Notes on the Gospel of John: Chapter 12

Here we come to the turning point in Jesus’ ministry and in His life here on earth. Everything has been leading to this point. Chapters 2 through 12 of John’s Gospel are called the “Book of Signs” – beginning with Jesus’ turning the water into wine and ending with the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

This chapter brings the themes of belief vs. unbelief, light vs. dark, good vs. evil, understanding vs. misunderstanding to a single point. It is in Chapter 12 that we see Jesus turn the corner and head toward His ultimate sacrifice for us.

The chapter opens in celebration and ends in sobering command.

[Read John 12:1-11]

Here we are – celebrating. Why?

Well, because Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead and everyone is happy and joyous. Who wouldn’t be?

There is a lot going on in this section – some of it obvious and some of it not so obvious. Let’s take a look at the principal characters:

Jesus: Son of God. Represents God enfleshed here on earth. Giver of life. Giver of light.

Lazarus: Represents and provokes faith and judgment. Let those believe – believe. Is Lazarus metaphorical for Christ? He was dead and is now alive – thus forcing a decision? To believe or not?

Mary: Martha’s sister and Lazarus’ cousin. She anoints Jesus’ feet with a special perfume. What scene does this invoke? The Last Supper when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. Why is this act so symbolic? Because feet were normally anointed only for burial. In effect, Mary is embalming Jesus and preparing Him for His death.

Judas Iscariot: One of Jesus’ hand-picked disciples and the betrayer. He is named specifically here but is not so named in the other Gospels in this scene. Why? Perhaps John is trying to, again, invoke the scene at the Last Supper. Judas betrays his motives by focusing only on the earthly value of an item.

The this scene ends with something obvious and something ominous. If you found out that someone who had been raised from the dead was hanging out at a house down the street, you would want to come visit, wouldn’t you? Well, that’s what a bunch of folks did.

Well, because Lazarus was drawing so much attention and in turn drew so much attention to Jesus, the chief priests decided they needed to whack Lazarus also.

Now we come to the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

[Read John 12:12-19]

How would you expect a king to enter a city? On a might steed with a sword lashed to his side and many men following?

How does Jesus, the savior of all mankind arrive in Jerusalem? Yes, on a donkey.

Interestingly enough, John doesn’t spend a lot of time on this scene. This scene is a much bigger deal in the other Gospels. I wonder why? For John, perhaps, this is a necessary transition scene but it is the foundation for what John really wants to get across – the next few verses where Jesus clarifies why He must die and how people need to decide what they believe – here and now.

Remember: John’s purpose of the Gospel is to prove that Jesus was, indeed, the Son of God.

The end verse of this section strikes me as funny. Verse 19: “So the Pharisees said to one another: ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”

[Read John 12:20-36]

Why point out Greeks? What’s the deal here?

The hour of Jesus’ glorification had come and we see that both Jews and Gentiles are present – remember? Jesus will be the shepherd gathering ALL of the sheep to Him. For God so loved the world. Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save it. All of it.

I like the short scene showing the Greeks approaching Philip then Philip taking them to Andrew and then the two of them bringing them to Jesus. How many of us are given the opportunity to bring people to Jesus but choose not to?

In describing what must happen, Jesus uses a familiar metaphor – the seed. It must be buried and in so doing, it will rise up again and multiply.

Verses 25-26 are fairly straightforward. Do you love and cling to this earthly life? Then you will lose your life. Do you reject this earthly life and turn your face toward a more heavenly light? Then you will have everlasting life. Follow Jesus and you will be honored.


Jesus doesn’t ask for much – just everything.

Verses 27-28 are John’s version of Jesus’ struggle in the garden. For a moment, we see a very human Jesus (as we’ve seen previously – tired, thirsty, angry, sad, etc.). His human heart is in pain and knows what is coming. But he recognizes why He is here. What is His purpose.

Interestingly, in the other Gospels, this whole scene takes place as a very private moment. As a matter of fact what where Peter , James and John doing when Jesus was struggling in the Garden at Gethsemane? Sleeping.

None of that here. Everyone is wide awake and everyone hears something after Jesus glorifies God.

Why do some hear thunder and others hear angels?

Let those who have ears to hear, let them hear. Those who don’t, can’t, won’t, don’t let them hear.

Then, Jesus again tells them that they must make a decision – either follow the light and become children of the light or continue to blunder about in darkness.

[Read John 12:37-43]

So despite His miraculous doings. His healings, His teachings, His very presence – people still decided to turn away.

These verses are important to us today. As we witness, worship, serve, teach, and preach, there will be those who reject the message. Why? I have no idea. But this is the paradox of free will – God grants all of us the free will to accept him or to reject him. And we see this time and again in John’s Gospel.

Verses 42-43 would be extremely important to John’s audience because the majority of them were Jews who had left the Temple to follow Christ. John is exhorting them to show their faith – to be true to the calling of Christ.

[Read John 12:44-50]

I find the verb here interesting. Not trying to get overly exegetical (is that a word) on you but why “cried”? Is it because of the large crowds? Not sure. . .John really doesn’t set the scene here. In verse 36, we see Jesus leave the area to be by Himself then after a few verses about people choosing to believe or not to believe, here Jesus pops up all of a sudden.

This verb usage is consistent in other translations. In the New Living Translation, Jesus “shouts.” In The Message it says: “Jesus summed it all up when He cried out. . .”

The situation must be tense. Jesus knows that His time on earth and His ministry on earth are drawing to a close. He is close to being arrested, humiliated and crucified. He has been ministering to these people for three years and it has all come down to this. He has come to save the world. He has come to bring people to the light. He has come to heal our brokenness. He has come to bring us closer to the Father.

And, yet, people are rejecting that message. People are choosing death. People are choosing the darkness.

The tension builds. The worry for His people is palpable. He fears for us. He wants us to live. He wants us to be in the light. . .so. . .

He cries out. . .[John 12:44-50]

Amen.