John 12:1-26 (Part 1)

 Questions to get you thinking through text

John 12:1-8, Mary Anointed Jesus

(Matt. 26:6-12, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:36-50) 

Why did Mary anoint Jesus? John 12:3 

What level of surrender was involved?

Was she a prostitute?

Was it God’s plan to prepare Jesus for burial? John 12:7 

Was Judas a crook? John 12:4-6 

John 12:9-11, Plot to kill Lazarus 

Who is the Large crowd? (John 12:9, 12, 18, John 11:45-46  

Was the raising of Lazarus convincing enough to cause some to believe in Christ? John 12:11 

Why did the chief priest make plans to put Lazarus to death? John 12:10-11 

If Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, could He do it again if they killed him? John 11:43-44 

Also, if He can raised someone else from the dead could He raise Himself from the dead? John 11:25-26 

John 12:12-15, The Triumphal Entry

(Matt. 21:1-9, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:29-38) 

The waving of palm branches, which symbolically conveyed the notion of victory over one’s enemy, probably indicates that the people (mistakenly) thought that Jesus would then and there bring national deliverance from Israel’s political enemies, the Romans. Yet Jesus’ popular acclaim would not last; the same people who hailed him here as the victor would call for his crucifixion just a few days later.

The palm trees

The young donkey (Zech. 9:9, Ps. 118:25-26) 

The prophecy fullfilled  (Deut. 18:20-22, Deut. 13:1-4, Isa. 46:9-10  

John 12:16-19 , Didn’t understand at first

When was Jesus glorified? John 12:23, John 7:39, John 2:4 

What did they remember when He was glorified? (Zech. 9:9)(John 2:22)

Who is the crowd? John 12:17, John 11:45-46 

What was they doing? John 12:18, “continued to bear witness”

What does “the world has gone after Him” mean? (All, many, might) (Acts 17:6, John 12:19, 

John 12:20-26 , Some Greeks seek Jesus

Who brought Greeks to Jesus? John 12:22 

This marked what event? John 12:23 

What is Jesus trying to explain with a grain of wheat?John 12:24 

What happens if you love your life? John 11:25-26 

What happens if you hate your life?

What is the advantage of serving Jesus? John 12:26 , John 11:9-10, John 9:39-41 

Bread Crumb Trails

Bread Crumb Trails

A bread crumb trail in scripture is when something is briefly spoken about and doesn’t always fit in what the text is actually talking about. It has somewhat of an oddness to it. It is a key word or a key phrase that is repeated in a systematic or unique way. Jesus was the best at this and some of the most important things He had to say is revealed by this method. 

 

Below is a few examples for key words that are used to tell a deeper story than what initially meets the eye or basic reasonable consideration. The more powerful meaning can come from pondering the idea that is being described. The Holy Spirit can at times prick your conscience in a way that the word or phrase sticks to you in a particular way, a way that you just can’t forget about it, like a song you hear and can’t stop singing it the rest of the day.

 

I will continue to point out more of these “bread crumb trails” as we work through John. 

You will find that much of our most trusted theology derives from people recognizing these “Bread Crumb Trails” It is my hope that you will recognize them for what they are and put together the important theological pieces in order to more clearly communicate and understand the glorious riches of God’s truth that makes the way for us to Him.

 

While the below 5 words can be searched in John and read together for a fuller understand of the point being made with each word that is consistently repeated throughout the book. They have connections and tie important parts together making the conversation less random and haphazardness. 

 

They also create a uniqueness in the John chapter 5-12 story. 

In John 5, when Jesus healed the lame man on the Sabbath, He opened a theological can of worms for those in charged of the temple and representing Moses in that day. This dialogue will continue to the end of John 12. So, right after the healing in John 5:19, Jesus speaks way over their heads, but is saying everything in a nut shell. If one understands all the other conversations, then this is a concise summary of all the pertinent info. In case one missed it in the beginning the summary is repeated again in John 12:44-50.

