John 12:1-50

Written ~ 04-19-2024

Read John Chapter Twelve

John 12

Six days before the Passover celebration began Jesus had arrived in Bethany, that’s where He had called Lazarus out of the grave and back to life (John 11). He stayed in Bethany at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Martha was preparing a meal for everyone, while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus anointing Him with expensive perfume and wiping His feet with her hair. Jesus made it clear that she had done this to honor Him and to prepare His body for burial. Even though there was a dispute around the table that she was wasting a year’s wage by pouring out the perfume. Those who didn’t agree with what she doing hadn’t recognized the significance of her anointing the feet of Jesus.

John 12:9-11…

When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see Him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

John 12:17-18…

17 Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. 18 That was the reason so many went out to meet Him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign.

Word had gotten out that Jesus was in town for the Passover celebration, so people were coming from all over to get a glimpse of Him. Even some Greeks came for the Passover celebration and asked to see Jesus…

John 12:20-29…

20 Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 21 paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into His glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to serve Me must follow Me, because My servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves Me.

27 “Now My soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to Your Name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to My Name, and I will do so again.” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to Him.

The crowd hanging around Jesus that day, got more than they bargained for! Jesus was talking about His death, but they didn’t understand. When Jesus uses the metaphor of a kernel of wheat dying in order to produce many new kernels and a plentiful harvest, again what He said escaped their understanding. Jesus had to die, then raise from the dead, He compared Himself to a kernel of wheat which must be put in the ground to die before it can spring forth life and produce a plentiful harvest. Did Jesus want to die? No, we can see how troubled He was and how He asked the Father to save Him “from this hour.” But He knew He had to bring glory to the Father’s Name by doing the will of the Father.

Can you imagine how awestruck those people gathered around would have been when they heard a voice coming out of the heavens! Some went as far as to excuse it away by saying… “It was just thunder…” or “That it was an angel speaking…”

Jesus continues…

John 12:30-36

30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine.

31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to Myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how He was going to die.

34 The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

35 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

In these verses Jesus is urging people to seek out the Light He provides. His time of great darkness was drawing near – He would soon die on the cross for us, His body would absorb all the darkness of the world in that moment, many would feel lost, their light snuffed out. But we know the glorious ending to that scenario! Jesus rose again! And He rose brighter than ever before!

I love when Jesus says, “Put your trust in the Light…” As believers and followers of the Light, we need to shine so brightly that those around us cannot escape the intensity! Our lives should be so absorbed by the Light of Jesus that those trapped in darkness can see their way out and be lead to Jesus.

John 12:44-50…

44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust Me, you are trusting not only Me, but also God who sent Me. 45 For when you see Me, you are seeing the One who sent Me. 46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the dark. 47 I will not judge those who hear Me but don’t obey Me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48 But all who reject Me and My message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49 I don’t speak on My own authority. The Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know His commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells Me to say.”

Verse 12:36, “…Put your trust in the Light…”

Verse 12:46, “…All who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the dark.”

The Light of Jesus is where we should put all of our trust. We will not be lead down a path towards destruction when following the Light of Jesus – His path is well illuminated, there is no question that His path leads to life.

The lights in the world that seem to twinkle so brightly, falsely lead to a much darker path. This path draws us in like a moth or mosquito is drawn to light, not realizing its purpose is to zap the life out of you.

Which light are you choosing to follow?

The LIGHT of the world?

Or the lights of the world?

One leads to LIFE…

One leads to death…

Seems like a pretty easy answer, right?

But what happens when our eyes get distracted? What if our hearts and minds don’t have the same intensity anymore, or our light is beginning to flicker?

Jesus says to trust in Him.

But maybe there are days when we rely on our own decisions to light our way. What happens then? That path seems dim, we start to stumble and we cannot see the end of the path very clearly.

If we do as the Lord commands and trust in Him alone, what will happen?

Verse 12:36 says, “…we will become children of the light…”

Verse 12:46 says, “…we will no longer remain in the dark…”

When we put our faith and trust in Jesus, it has now become our responsibility to shine the LIGHT into the world. We can’t do that if we still want to be a part of the darkness that the world wants to share.

Be a light! Even when people shield their eyes and don’t want any part of the LIGHT you are shining! We need to shine the LIGHT of Jesus in this darkened world. Unfortunately, the world will become increasingly darker. Don’t get pulled in, keep your light well-lit by absorbing the power that comes from the Holy Spirit. Keep plugged in!

Jesus speaks of HIS LIGHT many times:

John 3:19-21

John 8:12

John 9:5

Even in Heaven there will be no need for the sun or moon, because Jesus, the Lamb of God is the lamp that lights the way (Revelation 21:23).

2 Corinthians 4:6 says…

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

~BE A LIGHT~

If your light is flickering – get charged back up in the WORD OF GOD!

~AMEN~