John 12 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: John 12:1-8: Mary washes Jesus’ feet

A. Find Out:

1. Where did Jesus come to and what happened there? v.1,2
   • Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
2. What did Mary do? v.3
   •  Then Mary took about half a litre of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
3. What was Judas’s response to this? v.4
   •  But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
4. What did he ask? v.5
   •  ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’
5. Why? v.6
   • He 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 help himself to what was put into it.
6. What was Jesus’ response? v.7,8 
   •  ‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.’

B. Think:

1. What do you think Mary’s intentions were?
2. How do Judas’s intentions contrast with that?
3. How does Jesus interpret what she has done?

C. Comment:

Jesus is now moving back in the direction of Jerusalem for the final Passover, and Lazarus, Mary and Martha give a special meal for him, probably by way of thanks for all that he had done for them. While the men are reclining around the table Mary comes with an expensive ointment and pours it ALL out, over Jesus, so much that the smell of it fills the entire house. It reminds us of the incense offering that apparently wafted up to be a pleasing smell catching the Lord’s attention. This is a similar offering, but whatever else we may think of it, in Mary’s mind the intention must be to bless Jesus; this is a love offering of the most extravagant sort.

By stark contrast to her heart and action is Judas, who quibbles over what she has done, seeing it as wasteful. John in his writing reveals the true feelings of Judas’s heart, self-centred concern dressed up in respectability!     Mary and Judas portray different ways we can view Jesus: either as the total object of our love, or just simply another person; either we see him through our self-centred tinted glasses or through the eyes of total love. Which actually is it? Is our “religion” academic and intellectual or passionately emotional? 

D. Application:

1. Self-centred or Jesus-centred?
2. Intellectual love or unrestrained, extravagant giving love.

Passage: John 12:9-15: Jesus approaches Jerusalem

A. Find Out:

1. Who did the crowd go to see? v.9
   • Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
2. Who did the chief priests plan to kill and why? v.10,11
   • So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
3. What did the crowd hear was happening? v.12
   • The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
4. So what did they do? v.13a
   • They took palm branches and went out to meet him
5. What did they shout? v.13b
   • shouting, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the king of Israel!’
6. What did Jesus do and why? v.14,15
   • Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written: 15 ‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;  see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.’

B. Think:

1. What effect was the raising of Lazarus having?
2. How do the crowd obviously view Jesus?
3. How does Jesus encourage this?

C. Comment:

Everything that is happening is now provoking the religious authorities to act against Jesus. We know in retrospect, that God planned this and wanted the Jews to express their sin and kill His Son (Acts 2:23) to be a sacrifice for the world, and so it becomes more obvious what was going on.

First Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead (after allowing him to die first, remember), and because this was all so close to Jerusalem it provoked the authorities. Now he returns to Lazarus’s house and crowds come to see the two men; the authorities are even more upset. Then the crowd “hear” (who told them!) that Jesus is about to enter Jerusalem and so their enthusiasm runs over and they line the route and give him a royal welcome. The authorities must be even more upset! Jesus makes it even worse by finding a donkey and riding in on it to fulfil the prophetic Scriptures of the coming king. The authorities can be in no doubt now, this man is about to lead a rebellion, surely, and he must be dealt with.

Jesus knows that if he provokes the sin in the religious leaders at the right moments, they will act hastily against him and sacrifice him, just at Passover, just as God planned.

D. Application:

1. God uses the sinful hearts of men for His own purposes.
2. There was no accident about the death of Jesus. It was on purpose.

Passage: John 12:16-22: The word spreads, Greeks seek

A. Find Out:

1. When had the disciples understood what was happening? v.16
   • At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realise that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
2. Who told about him? v.17
   • Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.
3. What was the twofold effect? 18,19
   • Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!’
4. Who wanted to see Jesus? v.20,21b
   • Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival…. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’
5. Who did they approach? v.21a
   • They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request.
6. Who did he approach? v.22
   • Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

B. Think:

1. Why did the crowd want to see Jesus?
2. What level of contact were they content to have?
3. What level of contact did the Greeks want?

