Memory Verse:
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth,
will draw all peoples to Myself.”
(John 12:32)
Of all of the chapters, I fear I have not written enough on the passages found in chapter 12. Prepare to spend a little more time and do not hurry through these rich and deep 50 verses.
Imagine if you will your beloved brother being raised from the dead by Jesus Christ. Martha, ever the serving follower, prepares the food, while Mary, ever the submissive follower, comes again to Jesus’s feet. This time, she is not weeping with grief, but perhaps weeping with joy.
In these passages, look at the contrast between Judas and Mary; see the spectacle of Lazarus and the jealousy his being brought back from the dead raised within the chief priests; notice how Jesus receives the praise of children and how the people bore witness of Christ; pay attention to God’s pleasure in the Greeks coming to Christ and who it was that brought them to the Lord; take note of the contrast of those who seek to save their lives and those who lose their lives; and don’t miss the little verse that describes the rulers who believed but were afraid to confess their faith.
Jesus is about to be lifted up before the world, and in so doing, He will draw people to Himself.
Day 26: Morning
Give To God Your Very Best
(Read John 12:1–8)
A parallel reading of this account in Mark 14:3–9 and Matthew 26:6–13 says the anointing of Jesus’s feet by Mary took place in the home of Simon the Leper. Knowing Jesus’s healing power, perhaps it should read as “Simon the former leper.” The anointing the feet was a common practice, one Jesus was not unfamiliar with (see Luke 7:36–50 for a separate event).
Mary is again (see Luke 10:39; John 11:32) at the feet of Jesus, and Martha serving. Mary is anointing Jesus’s feet with very expensive and fragrant oil. Other readings said she also poured it lavishly on the head of Jesus. Such an anointing was more than just simply cleaning the feet of an itinerant preacher. It was an extravagant ceremony and one that put Jesus in an extreme place of honor.
Have there been times when you were extravagant and lavish in your giving or ministering to God? If so, describe that time here or if not, think about how you could do something extreme for Christ and list it here.______________________________________________
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Undoubtedly, Mary did such an act due to her appreciation of His raising her brother from the dead. But Jesus said that Mary had kept the oil for the day of His burial.
Do you think she knew and understood that Jesus was about to die?
YES or NO (Circle one)
It is probable that she understood what the disciples did not. But even if she didn’t know Jesus was going to die soon, God calls us to do something extreme without knowing the reason why. And as in Mary’s case, such giving can come with criticism. But what was the motivation for Judas’ criticism?
a) Care for the poor b) Greed c) Concern for Mary’s financial well-being
Doing the right thing, like Mary did, can bring criticism, even from Christians. Remember the story of the widow who gave all that she had to God (Luke 21:1–4). Jesus did not rebuke her. He did not say, “No, you need that money more than God does.” Jesus praised the widow for giving out of her poverty. Judas’ criticism of Mary was shrouded with a ministerial covering; he appeared to be godly by saying he cared for the poor. Jesus’s response did not mean that giving to the poor was unimportant, but rather we can give to the poor at any time (see Mark 14: 7).
What does God want us to give?
a) Our very best b) Our leftovers c) 10% of our income
Pray this prayer to God: “Dear Jesus, like Mary I fall at Your feet today and seek to do Your will. Be glorified in my life today. Help me trust when I have little faith and help me in my unbelief. Amen”
Day 26: Evening
The Whole World Has Gone After Jesus
(Read John 12:9–27)
This passage is often called the “Triumphal Entry.” The other gospels record this event, but only John gives the reason for the celebration: the raising of Lazarus from the dead. The tremendous miracle of raising Lazarus from death and the response of the people is strikingly omitted from the other three gospels.
Assuming Mary, Martha and Lazarus were about the same age or even younger than Jesus, it is quite likely that they would have still been living when Matthew, Mark and Luke were written (anywhere from 40 through 60 AD). Since Jewish leaders in nearby Jerusalem wanted Lazarus dead, what would be a reason that the other gospels would not mention this amazing event?
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The cries of the people that Jesus came “in the name of the Lord” fulfilled the prophecy from Psalm 118:25–26; His riding on a colt was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9. Imagine the confusion of the disciples of their Master, who formerly had refused anyone to tell others about His miracles, now was openly accepting praise and adoration!
It wasn’t just the people of Israel coming to Jesus. In verses 20–22, we see Philip and Andrew again bringing people to Jesus. Recall that it was Philip who brought Nathanael to Jesus and Andrew who brought Simon Peter (John 1:40–46). Andrew was also the one who brought boy with the five loaves and two fish (John 6:8). How about you? Have you, like Phillip and Andrew, brought someone to Jesus recently?
Three things happened that signified to Jesus that “His hour had come.”
