John 12
The King Who Gives His Life
Jesus enters Jerusalem to cheers, but He knows the cross is near. Through Mary's gift, the crowd's welcome, and His own teaching, we see a King whose glory comes through giving His life.
Walking Through John 12
Love That Counts Jesus Worthy (John 12:1-11)
1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 So they prepared a dinner for Jesus there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was among those present at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took three quarters of a pound of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus. She then wiped his feet dry with her hair. (Now the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil.) 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him) said, 5 “Why wasn’t this oil sold for 300 silver coins and the money given to the poor?” 6 (Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.) 7 So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial. 8 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!” 9 Now a large crowd of Judeans learned that Jesus was there, and so they came not only because of him but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too, 11 for on account of him many of the Jewish people from Jerusalem were going away and believing in Jesus.John 12:1-11 · NET Bible
Six days before Passover, Jesus comes to Bethany, where Lazarus lives. At a dinner honoring Jesus, Martha serves, Lazarus sits with Him, and Mary pours costly perfume on His feet. She wipes them with her hair. Judas objects that the perfume could have helped the poor, but John tells us his real concern: he steals from the shared money bag. Jesus receives Mary's gift and connects it with His coming burial. His words do not make care for the poor less important. They point to the short time left before His death. Meanwhile, the chief priests plan to kill Lazarus because his restored life leads many to believe. I see a sharp contrast here: Mary gives something precious to honor Jesus, while others plan to destroy the evidence of His goodness.
A King Unlike Their Expectations (John 12:12-19)
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. They began to shout, “ Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “ Do not be afraid, people of Zion; look, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt! ” 16 (His disciples did not understand these things when they first happened, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him and that these things had happened to him.) 17 So the crowd who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were continuing to testify about it. 18 Because they had heard that Jesus had performed this miraculous sign, the crowd went out to meet him. 19 Thus the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you can do nothing. Look, the world has run off after him!”John 12:12-19 · NET Bible
The next day, a large crowd welcomes Jesus into Jerusalem with palm branches and praise. They greet Him as Israel's King. Jesus rides a young donkey, fulfilling the promise in Zechariah 9:9. He truly is King, but His arrival shows a kind of rule different from military power. The disciples do not fully understand this at first. Only after Jesus is glorified do they connect the events with Scripture. People who witnessed Lazarus being raised keep spreading the news, and others come to meet Jesus because of that sign. The Pharisees speak in frustration, feeling that everyone is following Him. Don't rush past the disciples' delayed understanding. God's faithfulness does not depend on His people understanding everything while it is happening.
Life Comes Through His Death (John 12:20-26)
20 Now some Greeks were among those who had gone up to worship at the feast. 21 So these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew, and they both went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 The one who loves his life destroys it, and the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life. 26 If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be too. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.John 12:20-26 · NET Bible
Some Greeks who have come to worship at the feast ask Philip to help them meet Jesus. Philip and Andrew bring their request to Him. Their arrival points toward the wider reach of Jesus' work beyond Israel. Jesus announces that the time has come for His glory to be revealed. Then He speaks of a grain of wheat: it must fall into the ground and die to produce a harvest. His death will not end His work; it will bring life to many. He also calls His followers to value Him above their own lives in this world. This is not a command to hate ourselves. It means that serving Jesus matters more than protecting our comfort or control. The Father will honor those who serve His Son.
The Cross Is Not a Defeat (John 12:27-36)
27 “Now my soul is greatly distressed. And what should I say? ‘Father, deliver me from this hour’? No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard the voice said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice has not come for my benefit but for yours. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 (Now he said this to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to die.) 34 Then the crowd responded, “We have heard from the law that the Christ will remain forever. How can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Jesus replied, “The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them.John 12:27-36 · NET Bible
Jesus is deeply troubled as He faces death, yet He remains committed to the purpose for which He came. He asks that the Father's name be honored, and a voice from heaven answers. Some hear thunder; others think an angel has spoken. Jesus explains that the voice is for their benefit. Through His death, the world will face judgment, and Satan, its ruler, will lose his hold. Jesus' being lifted up refers to the cross. He will draw people from all nations to Himself, not only Israel; this does not mean everyone will believe. The crowd struggles to understand how the promised King could die. Jesus urges them to trust the light while it is present. Then He leaves and hides from them. Their chance to respond must not be treated lightly.
When Approval Matters More Than Truth (John 12:37-43)
37 Although Jesus had performed so many miraculous signs before them, they still refused to believe in him, 38 so that the word of the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled. He said, “ Lord , who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? ” 39 For this reason they could not believe because again Isaiah said, 40 “ He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and understand with their heart, and turn to me, and I would heal them .” 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw Christ’s glory and spoke about him. 42 Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they would not confess Jesus to be the Christ, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue. 43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.John 12:37-43 · NET Bible
John pauses to explain the widespread unbelief Jesus has faced. Even after so many signs, many still refuse to trust Him. John points to Isaiah 53:1 and Isaiah 6:10. Their rejection has not caught God by surprise. The words about blinded eyes and hardened hearts describe the serious reality of God's judgment, not merely a lack of information. John also says Isaiah saw Jesus' glory, connecting Jesus with the Lord Isaiah saw. Yet some leaders do believe. They keep silent because they fear being put out of the synagogue, which would carry a heavy cost in their community. John names the deeper problem: human praise matters more to them than God's approval. I find this a sober warning. Seeing the truth and openly standing with it are not always the same thing.
The Father's Welcome and Warning (John 12:44-50)
44 But Jesus shouted out, “The one who believes in me does not believe in me, but in the one who sent me, 45 and the one who sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day. 49 For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Thus the things I say, I say just as the Father has told me.”John 12:44-50 · NET Bible
These verses gather up the heart of Jesus' public message. Trusting Him means trusting the Father who sent Him. Seeing Him means seeing the Father made known through His Son. Jesus has come as light so that those who believe will not remain in darkness. His mission is to save the world, not to bring its final judgment at this time. Still, rejecting Him has lasting consequences. His message will stand as the standard of judgment on the last day. Jesus does not speak on His own authority apart from the Father. He faithfully gives the message His Father has commanded, and that command leads to eternal life. God's love and His warning belong together: He offers life, and our response to His Son truly matters.
- Glory — God's greatness made known, especially here through Jesus' death and the life it brings.
- Light — Jesus revealing God and leading people out of the darkness of sin and unbelief.
Where is the desire for people's approval making it harder for you to follow Jesus openly?
Father, thank You for sending Jesus to bring us out of darkness and into life. Help us value Your approval above the praise of others. Grow in us a love that trusts Your Son and follows Him faithfully.