C. Comment:

We have an interesting comparison between two different groups of people in these verses and they describe the two approaches that Christians have towards Jesus.

The first group are those who hear about what is happening and just want to come and watch They are the OBSERVERS, who do not really want close contact but are happy to get some benefit from Jesus if they can, such as healing, without cost. They come along and join in the celebrations and run with the emotional hype that sometimes occurs in the Christian world. But they don’t want it to cost anything!

The second group are those who come enquiring and are wanting a closer contact with Jesus. They are the SEEKERS, those who genuinely want contact with Jesus. Note something specific about them: they are willing to put themselves in the hands of someone else to have that contact. These Greeks came to Philip and asked him to open the way up for them to meet Jesus. It is one of the humbling things in the Christian life that God so often makes us come to Him via someone else. Perhaps they pray over us or counsel us, but when He makes Himself incarnate, it is through other Christians.

D. Application:

1. Am I an observer or a genuine seeker? Lord, help me face the truth.
2. “Seekers” are those who yearn to have a closer walk with the Lord, who are willing to receive His ministry through others.

Passage: John 12:23-27: Jesus faces the end

A. Find Out:

1. What did Jesus say had come? v.23
   • Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
2. What illustration did he use? v.24
   • Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
3. What principle did he lay down? v.25
   • Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
4. What did he say about whoever serves him? v.26
   • Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.
5. What did he feel and what did he want to say? v.27a
   •  ‘Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour”?
6. But what did he decide instead? v.27b
   • No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

B. Think:

1. How did Jesus indicate he would be glorified?
2. Who else would receive glory through it?
3. What did he say about those who would serve him?

C. Comment:

As Philip tells Jesus that there are those coming who want to see him, Jesus says something that has one apparent meaning which he then turns to have a completely different meaning. Its obvious first meaning is that he will be glorified as some of the people at least start to recognise who he is, for that was his reply to their information. But then he turns the meaning about-face with the illustration that follows, an enigmatic description that probably left them wondering (see v.16).

The second meaning is now clear to us who can see the whole picture. For wheat to grow, he says, it first has to “die”, and go into the ground, otherwise it will not reproduce. The clear implication is that that will be true of his life as well. Indeed, he continues, if you try to hang onto your life you’ll lose real Life, but if your love for God is so great that by comparison it’s as if you hate your own life (and are willing to entirely give it up), then your limited life now will be multiplied to produce eternal life. OK, he continues, understand that if you follow me, you’ll have to go the same way, but don’t worry, my Father will honour you when you do that.

D. Application:

1. The path for Jesus was death and resurrection. The path is the same for every person who would follow him. Death to self and the past.
2. The thought of death was not easy for Jesus, but he knew it was the only way. It isn’t easy for us, but it’s still the only way!

Passage: John 12:28-33: The Father speaks

A. Find Out:

1. What did Jesus pray and what reply did he get? v.28
   • Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’
2. What did the crowd hear? v.29
   • The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
3. Why, according to Jesus, had God spoken? v.30
   • Jesus said, ‘This voice was for your benefit, not mine.
4. What did he say was about to happen? v.31
   • Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
5. What 2 things did he say would happen in respect of himself? v.32
   •  And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’
6. To what was he referring? v.33
   • He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die

B. Think:

1. Look up Mt 3:17 & Lk 9:35 On what sort of occasions did the Father speak from heaven?
2. Look up John 14:30 & 16:11 Who is “the prince of this world”?
3. How does Jesus show that the Cross was no accident?

C. Comment:

Jesus has just confessed that the thought of dying troubled him (v.27), and it at this point that the Father speaks from heaven. This is the third time that the Father is recorded as having spoken in this manner. The first was at Jesus’ baptism to affirm Jesus in his ministry, and the second was on the mount of Transfiguration when they were planning Jesus’ departure. Each time is a crisis time when Jesus would have needed reaffirmation, and yet Jesus, here, says the voice is for their benefit.

