12:35)

17. What did Jesus tell the crowd to do? (John 12:36)

Get It

18. *How do we love our own lives?

19. How does Jesus want us to hate our lives?

20. When and why is it difficult for you to serve and follow Jesus?

21. *What does it mean for us to "walk in the light"?

22. What tempts you to wander in the darkness rather than walk in the light?

23. What example has Jesus set for us to follow?

24. How can a group of people all have the same experience but interpret it differently?

Apply It

25. *What is one change you can make in your life to become more attentive to the needs of others over your own?

26. To whom can you be helpful today? How?

Verse 21

Joh 12:21

John 12:21

these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.—As strangers, and since isolated by their nationality, they desired to see Jesus, and sought the interview through Philip himself, a Grecian Jew, as his name indicates. He doubtless understood their language and was approachable on this ground. [“See” is used in the sense we desire a conversation with him. Surely they could see Jesus with the natural eye without any intervention with Philip.]

Verse 22

Joh 12:22

John 12:22

Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus.—[Andrew takes the lead. The request of these Greeks evidently assumed importance, for it is the occasion of a remarkable discourse. These men rep­resented the Gentile world in its unrest, its hopelessness, its deep yearning for some divine Redeemer, to lift the helpless race out of its imbecility and despair, and guide it into nobler life.]

Verse 23

Joh 12:23

John 12:23

And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.—Jesus tells them that the time of his glorification is now at hand. He calls himself usually the Son of man, leaving it to his teachings and works to declare him the Son of God. In a few instances when they were disposed to doubt, he called himself the Son of God. [The disciples had always had inadequate ideas of what his kingdom was to be, and the pathway through which it was to be reached. Doubtless their faces at once lit up with the radiance of expectation, that the time was close at hand for the high places of the kingdom to be distributed. But Jesus has a lesson for them they little expect. Glory is coming, through a pathway of which they would never have dreamed, a pathway of tears, and sorrow, and pain and death.]

Verse 24

Joh 12:24

John 12:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it

die, it beareth much fruit.—Preceding his glorification, his humiliation, his sufferings, his death, and his burial must come. Naturally must the humiliation precede the glorifica­tion, but his death and resurrection would result in bringing many into his service and so to eternal life. He compares himself to a grain of wheat. If the grain is not planted and does not die, it will remain alone. But if it die in the ground, it gives its life to the production of many seeds. So if he preserved his life, his disciples would not multiply; but if he died, out of his death would come a multitude of disciples. [A grain of wheat might lie on a hard, smooth, dry surface a long time and never be anything but a grain of wheat with large possibilities of fruitfulness within it; they would never be developed into realities. Falling into the ground, covered over, exposed to soil, and warmth, and moisture, the grain dies and decays; the germ within is released; it feeds upon the very decay of the enveloping grain, and lo, the plant; and not another grain, but thirty, sixty, a hundredfold. Life comes out of death and more abundantly. It is almost certain that even yet the disciples did not understand him, but it is equally evident, in the light of after events, that he meant to tell them that his glorification was to come through his death. From this the coming of the Greeks could not save him, but was valuable as a symbolic indication of how, in the end, he would draw all men unto him.]

Verse 25

Joh 12:25

John 12:25

He that loveth his life loseth it;—If Jesus had so loved this present life that he had refused to give it up, he would have gained no future life for others. He gives as a general truth of all beings that love this life so as not to sacrifice it to honor God and bless men could not gain the life that is eternal. [Indicating thus the joyousness with which he went forth to sacrifice in view of its results, he now proceeds to give the principle a general application to his disciples. A selfish love of life that keeps a man from duty only entails its ultimate loss.]

and he that hateth his life in this world—To hate this life is to be willing to surrender it, or to hold it in less esteem than the spiritual life in the future. [“Hates” it, only as its careful preservation interferes with duty; “hates” it, in this sense, that he will ever make it subordinate to high and holy aims, to generous devotion to the glory of God and the good of men.]

shall keep it unto life eternal.—[What seems to be its loss is only apparent. It never can be lost in that way.]

