John 12 - NKJV Study Bible

12:1 six days before the Passover: If Jesus’ crucifixion took place on a Friday, this dinner occurred during the evening of the previous Saturday. Verse 12 seems to support this conclusion, because the Jerusalem entry took place on Sunday.

12:2 They probably refers to the people of the village. The inhabitants of Bethany wished to express their thanks to Jesus, who by a glorious miracle had honored their obscure village. Lazarus was the guest of honor.

12:3 very costly oil: Judas Iscariot said that this oil cost three hundred denarii (v. 5). One denarius was a laborer’s wage for one day (see Matt. 20:2). Thus the oil cost approximately a year’s wages. anointed the feet: Mary also anointed Jesus’ head (see Matt. 26:7; Mark 14:3). The custom of that time was to anoint the heads of guests. Anointing Jesus’ head was an act of honor; anointing His feet was a display of devotion.

12:7 My burial: Anointing was the first stage of embalming (19:39). Whether Mary knew it or not, she was anticipating Jesus’ death, which would come within the week.

12:8 the poor you have with you always: We will never lack an opportunity to care for the poor (see Deut. 15:11).

12:10,11 plotted to put Lazarus to death also: The chief priests were mostly Sadducees. They had an additional reason to kill Lazarus. He was a living refutation of their doctrine that there was no resurrection (see 11:57; Acts 23:8). Yet this was not a meeting of the Jewish council, nor was it a formal sentence of death. on account of him: The ultimate motivation for wanting to kill Lazarus was that because of him many were believing in Jesus. Went away implies that these individuals were withdrawing from the Jewish leaders.

12:13–15 took branches of palm trees: This was the Sunday before Christ arose, today called Palm Sunday. cried out . . . King of Israel: Until this point, Jesus had discouraged expressions of support from the people (6:15; 7:1–8). Here He allowed public enthusiasm. He entered Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey. This act fulfilled prophecy (see Zech. 9:9) and as such was a symbolic proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah.

12:16 did not understand: The disciples did not catch the prophetic significance of Jesus’ act. when Jesus was glorified: After Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, the disciples finally understood that the OT prophecies concerning the Messiah had been fulfilled in Jesus.

12:17–19 These verses explain the series of events that led to the condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus.

12:20 The fact that these Greeks came to Jerusalem to worship at the feast indicates that they were Jewish proselytes. By recording this incident, perhaps John was hinting that the salvation rejected by many of the Jews was already passing to the Gentiles.

12:23 The hour has come: Prior to this, Jesus had stated that His hour had not yet come (2:4; 7:6,30; 8:20). Now the time had come for Christ to die and be raised from the dead (see 13:1; 16:32; 17:1).

12:24 unless a grain . . . dies: When a seed dies, it produces fruit. Life comes by death. This principle is true not only in nature, but it is also true spiritually. Jesus was speaking first and foremost of Himself. He is the grain of wheat. His death would produce much fruit and would result in many living for God.

12:25,26 The phrase loves his life describes those who serve only themselves. In a very short time, Jesus was going to give the disciples an opportunity to identify this problem in their lives (13:1–7). Hates his life involves serving Christ. Each believer must establish his or her priorities. We cannot give ourselves fully to this life and yet be committed to the life to come. Follow Me in this context means to follow Jesus’ example of self-sacrifice (13:15). Jesus set the example of “hating” His life in this world so that He could accomplish eternal purposes (see Phil. 2:5–8).

12:27 My soul is troubled: Jesus’ agony over His impending death was not confined to Gethsemane, where He prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (see Matt. 26:39). He felt the agony and expressed it almost a week before Gethsemane.

12:34 Christ remains forever: The people understood that lifted up meant removal from the earth by death. They argued that Scripture teaches that the Messiah would abide forever (see Ps. 110:4; Is. 9:7; Ezek. 37:25). To them, the Messiah would not have to die. They did not understand that He would be raised.

12:35,36 Instead of answering the people’s questions (v. 34), Jesus gave them a warning. Walk while you have the light: Jesus is the light (1:4; 8:12; 9:5). He wanted the people to believe and abide in Him (v. 46).

12:37 they did not believe: Their unbelief is startling. However Jesus’ predicted suffering and death did not fit the people’s idea of the Messiah.

12:38 the word of Isaiah . . . might be fulfilled: John quotes Is. 53:1 to prove that their unbelief is predictable.

12:39,40 The consequence of repeated rejection is loss of the capacity to believe. Isaiah taught that some could not believe because God hardened their hearts (see Is. 6:10) after they repeatedly rejected the truth.

12:41 John uses the words His glory to speak of the manifestation of God Himself. John quotes Is. 6:9 (see v. 40) as a prophecy of the people’s unbelief and their rejection of Christ. In that verse, Isaiah was talking about God Himself. Therefore in this passage John is teaching that Jesus is God.

12:42,43 Rulers refers to members of the council. Because the rulers did not confess Him, some claim that their faith was not genuine. The text, however, says that they believed in Him, a construction in Greek that typically indicates saving faith (8:30). Moreover, the word nevertheless marks a stark contrast between these believers and the unbelief spoken of in vv. 37–41. These men were genuine believers. Their problem was that they feared the opinions of their fellow leaders. Such believers will be ashamed at Christ’s return (see 1 John 2:28).

12:44,45 not in Me but in Him: Jesus insisted that anyone who believed in Him was at the same time exercising belief in God the Father. Jesus explained that He was the personal manifestation of God (see 1:18; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3).

12:47 I do not judge may be rephrased as “I do not execute judgment.” Christ will judge, but at His first coming He did not come to judge but to save (3:17).