When we then look back to the two previous times when God spoke we see again that He is speaking to the other people who are there. The audible voice of God does sometimes come and many testify to having heard it, but it tends to come at crisis or turning points in our lives to point us more fully to following after Jesus. Guidance, for the Christian in whatever form, always does that.

Observe yet again Jesus’ oblique reference to his coming death, indicating his full understanding of what is before him. “Lifted up” surely refers to the Cross. The fruits of it will be twofold: first Satan will be defeated and overcome, and second, as a result, many people from every nation will come to Jesus and be saved!

D. Application:

1. The Father watches over and affirms the Son’s activities – and ours.
2. Jesus’ death was planned, and it defeated Satan and released many.  

Passage: John 12:34-36: Walking in the light

A. Find Out:

1. What did the crowd say the Law had told them? v.34a
   • The crowd spoke up, ‘We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain for ever,
2. What two questions did they then ask? v.34b
   • so how can you say, “The Son of Man must be lifted up”? Who is this “Son of Man”?’
3. What statement did Jesus make in response? v.35a
   • Then Jesus told them, ‘You are going to have the light just a little while longer.
4. What command did he then give them? v.35b
   • Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.
5. What did he also tell them to do with what consequence? v.36a
   • Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.’
6. What did he then do? v.36b
   • When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid

B. Think:

1. Look up Psa 110:4, Isa 9:7, Ezek 37:25, and Dan 7:14
2. How do these verses confirm the crowd’s query?
3. How does Jesus’ answer point seekers back to himself?

C. Comment:

In verse 23 Jesus had referred to himself as the Son of Man, shorthand for “the promised Coming One”, and then spoke of his death and being lifted up from the earth. The Jewish crowds, the religious people for ever looking for a chance to misunderstand and criticize, respond (in essence) saying, But the Scriptures say the Coming One will go on for ever and ever, so how can you talk about death? Jesus’ response to all this is interesting!

Note that he doesn’t give them a clear exposition (John is going on to explain why he doesn’t do that in a verse or two). He talks in an enigmatic way about light and darkness. First, he says they will only have the light with them a little while longer. Second, he says walk or move or take action while you still have the light with you, i.e. respond to the light. Third, he says they should put their trust in the light and fourth, if they do that, they will become sons of the light. When we see Jesus as the light then all becomes clear, but it would only be clear for seekers! Having said that, Jesus concludes the conversation and leaves them. They have had enough; if they want to respond properly to him, then they will. If they want to argue – goodbye!

D. Application:

1. Jesus doesn’t expect us to understand everything.
2. He does expect us to respond well to him though.

Passage: John 12:37-41: Isaiah speaks

A. Find Out:

1. What had Jesus done? v.37a
   • Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence
2. Yet with what result? v.37b
   • they still would not believe in him.
3. Why was this, according to John? v.38a,39
   • This was to fulfil the word of Isaiah the prophet: ‘Lord, who has believed our message  and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ 39 For this reason they could not believe
4. What did Isaiah say God had done? v.40a
   • Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
5. With what result? v.40b
   • so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn – and I would heal them.
6. Why had Isaiah said that? v.41
   • Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

B. Think:

1. Read Isa 53:1-3 What point was Isaiah making?
2. Read Isa 6:9-10 What do you think was the point of that?
3. So, why was John saying this?

C. Comment:

The religious Jews refused to believe in Jesus. As the writer John ponders on these things, he realises that this is the fulfilment of what the Lord had said through Isaiah. In the amazing “Servant Song” in Isa 53, the prophet had started out by saying that the Servant of the Lord would not be recognised. In retrospect, having the whole Gospel before us, we may find that difficult to understand, but for the Jews of the day, Jesus seemed too ordinary!