Verse 26

Joh 12:26

John 12:26

If any man serve me, let him follow me;—To follow Jesus is to do his will, to be actuated by the same principles that moved him. In living like him, we will be made like him in character and so will be fitted to dwell with him. [Follow me in the pathway of self-abnegation and self-sac­rifice to which I have already alluded.]

and where I am,—[The present tense used for the future. He would be with his Father in heaven.]

there shall also my servant be:—[Having followed me in self-sacrifice, he shall be with me in glory.]

if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.—As God honored his Son so will he honor all who serve his Son. [How little does modern Christendom realize the lesson of this passage! On what miserable foundations of self-indul­gence and self-saving are men building hope of glory and honor at God’s right hand, which can find a solid foundation only on self-denial and self-sacrifice.]

Verse 27

Joh 12:27

John 12:27

Now is my soul troubled;—[The full shadow of the awful experience through which he is so soon to pass falls across his pathway and overwhelms him with its darkness. The humanity shuddered with a horror that only proved its humanity, and brought into clearer relief the grandeur of its final victory over itself.]

and what shall I say?—What prayer shall I offer to my Father and with what words shall it be clothed? In anticipa­tion of the sufferings and death, he in his human feelings shrank back from it, and pondered whether he should ask God to save him from the sufferings that were before him.

Father, save me from this hour.—He now thought of his having come into the world to endure the very sufferings from which he now shrank so he did not make the prayer. [A footnote has the interrogative “hour”? Some think this to be the only form that can be reconciled with the character of Jesus, and the outcome of the struggle. Passing through the profound trouble of his soul, he soliloquizes in the pres­ence of those surrounding him: “Oh, what shall I do? Shall I yield to my human shrinking, and ask my Father to save me from this supreme hour which is approaching?”]

But for this cause came I unto this hour.—[All that has preceded, the incarnation, the life, the teachings, the miracles, leading up to this hour, were important because of their rela­tions to this hour. The atonement is the climax of all that has preceded.]

Verse 28

Joh 12:28

John 12:28

Father, glorify thy name.—Instead of praying for de­liverance from that hour, he prayed that God would do that which would promote his glory regardless of the suffering of himself. This was equivalent to the prayer, “Not my will, but thine be done.” (Luke 22:42). [The struggle is over. This is the victor’s cry. Glorify thy name! No matter what it costs me, no matter through what pathway it leads me, no matter what self-denial or self-sacrifice it requires, yet glorify thy name through me!]

There came therefore a voice out of heaven, saying, I have both glorified it,—[Jesus had ever ascribed his mighty works to God, and, as the Father thus heard and answered his prayer, as so recently in the case of Lazarus, he glorified his own name in these displays of power.]

and will glorify it again.—God glorified himself in sending Jesus into the world to die for sinners. He would glorify it again in glorifying Jesus at his right hand as Lord of lords and King of kings. [This was to be accomplished in that wondrous series of events, culminating in the resurrection and ascension, upon whose threshold they now stood.]

Verse 29

Joh 12:29

John 12:29

The multitude therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it had thundered: others said, An angel hath spoken to him.—This voice most likely spoke in the Hebrew or Aramaic tongue as the voice to Saul did. The people hearing the sound and not understanding what was said, thus concluded from the temperament of the hearers. [They heard it as well as Jesus, but their ears were not attuned to heavenly speech. Others realized that it was more than a sound, that it was a "voice,” but were not able to distinguish it from a clap of thunder.]

Verse 30

Joh 12:30

John 12:30

Jesus answered and said, This voice hath not come for my sake, but for your sakes.—This voice came from heaven to convince the people that God was in Jesus and spake through him. It was for the profit of the hearers, not for that of Jesus. [He needed nothing to strengthen and confirm his faith, for the victory was gained before the voice spoke, but they did need much.]