 

1. John 5:25-29, Pre Talk for John 11
2. John 5:19-29
1. Authority, John 5:19-20
2. Judge, John 5:22
3. Honor, John 5:23 (Glory)
4. Sent, John 5:24
5. Life, John 5:21, 25-29 
3. John 12:44-50
1. Sent, John 12:44-45

 

2. Light, John 12:46 (Glory)

3. Judge, John 12:47-48

4. Authority, John 12:49

5. Life, John 12:50

(The word “authority” is used in John in 14 verses, the word “judge” is used in 20 verses, the word “light, glory or honor” is used in 35 verses, the word “life” is used in 39 verses and finally the word “sent is used in 53 verses. That is a total of 161 verses that are scatter about and connect to core teachings. By systematically looking at these verse you can grasp another perspective on the key ideas being unpacked)

  

Glory (15)

John 1:14, 2:11, 5:41, 44 

John 7:18, 8:50, 54, 9:24, 

John 11:4, 40, 12:41, 43

John 17:5, 22, 24, 

Light (16)

John 1:4, 5, 7, 8, 9

John 3:19, 20, 21, John 5:35 

John 8:12, John 9:5, 11:9, 10, 12:35, 36, 46 

Honor (4)

John 4:44, 5:23, 8:49, 12:26 

Sent (53)

John 1:6, 1:19, 22, 24, 33, 

John 3:28, 34, 4:34, 38, 

John 5:23, 24, 30, 33, 36, 37, 38, 6:29, 38, 39, 44, 57, 

John 7:16, 18, 28, 29, 32, 33, 8:16, 18, 26, 29, 42, 

John 9:4, 7, 10:36, 11:3, 42, 12:44, 45, 49, 

John 13:16, 20, 14:24, 15:21, 16:5, 17:3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25,

John 18:24, 20:21

Life (39)

John 1:4, 3:15, 16, 3:36, 4:14, 4:36, 5:21, 24, 26, 29, 39, 40, 

John 6:27, 33, 35, 40, 47, 48, 51, 53, 54, 63, 68 

John 8:12, 10:10, 11, 15, 17, 28, 11:25, 12:25, 50, 

John 13:38, 14:6, 15:13, 17:2, 17:3, 20:31 

Judge (20)

John 3:19, 5:22, 24, 27, 29, 30, 

John 7:24, 51, 8:15, 16, 26, 50, 9:39, 12:31, 47, 48, 

John 16:8, 11, 18:31, 19:13 

Authority (14)

John 5:27, 7:17, 18, 26, 48, 8:28, 10:18, 12:42, 49 

John 14:10, 16:13, 17:2, 19:10, 11, 

John 11:38-54 (Part 3)

John 11:38-44 (part 1)

1. Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days. (vs. 39)
2. Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? (vs. 40)
3. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around (vs.42)
4. Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out”. The man who had died came out (vs.43)

John 11:45-54 (part 2)

1. Many of the Jew therefore who had come with Mary and had seen what He did, believed in Him (vs. 45)
2. But some of them went to the Pharisees. (vs. 46)
3. So the chief priest and the Pharisees gathered the council (vs.47)
4. But one of them Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year (vs. 49)
5. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews (vs. 53)

Things to Personally Consider

What does the odor say about the condition of the life of Lazarus?

Do we need Jesus to remind us of what He has told us before sometimes?

Do you believe God always hears you?

Was Jesus actually able to save the one that He loved?

Did some of the Jews at the funeral believe upon Jesus?

Did some of them involve the spiritual authorities?

How did the spiritual authorities respond to Jesus doing this third miracle before them? (John 5:1, John 9:1)

What was their concerns?

How does the Caiaphas  prophesy similar to the Matt. 16:17, Peter’s confession?

Who is ultimately the author of any accurate prophecy?

