John 12 - The King James Study Bible

12:1–8. Here is a character study of Martha, Mary, and Judas. Note that Martha served (v. 2). Nothing has changed since the earlier and similar occasion recorded in Luke 10:38–42. The place of this supper is the house of Simon the leper. (See Matt. 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9.) Jesus and Lazarus are honored guests. Mary worshiped (v. 3). She anoints Jesus for His burial (cf. 19:39,40). In John’s gospel she anoints His feet, but Matthew and Mark record how she pours the ointment on His head. Evidently she does both. There would be no time for anointing later (cf. Mark 16:1). Observe that Judas covets (vv. 4–6). The three hundred denarii was almost a year’s wages; one denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer. The other disciples evidently agree with Judas that this is wasteful (Matt. 26:8). John portrays Judas as a thief. He had the bag, that is, he was the treasurer (cf. 13:29).

12:13. Hosanna is Hebrew for “save now.”

12:15. Compare this verse to Zechariah 9:9. A “foal” or ass’s colt was an animal that had never borne a burden. It was therefore young and inexperienced. A king would ride such an untrained beast when he was on a mission of peace, whereas he would ride a mature, trained horse when on a mission of war (cf. Rev. 19:11 where Jesus comes on a white horse).

12:16–18. Glorified signifies resurrected and ascended. Witnesses of the raising of Lazarus give their testimony, and people come out to see Jesus because of this miracle.

12:20–22. Compare the Magi coming at His birth in Matthew 2:1–12.

12:25. Whenever we see love and hate contrasted, we should understand that love for the one is so undivided that it may appear as hate for the other, although it is not necessarily so (cf. Luke 14:26, disciples hating mother and father; Rom. 9:13, God hating Esau).

12:31. Now means at the Crucifixion, not when he is bound before the Millennium, or when he is cast into the lake of fire. Shall . . . be: because the Cross was still a future event. The prince of this world is Satan (cf. 14:30; 16:11).

12:45–47. This is a further claim to deity (cf. 10:30; 14:8–11). He came first to save, not to judge (cf. 3:17). He will judge later at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10), and at the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11).