Verse 31

Joh 12:31

John 12:31

Now is the judgment of this world:—He warned them that the contest between him and this prince of the world, the evil one, was close at hand. This contest was to take place in the grave. Jesus surrendered himself into the power of the evil one. He was carried down into the grave by the evil one—“him that hath power over death and the grave.” “Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Hebrews 2:14). Jesus in his flesh and blood went down into the grave as a prisoner of the devil.

[“Now” is the vivid presentation of the near future. The world’s crisis is just at hand. Calvary will inaugurate it, and tremendous consequences flow from it.]

now shall the prince of this world be cast out.—In the grave he contended with the devil, overcame him in his own dark domain, and was a victor over him. The prince of this world was overcome, cast out of his authority by the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. In the grave the battle was fought; in the grave the victory was won that freed the world from the domain of the evil one. [His dominion is to cease. And this is to be accomplished through that very death of Jesus which Satan is now scheming to bring about, but which, unwittingly to him, is but the prelude to the resurrection and glorification of Jesus, and the rescue of humanity. Satan, like Samson, pulled his own pillar from under his building.]

Verse 32

Joh 12:32

John 12:32

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.—He again refers to the fact that his dying on the cross and his burial would be the means of drawing men to him by his resurrection from the dead. He “was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 1:4). So men were drawn to him by his being lifted up on the cross. [He will draw all kinds of men—men of all nations. The relation of what has preceded, to the coming of the Greeks, comes out in this verse. As one king is dethroned, another and mightier one takes his place who invites all men to him by persuasion of the cross.]

Verse 33

Joh 12:33

John 12:33

But this he said, signifying by what manner of death he should die.—His lifting up referred to his death upon the cross. [This passage in which Jesus, after having shuddered in view of the cross, strengthened himself by tracing in broad outlines the picture of the immense revolution which it will effect, may be compared with that of Paul (Colossians 2:14-15), where he represents Jesus as making a spectacle of the in­fernal powers, despoiling them of their power, and triumph­ing over them on the cross.]

Verse 34

Joh 12:34

John 12:34

The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever:—They re­ferred to the language of David: “Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalms 110:4). And to such other proph­ecies as: “Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7). “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a king­dom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be de­stroyed.” (Daniel 7:14). All the Old Testament scriptures are classed as the law. It is true that he was to abide forever, but not in the flesh.

and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?—[Jesus had frequently applied this term to himself, which they quote also from Daniel 7:13-14. Realizing that he refers to death in the “lifting up,” they exclaim against the incongruity of this with the Jewish idea of a glorified, victorious Messiah.]

Verse 35

Joh 12:35

John 12:35

Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you.—Jesus was the light of the world. While he was with them they should listen to his teaching and walk by the light of his wisdom. When he was gone they would have none to give light. This is the same as he told his disciples, “A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me.” (John 16:16).

Walk while ye have the light,—[Turn your footsteps into the path of faith which it marks out while the light is shining.]

that darkness overtake you not:—[Out of the pathway of duty, for it will then be so difficult to find it. The thought is—seek the light and walk in it while you have an opportu­nity, for the opportunity may soon pass away and you be left in the dark unsaved.]

and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.—[He stumbles over the many obstacles in his path. Since the rejection of Jesus by the Jews, Israel has wandered in the wilderness of this world, as a caravan without a goal and without a guide.]

Verse 36

Joh 12:36

John 12:36

While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light.—While Jesus was with them, they should believe in him that they may be children of the light—practice the truths taught as constituting the truth. To walk in the light we must appropriate the opportunity as it is offered to us.

These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them.—[He withdrew from them so they could not find him. He departed from the temple, where he was never seen again. They never saw him again in the city until he was a prisoner in the hands of the Sanhedrin. It is a sad dark day when Jesus departs either from an individual, a city or a nation for the reason destruction is sure to follow. Unbe­lief closed their spiritual eyes against the truth Jesus pre­sented and was the cause of his departing from them. Un­belief will damn the world today.]

