# John 12 📖: The King Comes to Jerusalem [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-John Overview]] | [[John 11]] | [[John 13]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### Jesus Anointed at Bethany **Principle**: Jesus Is Worthy of Public Worship. [[#Verse 01.]] Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom he had raised from the dead. [[#Verse 02.]] So they prepared a dinner for Jesus there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was among those present at the table with him. [[#Verse 03.]] Then Mary took three quarters of a pound of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus. She then wiped his feet dry with her hair. (Now the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil.) [[#Verse 04.]] But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him) said, [[#Verse 05.]] “Why wasn’t this oil sold for 300 silver coins and the money given to the poor?” [[#Verse 06.]] (Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.) [[#Verse 07.]] So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial. [[#Verse 08.]] For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!” ### The Decision to Kill Lazarus **Principle**: When you stand against Jesus, you see His goodness as dangerous.. [[#Verse 09.]] Now a large crowd of Judeans learned that Jesus was there, and so they came not only because of him but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. [[#Verse 10.]] So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too, [[#Verse 11.]] for on account of him many of the Jewish people from Jerusalem were going away and believing in Jesus. ### Jesus’ Triumphant Entry [[Matthew 21]], [[Mark 11]], [[Luke 19]] **Principle**: The King has come. [[#Verse 12.]] The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. [[#Verse 13.]] So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. They began to shout, “Blessed is the king of Israel!” [[#Verse 14.]] Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, [[#Verse 15.]] “” [[#Verse 16.]] (His disciples did not understand these things when they first happened, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him and that these things had happened to him.) [[#Verse 17.]] So the crowd who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were continuing to testify about it. [[#Verse 18.]] Because they had heard that Jesus had performed this miraculous sign, the crowd went out to meet him. [[#Verse 19.]] Thus the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you can do nothing. Look, the world has run off after him!” ### Jesus Predicts His Death **Principle**: All Seek Jesus. [[#Verse 20.]] Now some Greeks were among those who had gone up to worship at the feast. [[#Verse 21.]] So these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” [[#Verse 22.]] Philip went and told Andrew, and they both went and told Jesus. [[#Verse 23.]] Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. [[#Verse 24.]] I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain. [[#Verse 25.]] The one who loves his life destroys it, and the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life. [[#Verse 26.]] If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be too. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. [[#Verse 27.]] “Now my soul is greatly distressed. And what should I say? ‘Father, deliver me from this hour’? No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour. [[#Verse 28.]] Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” [[#Verse 29.]] The crowd that stood there and heard the voice said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to him. [[#Verse 30.]] Jesus said, “This voice has not come for my benefit but for yours. [[#Verse 31.]] Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. [[#Verse 32.]] And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” [[#Verse 33.]] (Now he said this to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to die.) [[#Verse 34.]] Then the crowd responded, “We have heard from the law that the Christ will remain forever. How can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” [[#Verse 35.]] Jesus replied, “The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. [[#Verse 36.]] While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them. ### The Unbelief of the People **Principle**: You cannot love God and your sin. [[#Verse 37.]] Although Jesus had performed so many miraculous signs before them, they still refused to believe in him, [[#Verse 38.]] so that the word of the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled. He said, “” [[#Verse 39.]] For this reason they could not believe because again Isaiah said, [[#Verse 40.]] “.” [[#Verse 41.]] Isaiah said these things because he saw Christ’s glory and spoke about him. [[#Verse 42.]] Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they would not confess Jesus to be the Christ, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue. [[#Verse 43.]] For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. [[#Verse 44.]] But Jesus shouted out, “The one who believes in me does not believe in me, but in the one who sent me, [[#Verse 45.]] and the one who sees me sees the one who sent me. [[#Verse 46.]] I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness. [[#Verse 47.]] If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. [[#Verse 48.]] The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day. [[#Verse 49.]] For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak. [[#Verse 50.]] And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Thus the things I say, I say just as the Father has told me.” ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. - “Philip” is a more common Greek name. It is possible they came to Philip because they were more comfortable, thinking he was a Greek, too. ###### Verse 22. ###### Verse 23. ###### Verse 24. ###### Verse 25. ###### Verse 26. ###### Verse 27. ###### Verse 28. ###### Verse 29. ###### Verse 30. ###### Verse 31. ###### Verse 32. ###### Verse 33. ###### Verse 34. ###### Verse 35. ###### Verse 36. ###### Verse 37. ###### Verse 38. ###### Verse 39. ###### Verse 40. ###### Verse 41. ###### Verse 42. ###### Verse 43. ###### Verse 44. ###### Verse 45. ###### Verse 46. ###### Verse 47. ###### Verse 48. ###### Verse **4**9. ###### Verse 50. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Mary's perfume was pure nard (12:3), imported from the Himalayan region of India, and it was worth about a year's wages (12:5). 2. Anointing Jesus' feet and wiping them with her hair was a striking act of humility, since a respectable woman normally kept her hair bound in public. 3. John tells us Judas kept the money bag and used to steal from it (12:6). 4. The leaders planned to kill Lazarus too, because many were believing in Jesus on account of him (12:10-11). 5. Palm branches (12:13) had become a symbol of Jewish national hope, and palm images appeared on coins minted during Jewish revolts. 6. "Hosanna" comes from a Hebrew phrase meaning "save now" or "please save," and the crowd's words come from Psalm 118:25-26. 7. Some Greeks came to Philip asking to see Jesus (12:20-21). Philip is a Greek name, and he was from Bethsaida in a region with many Greek speakers. 8. The voice from heaven (12:28) is one of three times in the Gospels the Father speaks audibly, along with Jesus' baptism and the transfiguration. 9. John quotes Isaiah 53:1 and Isaiah 6:10 together (12:38-40) and says Isaiah saw Jesus' glory (12:41). 10. Jesus' final public words in John call people to believe in the light while they have it (12:35-36, 44-50). ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the King who comes humbly on a young donkey (12:14-15; Zechariah 9:9) and the grain of wheat that dies to produce much fruit (12:24). Lifted up on the cross, He draws all people to Himself (12:32; Philippians 2:8-9). ## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Mary poured out costly perfume on Jesus while Judas complained about the cost (12:3-6). What does extravagant devotion to Jesus look like today? 2. Jesus said a grain of wheat must die to produce much fruit (12:24-25). What might God be asking you to let go of so that fruit can grow? 3. Some leaders believed in Jesus but kept quiet because they loved human praise more than God's praise (12:42-43). Where are you tempted to do the same? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 13: The crowd welcomes Jesus with palm branches and shouts of Hosanna. - 📖 verse 24: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. - 📖 verse 26: Whoever serves Jesus must follow Him, and the Father will honor him. - 📖 verse 32: When Jesus is lifted up from the earth, He will draw all people to Himself. ## 🔗 Related Passages - 🔗 [[Zechariah 09#Verse 09.|Zechariah 9:9]] - Your King comes, humble and riding on a donkey. - 🔗 [[Psalm 118#Verse 25.|Psalm 118:25-26]] - Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. - 🔗 [[1 Corinthians 15#Verse 36.|1 Corinthians 15:36]] - What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. - 🔗 [[Isaiah 53#Verse 01.|Isaiah 53:1]] - Who has believed our message? - 🔗 [[Isaiah 06#Verse 01.|Isaiah 6:1-3]] - Isaiah sees the Lord's glory. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[John 12 - SOAP|The Lord’s Sacrifice Draws Us]] 📝 SOAP: [[John 12- SOAP|Follow the Leader]] --- ## 📂 Internal Notes