Then John remembers the prophecy given to Isaiah at his commissioning. That word almost seems to indicate that he is to confuse the people. Is that what it really is? When we watch Jesus’ teaching, he spoke in such a way that only those who sought after God understood. When Moses went to Pharaoh, he spoke with such directness that he simply hardened Pharaoh’s already hard heart. In the same way both Isaiah’s and Jesus’ preaching came in such a way that it either left people not understanding or it just hardened the hearts of the religious people. Those who were set in their ways just took a defensive stance against the challenges that were coming. It IS possible just to grab God’s blessings but not truly follow Jesus (as many did in his time), but those are short-lived blessings.

D. Application:

1. Heart condition is all important to receiving Jesus.
2. God WILL bless non-Christians, but that is different from salvation!

Passage: John 12:42-46: Confusion & proclamation

A. Find Out:

1. Yet who believed? v.42a
   • Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.
2. Yet why were they afraid to confess it publicly? v.42b
   • But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;
3. How does John judge them? v.43
   • for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
4. What did Jesus say about belief? v.44
   • Then Jesus cried out, ‘Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
5. Who did he say he revealed? v.45
   • The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.
6. What did he say he came as? v.46 
   •  I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

B. Think:

1. What does this passage tell about the reality of Jesus’ testimony?
2. What does it say about Jesus’ purpose for coming?
3. What does it say about the potential for our lives?

C. Comment:

John has just been writing about the unbelief of the Jews and the apparent non-acceptance of Jesus. Now he seeks to show the true position: there were many people believing in Jesus, but they were afraid to acknowledge it openly because of the intimidation of the religious party known as the Pharisees.

We need to face the awfulness of the lesson here: the Pharisees (or “separated ones”) were the exponents and guardians of the Law; they were the conservative or religiously orthodox “believers”, yet they were the greatest opposition to Jesus and prevented others coming out into the open to follow him.

The warning is clear and is just as valid for the twentieth century: those of us who hold such a high view of Scripture, should always be careful to ensure that our particular interpretation of it does not end in us resisting the present-day work of God!  

At some point Jesus called out and proclaimed himself and his purpose in coming. He came to reveal the Father and he came to bring light or revelation so that people would not need to remain in superstitious ignorance with its accompanying unrighteous lifestyle. 

D. Application:

1. Beware rigid orthodoxy that may end up opposing God. Am I open to what the Lord is doing TODAY?
2. Look at Jesus and you see something of God the Father. Follow Jesus and become aware of realities of life.

Passage: John 12:47-50: Father & Son

A. Find Out:

1. Who did Jesus say he didn’t judge? v.47
   • ‘If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
2. Yet what will condemn them? v.48
   • There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.
3. How did Jesus say he spoke? v.49
   • For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.
4. To what do God’s commands lead? v.50
   • I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.’

B. Think:

1. What seems apparent from this passage about what will happen at “the last day”?
2. On what basis will it be carried out?
3. What responsibility does that lay on us now?

C. Comment:

It is said that a person who disdains a beautiful piece of music shows their lack of musical ability or appreciation. An attendant in an art gallery of the great Masters, replying to a critical visitor, said, “Sir, it’s not the painting that are being judged”. How we respond to what we see or hear’ tells a great deal about us. Thus Jesus was able to say calmly, I’m not here to judge. He knew that the way we respond to his words reveals the sort of person we are. Alternatively, the words themselves judge us: how did we respond to them?

Jesus knew that what he said came from his Father. Elsewhere (Jn 5:19) he said he only did what he saw his Father doing, and so for a second time he states that his ministry flows out of his relationship with his Father. That’s why he could be so sure about the validity of his words. How important it is for those of us who speak to ensure that our relationship with the Lord is such that the words we speak come from the Father’s heart.

We should note in closing that Jesus reminds us here that there will be a future time of accounting, a time for facing up to the way we responded here on earth to him. Perhaps if we were a little more aware of that final time it might affect how we live today!

D. Application:

1. People are clearly judged by the way they respond to Jesus words.
2. Our speech will reflect the depth or shallowness of our relationship with    the Lord.