Verse 37

Joh 12:37

John 12:37

But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they believed not on him:—Additional testimony does not produce faith where the heart is wicked and bitter. Jesus said: “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:31). [John only records seven of these miracles, but often refers to a great number of them. (John 2:23; John 4:45; John 7:31; John 20:30). Some of them had a sort of faith in Jesus as a man of God, or as the “prophet of Galilee,” but they did not confess that faith which believes, trusts, obeys, and devotes one’s life to his service.]

Verses 37-50

Joh 12:37-50

The Jews Continue in Their Unbelief - John 12:37-50

Open It

1. *Why do people seek fame and the acceptance of others?

2. Aside from God’s, whose love and acceptance have you tried to get?

Explore It

3. What effect did Jesus’ miracles have on the unbelieving Jews? (John 12:37)

4. What was significant about the response of the Jews to Jesus’ ministry? (John 12:38)

5. *Why couldn’t the Jews of Jesus’ day believe in Him? (John 12:39-40)

6. What did Isaiah say about the Jews of Jesus’ day? (John 12:41)

7. *Why didn’t the leaders who did believe in Jesus admit their faith? (John 12:42-43)

8. What is true about any person who believes in Christ? (John 12:44-45)

9. Why did Jesus come into the world? (John 12:46)

10. What did Jesus say about the person who hears His words, but does not keep them? (John 12:47)

11. *What did Jesus say would condemn the person who did not accept His words? (John 12:48)

12. What kind of teaching did Jesus give us? (John 12:49)

13. Why are Jesus’ words important? (John 12:50)

Get It

14. How can people see the work of Jesus in others’ lives and still not believe in Him?

15. *What blinds us to spiritual truth?

16. When and why have you been afraid to admit your faith in Jesus?

17. *What consequences might a Christian face for publicly admitting faith in Jesus?

18. Why do we want to pursue the praise and acceptance of other people rather than the praise and acceptance of God?

19. Out of what kind of darkness has Jesus taken you?

20. How can we accept and keep the words of Jesus?

Apply It

21. *To whom do you need to admit your faith in Jesus, regardless of the consequences? When can you?

22. In what personal circumstance do you want to seek God’s acceptance over the praise and acceptance of others?

Verse 38

Joh 12:38

John 12:38

that the word of Isaiah 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?—In view of the fact so few would believe in Jesus, notwithstanding his many miracles, Isaiah asked, “Lord, who hath believed our report,” and who have recognized the power of God in the miracles performed? [This quotation is found in Isaiah 53:1. The prophet predicted such a condition as we here find existing among the Jews.]

Verse 39

Joh 12:39

John 12:39

For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again,—In their condition of heart, no amount or degree of signs could produce faith. [The cause of their failing to believe is not the fact that God, through Isaiah, said thus and thus, but he simply points out the cause of their unbelief in what he said. The reason why they could not believe was not that God had decreed their unbelief and destroyed their free agency, but that, in the exercise of their free agency, they had made themselves, by the operation of God’s moral laws, incapable of belief. Then, too, the same means that God uses, the gospel of Christ, to save the world, will soften the heart of one and lead him to heaven and at the same time harden the heart of another and cause him to be banished away from God at the last day. The gospel will either lift a man to heaven or else send him to hell. It all depends upon whether one opens his heart and cooperates with God as to which place he goes.]