1) Gentiles began seeking Jesus,
2) His triumphal entry to Jerusalem, and
3) Continued rejection from the religious leaders.
Previously, Jesus said His “hour” or His time to die had not yet come (John 7:6; 7:30; and 8:20). The hour for Jesus was when He was lifted up from the earth toward heaven on the cross. As a result, He would draw all nationalities, Jews and Gentiles (non-Jewish people), to Himself.
Do you seek to bring others to Jesus? Are you willing to lose your life, not by dying physically, but dying to your wants, desires and fears? Jesus said, “Where I am, there _____ _____________ will be also.” (John 12:26)
Pray this prayer to God: “Lord Jesus, like the multitude in Jerusalem, I have gone after You. Like the Greeks, ‘I wish to see Jesus.’ Give me vision to see beyond my limited sight. Show me how You reveal Yourself personally and uniquely to each of Your children. Amen.”
Day 27: Morning
Glorify Jesus!
(Read John 12:28–34)
The raising of Lazarus, the turning of water into wine, healing the blind man, all these glorified God, but nothing like the death and resurrection of Jesus from the grave.
God’s audible witness from heaven had occurred earlier at Jesus’s baptism (Matt. 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22) and at the transfiguration (Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35). Some heard God’s voice, others an angel, and others only heard thunder.
“Glory” implies splendor and brightness and is linked with spiritual sight and light. In John’s gospel, there are several ways God is glorified:
Faith or belief during adversity glorifies God. Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40
Answers to prayer glorify God. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13
Bearing much fruit glorifies God. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit…. John 15:8
Spirit-led proclaiming of truth glorifies God. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, …He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:13–15
To receive and believe His words glorifies God. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them... And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. John 17:8, 10
Spiritual unity glorifies God. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one... John 17:22–23
Following Christ in death glorifies God. This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. John 21:19
In His sacrifice, rather than seeking God to deliver Him (John 12:27), Jesus asked God to glorify Himself. Sometimes we don’t pray for God to glorify Himself, but instead we pray that God to “save me from this hour.”
There is more to giving than just materially or financially. In 1 Cor. 6:18–20 Paul says everything we have was bought by Jesus and we owe all to Him. What do you have to offer to Jesus that would ultimately glorify God?
Pray this prayer to God: “Lord God, I give myself to You. I want all of my life to be a lavish gift to You. Help me to seek first the kingdom of God and Your righteousness. Everything else, I humbly receive as a gift from You. Amen.”
Day 27: Evening
Have You Seen The Light? Then Walk In It!
(Read John 12:34–50)
Do you ever wish that Jesus was still walking on earth today? The people who knew the Old Testament could not understand why Jesus was saying the Son of Man must “be lifted up,” or in other words, die. But even while the light was with them, many did not believe (verse 37).
If you haven’t seen this so far, God does not want us to walk by sight, but rather by faith. God could live with us every day and clearly demonstrate His power and His glory like He did in the Bible. But if He did, where would faith come in? He could “force” us to worship Him by leaving us no choice. With that in mind, read again verses 38 through 40 and see that God leaves us with a choice to walk in the light.
In history, there were times when the “church” (not truly Christians) would go up and down the countryside and threaten people to either profess faith in Christ or die. Such a “faith” is not genuine.
In the same way, God could appear in the sky above and boom down from heaven, “Believe in ME!” but in reality that would not give humanity much of a choice. In verse 37 John seems shocked that even though Jesus did so much and performed so many miracles, people still refused to believe.
What about you? In your walk with Christ, have you “seen the light”? Has God revealed Himself to you, and perhaps told you to “walk in the light”? Perhaps not audibly, but He will show you spiritual light in His Word.
Compare 12:35–36, 46 to John 3:19–21 and John 1:5–9. What are some similar characteristics of physical light and Jesus, the “light of the world”?___________
What are characteristics of walking in light, believing and obeying?
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What are characteristics of walking in darkness, unbelief and disobedience?
John writes elsewhere about what is one of the clearest evidences that you are walking in the light of Christ: Read 1 John 1:6–7 and 1 John 2:9–11, then write down what that evidence is.
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When people don’t want the light, they pull down the shades. If the sun comes from behind a cloud, a person preferring darkness may resort to getting even more shade. The same is true in the spiritual light. God wants to shine in the lives of people, but many would rather stay in the dark. The very presence of the spiritual light causes them to seek darkness all the more.
Pray this prayer to God: “Father of Lights, shine down on me. I sometimes don’t want to see the sin in my life and seek to keep it hidden. Help me to walk in the light and adjust my vision, so that I can see more clearly, the way You see all things. Help me to love others in Your light. In Jesus’s Name. Amen.”
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