John 12 - ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible

12:1–8 The contrast between Mary and Judas could not be bolder. Mary reclines at Jesus’ feet in adoring love, offering extravagant devotion—anointing him for his burial. Judas sits in condescending arrogance, not only questioning Mary’s action but judging Jesus’ willing acceptance of such a gift. One is a worshiper; one is a thief. One gives sacrificial honor; the other seeks personal gain (Matt. 26:15). One demonstrates the way of grace; the other, the way of sin.

This story should remind us of a similar scene recorded in Luke’s Gospel, where an unnamed sinful woman washes Jesus’ feet with her tears, while Simon, a self-righteous Pharisee, “murders” Jesus in his heart (Luke 7:36–50). Those who have been forgiven much love much. Those who are greedy for much are greedy for more.

12:12–19 Jesus is his own “public relations firm”—and his own interpreter. The choice to ride into Jerusalem on a young donkey wasn’t just to fulfill prophecy but to contradict the prevailing notions about Israel’s Messiah. The waving of palm branches wasn’t just an act of enthusiastic praise; it was a statement of nationalistic pride. But Jesus didn’t come into Jerusalem as a political, economic, and social advocate for Israel. He came to establish a kingdom reign over all nations, including Israel and Rome—a reign of grace in the hearts of his followers and a reign of peace over all he has made. Jesus makes us joyful prisoners of hope by rescuing us from the empty promises of hype (Zech. 9:9–12).

12:20–26 The “not yet” is over; the appointed hour has arrived. The time for Jesus’ passion is at hand. The Pharisees lamented, “The world has gone after him” (12:19). They simply had no clue how fully their words would be fulfilled. With the arrival of the Greeks, we are given a preview of the enormous harvest of nations that has been secured by the death of Jesus—the eschatological kernel of kingdom wheat. In Jesus we see the promise to Abraham fulfilled that he would be the father of many nations (Gen. 12:1–3).

These Greeks were seeking Jesus because Jesus was seeking them. He came into the world to seek and to save the lost. Apart from the sovereign grace of God, the message of the cross is foolishness to the Greeks and a scandal to the Jews (1 Cor. 1:22–24), just as it is to us—but for the grace of God.

12:27–36 First and foremost, the gospel is the good news of how God reconciles sinners to himself through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. But it is also the story of Jesus’ triumph over all evil and over Satan himself, “the ruler of this world.” Jesus came into the world to destroy him who holds the power of death (that is, the Devil) and to free those “who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:15; cf. 1 John 3:8). His “bruised heel” secured the “crushed head” of the Serpent—fulfilling the first gospel promise (Gen. 3:15).

Satan’s defeat has already been secured, and the clock is ticking on his ultimate demise. His present flurry of fury is actually a sign that he knows his time is short (Rev. 12:12).