Verse 40

Joh 12:40

John 12:40

He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart; lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and should turn, and I should heal them.—Because they loved sin and rebellion, God hardened their hearts and stif­fened their necks to lead them on to their ruin. Isaiah fore­told that they could not believe so as to be healed or saved by God, but he meant in the disposition of heart they were cultivating they could not do these things. [“This explains why they could not believe. Whether they were morally responsible for their unbelief depends on how God blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts. If he did it by a direct act, regardless of their moral condition, then they were not responsible. If, however, he did it by a law of the universe that whoever turns from the light shall become blind, and whosoever steels his heart against the truth shall find his heart hardened, then they were morally responsible if they had turned from the light and hardened their hearts. It is a physical as well as a moral law that he who turns from the light and seeks to abide in darkness will become blinded until he will ‘believe a lie and be damned.’ The men who are the champions of unbelief, such men as Voltaire, Paine, and Ingersoll, are unbelievers because they did not wish to be­lieve. Their moral condition was such that they could not justify their course of life only by refusing to believe on the Christ. They sought the darkness, and as a result finally they became so blinded that they could not believe. They blinded their own eyes because they brought upon themselves the penalty. God blinded their eyes because their blindness resulted from the action of his universal law. Thus it is said of Pharaoh that ‘God hardened his heart,’ but it is also said that Pharaoh hardened his heart. He chose, in the exercise of his voluntary agency, to harden his heart, but it is God’s law that those who harden their hearts shall be hardened, and hence God, by this law, hardened his heart. By reference to Matthew 13:14 the reader will find this passage from Isaiah quoted and applied by the Savior to the Jews. In the appli­cation he shows how they were blinded, ‘Their eyes have they closed.’ The Savior’s words settle how God blinded their eyes. It was by the application of his invariable law to their own acts. French says: ‘The Lord, having constituted as the righteous law of moral government, that sin should pro­duce darkness of heart and moral insensibility, declared that he would allow the law to take its course.’ ”—Johnson. The means God used to touch and tender the hearts of the chil­dren of Israel and cause them to follow Moses, their leader, also hardened the heart of Pharaoh.]

Verse 41

Joh 12:41

John 12:41

These things said Isaiah, because he saw his glory; and he spake of him.-—Isaiah foresaw the glory of the works and power of Jesus and foretold of these, and yet how few would believe him.

Verse 42

Joh 12:42

John 12:42

Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him;—Notwithstanding the general unbelief and hardness of heart, some of the leading men believed in him, who did not as yet confess him. Among this number were some who for the time seem not to have openly confessed him. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were among these. But these did not love the praise of men more than the praise of God, for they in the darkest hours do confess him and so could not have been of the class to which reference is here made.

but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:—The Jews had threatened that any who would confess that he was the Christ should be put out of the synagogue. This must refer to physical or bodily exclusion from attendance in the service of the synagogue. It involved the forfeiture of all rights pertaining to membership in the synagogue. Here faith failed to bring the salvation from God because those who believed had not courage to act on the faith; they did not exercise the faith; faith did not perfect itself in works of obedience. This faith left the man a poor, helpless, self-condemned outcast sinner. A faith that fears man, that loves the praise of men more than the praise of God, engulfs itself in deeper ruin, leaves the soul without excuse in the hands of an insulted, outraged, and angry God, who whets the sword of his wrath to execute vengeance on those who refuse the gospel of his Son. He who knows his Master’s will and so believes and yet refuses to do it will be beaten with many stripes.

Verse 43

Joh 12:43

John 12:43

for they loved the glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God.—This class here mentioned must have been of that class of which Jesus spoke when he said: “He that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God.” (Luke 12:9). [The fact that these rulers did not confess Christ openly for fear shows their cowardly spirit and only added to their sin. They were dishonest and the worst hypocrites. There is no hope for such characters.]

Verse 44

Joh 12:44

John 12:44

And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, be­lieveth not on me, but on him that sent me.—He does not believe in Jesus as the author and founder of the good that he did and taught, but in God who sent him and gave him all power and whose will he came to do.

Verse 45

Joh 12:45

John 12:45

And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me.—He was only the representative of the Father who sent him, and in hearing and seeing him they saw the Father who sent him.

Verse 46

Joh 12:46

John 12:46

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever be­lieveth on me may not abide in the darkness.—The world as created was enveloped in darkness—physical and spiritual—and Jesus came in his life and teaching to become a moral and spiritual light to the world. [It was the work of Jesus to make all things clear. He illuminates the mysteries of our being and destiny when we grasp them in their fullness. Those who walk in his light will have their doubts solved, mysteries cleared up, and the clouds rolled away from the future.]

