John 12 - The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible

12:1 Here begins the last week of Jesus’ ministry before his death. Bethany. In Judaea.

12:3 ointment of spikenard. Fragrant oil. This is a similar, but not identical, event to that recorded in Luke 7:36–50.

12:4 Judas. His ungenerous attitude reflected his unregenerate heart (6:70–71).

12:5 pence. A denarius, the equivalent of a day’s wages for a laborer. Thus the container of ointment was worth about a year’s wages, a large sum.

12:6 thief. His heart was ruled by greed (Matt. 26:15). bag. To hold money collected for the ministry.

12:7–8 against the day of my burying. Mary evidently believed Christ’s predictions that He must die to save His people (3:14; 10:15,17–18), and the knowledge of God’s love (3:16) stirred her heart to express her answering love in an act of costly devotion.

12:9 Jews. Evidently not the religious leaders, who hated Christ.

12:10–11 Such was the hardness of the hearts of the chief priests that rather than responding to Jesus’ raising of Lazarus (11:1–57) with faith, they plotted to kill Lazarus.

12:12 feast. The Passover (v. 1). much people. Large crowds.

12:13 Hosanna. Literally, “Please save” (Ps. 118:25). Blessed is . . . cometh in the name of the Lord. Citing Ps. 118:26. This was one of the Hallel Psalms sung at Passover.

12:14–15 young ass. A sign of the coming of the humble King (Zech. 9:9).

12:16 when Jesus was glorified. After His death and resurrection.

12:17–18 bare record. Testified as witnesses. One reason for the enthusiasm of the crowds at Christ’s triumphal entry was His miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead.

12:19 the world is gone after him. An example of how world can mean many, but not all, for it refers to crowds of Jews but not to all Jews, and certainly not the distant nations.

12:20–22 Greeks . . . saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. A token of the gathering of people from many nations, not just Jews, into the church through the death of Christ (v. 32).

12:23 Jesus answered them. Christ immediately recognized the significance of this request from Gentiles. The hour is come. God’s appointed time for Christ to display God’s glory in the death and resurrection (be glorified; 7:39; 13:31; 17:1,5) of God’s appointed King (Son of man; Dan. 7:13–14) over all mankind.

12:24 Verily, verily. Truly (see note at 1:51). corn. Grain. die . . . much fruit. Using the illustration of a seed, Jesus taught that His death was necessary to multiply His life in many people. The crucified Christ produced a harvest of crucified Christians (Gal. 2:19–20; 5:24; 6:14).

12:25 life in this world . . . life eternal. The contrast between the earthly and heavenly kingdoms (8:23) is also a contrast between this age and the age to come. The Christian denies himself many pleasures and benefits in this age (hateth his life) because he puts his hope and seeks his treasure in Christ’s kingdom (Luke 9:24–25).

12:27 my soul troubled. His emotions were deeply disturbed by the agonies about to come upon Him when He died for His people, but He pressed on with determination.

12:28 glorify thy name. The ultimate purpose of Christ’s work is to make known the glory of God in all His perfections and attributes (17:1–5; Isa. 48:9,11; Phil. 1:11).

12:31 judgment of this world. Christ’s death is a mysterious conquest of man in rebellion against God (16:33). prince of this world. Satan, the spiritual ruler of fallen man (8:44; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; 6:12). cast out. Figurative language for Christ’s decisive victory over the Devil (Col. 2:15).

12:32–33 draw all men. As a result of Christ’s death on the cross (lifted up), the Lord Jesus will have the power and right to effectively pull (draw) all kinds of people, including Gentiles (v. 20), out of Satan’s kingdom and to Himself in saving faith (see note at 6:44).

12:35–36 Yet a little while is the light. Christ would be with them for only two or three more days. His public ministry to the Jews was ending. darkness. Judgment (Jude 13). children of light. An idiom for people characterized by their allegiance to Christ and His truth.

12:37 many miracles . . . yet they believed not. Miracles do not save souls.

12:38–40 Esaias. Isaiah (Isa. 6:10; 53:1). God had now given the bulk of the nation over to unbelief. This hardening was sent upon them as a judgment for their pride.

12:41 Esaias . . . saw his glory. The majestic vision of the holy Lord recorded in Isa. 6 was a revelation of the high and exalted Son of God before His incarnation. Isaiah’s vision of glory is linked to the prophecy of the Suffering Servant by the words “high and lifted up” (Isa. 6:1; see note at Isa. 52:13).

12:43 loved the praise of men. Man’s proud preoccupation with the honor he receives from other people is deadly to saving faith (5:44; Rom. 2:29).

12:44–50 These words are a summary of Christ’s public teaching and preaching over the previous three years.

12:45 he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. The Father and the Son are one, sharing the same nature, so that the Son perfectly reveals the Father (1:18; 10:30; 14:7,9).

12:46 light. See 1:4–5,9; 3:19–21; 8:12; 9:5; 11:9–10.

12:47 I came not to judge. Christ came the first time not to judge sinners but to save them (3:17). He will return at the end of history to judge the world.

Thoughts for Personal/Family Worship: Chapter 12

1. Those who love Christ and honor Him must expect to be critically misjudged by those who are only nominal Christians. That should not discourage them from pouring out their lives in love for the One who died for them. How can you imitate Mary’s costly devotion?
2. The death of Christ is the most sublime of all God’s works to glorify Himself. In His dying Christ has in a unique way manifested the love, justice, and wisdom of God. At the cross Satan’s power was broken and the nations redeemed. The cross of Christ breaks the heart of all elect sinners and leads them to devote their lives to Him. In what way do you see God’s glory in Christ crucified? How does that draw you to Christ as Savior and Lord?