John 11:17-37 (Part 2)

Differences Between Martha and Mary

1. Called vs Pursuing from John

1. John 11:20, So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house

2. John 11:28-29, When Martha had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.

2. Called vs Pursing from Luke
1. Luke 10:38, Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

2. Luke 10:39, And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.

3. The Progressive Social Gospel of Our Day
1. Luke 10:40, Active Worship

But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”(Pursuing)

2. Luke 10:41-42, Passive Worship

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Called)

1. Luke 14:7-11 
2. Jesus directs us to worship in a more passive way that is not self exalting. 
3. Matt. 6:4,6 
4. Come to God in secret

3. Active Theology

What active theologians do is they try to be the Holy Spirit. They try to be the significant power that holds and puts all things together. When from ourselves we generate our own ideas of what will please God or others we miss the mark and fail to connect where we want to. 

4. Passive Theology 

It is in being still and waiting for the Lord to call us into service that matters so much. If God has not actually called us into service we are essentially just doing our own thing and saying it is from God. 

1. Acts 6:1-7, Do not neglect word of God to serve tables 
2. Matt. 7:21-24, we did this in your name and that in your name away from me I never knew you
3. Gal. 3:1-5, trying to finish in the flesh what was started in the Spirit

Two Reasons they thought Lazarus was not saved from Death

1. Lord, if you had been here

1. John 11:21, Martha

Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died

2. John 11:32, Mary

Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

1. Was the only reason Jesus was unable to save Lazarus was because He was not there?
1. John 4:46-54, healed son in Capernaum from Cana
2. Luke 7:1-10, Centurion servant 

2. Was He not able to save the one He loved? 

1. John 11:37, Friends 

Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” (John 9:1)

2-Did Jesus have the ability to save Lazarus?

1. Matt. 27:42, He saved others; he cannot save himself. (Matt 27:38-44)

Remembering Jesus’ Perspective 

1. Remembering what Jesus said

1. John 11:4, But when Jesus heard it he said, 
1. “This illness does not lead to death. 
2. It is for the glory of God, 
3. so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.

2. Remembering what Jesus did
1. John 11:6, So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

2. John 11:14, Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.

3. Diety of Christ

1. So in a sovereign all knowing perspective Jesus knew Lazarus was ill before someone came and told Him. 

2. He knew Lazarus had died before He got to town and had someone tell Him. 

3. He also intentionally stayed away from Lazarus until he died and until he was good and dead without any doubt dead, dead. 

4. Humanity of Christ 

John 11:33-35, 38 

Jesus Wept, 

Deeply Moved and Greatly Troubled

1. For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. Mark 14:5 

2. John 12:27, Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
3. John 13:21, After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

The Challenges to Our Perspective 

1. John 5:25-29, pre talk about John 11 

(Bread Crumb Trails)

1. Authority,  John 5:19-20 
2. Judge, John 5:22 
3. Honor, John 5:23 (Glory)
4. Sent, John 5:24 
5. Life, John 5:21, 25-29 

2. Sent, John 12:44-45 
3. Light, John 12:46 (Glory)
4. Judge, John 12:47-48 
5. Authority, John 12:49 
6. Life, John 12:50

2. They Did not Realize 
1. Now in the questioning of Mary and Martha they did not realize the One that could have helped them chose not to be there. 

2. But they also did not realize the greatness of His ability to not only saved Lazarus 
1. when He is with him, 
2. but He also could have saved him from where He was, 
3. but here He goes even further glorifying the greatness of His ability by restoring life after he had begin to badly stink.

4. Dry Bones, Consider Ezekiel “Dry Bones”. Is God on a time line for restoring Life? Ezekiel 37:1-14 
1. The many bones were very dry
1. Son of man, can these bones live?”Ezekiel 37:3 
2. Oh Dry Bones hear the word of the Lord
1. I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. Ezekiel 37:5 
3. There was a sound and behold a rattling, Ezekiel 37:7, 1 Kings 19:11, Acts 2, 
1. But there was no breath in them Ezekiel 37:8 
2. Prophesy to the breath, that they may live Ezekiel 37:9 
4. Our bones are dried up, and sour hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Ezekiel 37:11 
1. I will open your graves and raise you from your graves Ezekiel 37:12 
2. you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, Ezekiel 37:13 
3. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, Ezekiel 37:14