Verse 47

Joh 12:47

John 12:47

And if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.—Jesus in person was not to judge or condemn, but to save the world. He spoke the words of God that through these words the world might be saved. [It is not the office of Jesus to judge those who keep not his sayings. While he will sit upon the throne in the day of judgment, yet he will not judge and condemn the world that he came to save. Each individual will be either saved or condemned on his arrival at the judgment. His word that he left in the world will decide the destiny of every one. The work assigned to Jesus in that day is to consign each to the place for which they are prepared.]

Verse 48

Joh 12:48

John 12:48

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.—One who was not saved by the word of God, made known through Christ, would be con­demned by that word. These words will be the standard by which in the last day all shall be judged. The great trouble with most religious people is that they desire to be religious, they desire to honor God, but they desire to do it in their own way. They have confidence in their ability to invent ways that will please God. This is a fatal mistake.

[Christ and his doctrine are inseparable; to receive his doc­trine is to receive him; and to reject his doctrine is to reject him. Such rejecters of Christ and the doctrine of the gospel shall not escape the judgment of Christ in the last day. The word is now the rule of living, and it shall be hereafter the rule of judging.]

Verse 49

Joh 12:49

John 12:49

For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.—What Jesus spoke did not originate with him, but came from God. God gave the rule by which the world must be judged. Jesus as the Son of God, sent by him into the world, delivered no message or command of his own, but only the things given him of God. [The Son was the Father’s agent and he spake through him.]

Verse 50

Joh 12:50

John 12:50

And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.—Jesus knew the commandment was from God and that it would give or lead all who followed it to life everlasting. The following teaches the same thing: “And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.” (1 John 5:11-12). The laws that God gave to Jesus grew out of the principles that moved God. Jesus was God in the flesh, show­ing what the principles and life of God would be in the flesh. For man to receive these principles into his heart and to live them is to make him like God in character and will fit him to live with God forever. [Jesus said, “My words are spirit and they are life.” There are life-giving principles in the word of God when received in the heart and become the law of life. John here closes his record of the revelation of Jesus to the world.]

Questions on John Chapter Twelve

E.M. Zerr

1. To what place did Jesus come?

2. When was this with reference to the passover?

3. Tell who lived here.

4. What is said of Lazarus?

5. How was Jesus now entertained?

6. What position did Lazarus have on this occasion ?

7. Describe what Mary did.

8. Who complained?

9. Was he sincere?

10. Tell of his character.

11. For what occasion was the act of Mary?

12. How did Jesus reason on the matter?

13. What attracted many Jews here now?

14. State the conspiracy of the chief priests.

15. What was the reason?

16. Into what city did Jesus enter next day?

17. How was he received?

18. What was his means of conveyance?

19. Was this event to be expected?

20. When did the disciples understand about this?

21. What people gave their testimony?

22. State the unpleasant observation of the Pharisees.

23. Who are said to have come to the feast to worship?

24. Was this lawful?

25. To whom did they appeal?

26. State their request.

27. By whom was it passcd on to Jesus?

28. Repeat the announcement of Jesus.

29. What object was used for an illustration?

30. To what event did he refer?

31. Who will lose, or keep, his life?

32. The servants of Jesus should do what?

33. If they do, what will be their reward?

34. What did Jesus say of his soul?

35. Repeat his request.

36. And the reply.

37. How did this affect the people?

38. State the explanation of Jesus.

39. Who was to be cast out?

40. How was Jesus to draw men to him?

41. To what did this refer?

42. What misunderstanding did the people have?

43. State the admonition Jesus gave them.

44. How did his miracles affect the masses?

45. Who had prophesied this?

46. What blindness was foretold?

47. State the motive for this perverseness.

48. What did some of the rulers do?

49. And what did they not do?

50. What was the reason?

51. Tell what love was the cause of this.

52. Belief in Jesus means what other belief?

53. What does he say about light?

54. What will be done to the unbeliever?

55. Why will Jesus not jndge him?

56. What constitutes rejecting Jesus?

57. By what will the guilty be judged?

58. At what time will he ce judged?

59. By what authority did Jesus speak?

60. From what comes life everlasting?