Presents
Pamphlet
1512
John
chapter 12
You can walk in magnificent churches with stain glassed windows, you can walk on holy ground, you can walk among holy men, you can walk around all over town and say "Praise the Lord" to everyone, but if you do not walk in the Word of God, you walk in darkness everywhere you walk!
Lazarus (which is Greek for Eleazar, the third son of Aaron), and the Levitical High Priesthood which he represents, have both been restored to life by He who is Life and the Resurrection, Jesus Christ. In doing so, that High Priest position was removed from the usurping hands of the kenites who claimed they legitimately sat in the seat of Moses. And to further document and illustrate the point, our Father even "took over" the mouth of the would-be high priest, Caiaphas, and "caused him" to prophecy concerning the very crucifixion of Jesus as the Savior for all mankind.
Now, needless to say, raising someone from the dead was no small miracle and word of this supernatural event traveled fast and caused quite a stir. Meanwhile, the holier-than-thou leaders of the prevailing church system were worried sick and losing sleep over the real possibility that this could bring their phony "religious world" and therefore their power, influence and tithe-filled bank accounts, crashing down!
So they concluded that the best organized religion solution to their problem was to eliminate their "competition" by means of murder, which is quick, simple and, they no doubt though, very effective.
We now begin chapter 12 in this Gospel of John, and it is the 9th day of the first month, Nisan, which would be from our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset. Jesus has returned to Bethany.
Note: People often write to us and ask how to determine the date for Passover. It always begins on the 14th day of the first month of the year as it is written: Leviticus 23:5 "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover." And since the first month of the solar year (Day 1) always begins with the spring equinox, you can easily look up the date for any given year. Many calendars mark the equinoxes, solstices, and phases of the moon.John 12:1
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
This is the first of three recorded suppers and occurred at the close of the Sabbath, Saturday evening, the 10th of Nisan.[2] There they made Him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
What a wonderful servant of the Lord, Martha was. And there, seated at the table with Jesus, was her brother Lazarus, alive and well after having once been dead four days. Although he had been to the Father for that short time period (Ecc. 12:7), it is not written whether God allowed any memory of that to remain with him when he returned to his flesh body.
This is a most beautiful contrast from the Mary we saw back in chapter 11, where we saw her at Jesus' feet, sniveling and whining about her problems and sorrows (which we also saw added to the indignation of our Lord, because He doesn't like it). However, can we not all say, "There for but the grace of God go I?" Think about what you do and say at Jesus' feet! It is OK to worship there, but then stand up and be a doer![3] Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Mary took probably the most valuable possession she had and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped them with her hair. And though she gave Him the best she had materially, her precious heart and love for Him was even more valuable, her faith having been increased in Him (as He said would happen in vs. 11:15).
Uh oh, here comes Mr. Material Minded with an auditing question![4] Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
So you see, the concept of redistribution of wealth, taking from the "haves" and giving it to the "have-nots", was not conceived by 20th Century politicians, although their creative underhanded methods of doing so have been better disguised as compassionate. Nor did they formulate the concept of trying to lay guilt on the haves for having, and not sharing it all with the poor, who continue to have not.John 12:5
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
Besides, giving money to the poor never has been, nor ever will be, the solution to their problem, which is usually spiritual and mental. It is contained in the old adage, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for life." And a perfect illustration of this was when Jesus fed actual fish to the 5,000. What was the result? They came seeking Him the next day for another handout!
So how far do you think the 300 pence for the ointment would go?
Of course if the "bag" is ever delivered to the poor by a thief (or a socialist politician) it is always much, much, "lighter" than it was when they were given it to carry![6] This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
The greatest gift to the both the "poor" and the "poor in spirit" was the sacrifice (burying) of Jesus Christ. And the Holy Spirit moved upon Mary to anoint Him for this cause.[7] Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
Even a few days hence and the Passover Lamb, supplied by God Himself, would be sacrificed.[8] For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
There is nothing new under the sun. Can't you just see it now: "Come one, come all, to the Greatest Show on Earth! See the man who was once dead but is now alive! Come one, come all!"John 12:9
Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
Perhaps that's an over dramatization, but it illustrates the way people are.
Since Lazarus was also becoming famous and drawing large crowds, Caiaphas, the high priest along with his "advisors" decided to put a contract out on him too (that's organized crime talk for "have him killed", not by trial and execution, but by a "hit man")![10] But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
This was not good news for the scribes and Pharisees.[11] Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
This would now be the fourth day before Passover, the 11th of Nisan. Word had spread fast that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem and there gathered a great crowd. And they:John 12:12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
"Hosanna" means "oh save" or "save now" and is an exclamation of adoration (See Strong's #5614). And so prophetically they went forth and quoted from the Book of Psalms.[13] Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
You see, all the events of the crucifixion were testified of Him in the Word of God, long before they happened. So how could anyone deny that Jesus was in fact, without dispute, the very Messiah? Man could not possibly have orchestrated the fulfillment of these prophecies. But then again, if you have people who personally witnessed Jesus heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and raise a dead man back to life, deny that He is the Messiah, what convincing argument can you give?Psalm 118:25
Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.[26] Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Watch what Jesus does next.
Have you read where it is written?John 12:14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
More than 400 years before Jesus "found a young ass, and sat thereon" these words were written by the prophet Zechariah.[15] Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
And it came to pass exactly as it was written!Zech. 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
How about you? Do you remember that these things were written of Him? Have you ever read the Book of Zechariah?John 12:16
These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
Many of us were first exposed to Jesus Christ through the New Testament, and "understood these things not at the first". In fact, some of us went (perhaps even yet go) to churches that just carried the New Testament around and therefore the facts necessary to form the memory "that these things were written of Him" are not taught, nor even made available.
The crowd who witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus continued to witness and talk about Him and the miracle. This accounted for the large crowd that went out to meet Him.[17] The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
And as the Pharisees, looking down from their lofty ivory towers, watched the crowd gather before Him they said to themselves, "We've got big problems!"[18] For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
But the prophetic words (supplied directly through the intervention of the Holy Spirit) spoken by Caiaphas, the wicked high priest, would soon be fulfilled as the day of this Passover approaches![19] The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
We are now on the 3rd day before the feast, which would be our Sunday sunset to Monday sunset, and drawing closer and closer to the crucifixion of the Passover Lamb.
These Greeks were Hellenes, i.e. gentiles.John 12:20
And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
They probably knew Philip because he was from Bethsaida (house of fish) of Galilee and even had a Greek name.[21 ]The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
We have been reading all along in this Gospel of John that no one could apprehend Jesus because His hour had not yet come.[22] Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.[23] And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
John 7:30Now the hour has finally come that the Son of man should be glorified. And how is that glorification revealed? Jesus teaches us using the example of a "seed".
Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.John 8:20
... and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
If you never place the seed into the earth (i.e. bury it), it will become nothing for it will just remain a seed. But if you plant it in the ground so that it decays and dies, though the seed itself will be no more, from it will spring forth new life and plentiful fruit. So in this teaching Jesus is preparing His disciples for the crucifixion which is about to take place and that through His death, Abundant and Eternal Life will spring forth.John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Did you know that apostle Paul also used this same agricultural example to explain how the flesh body dies, and is placed in the ground like a seed, and from it springs your beautiful spiritual body. In fact he makes it quite clear that the body you place in the ground is NOT the body that will come forth. (So much for the flesh body rising from the grave theory.)
So when you die (or are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, if you are alive when Jesus returns) you are raised, or you step into, your spiritual body. The flesh returns to the "dust", the material elements of the periodic table from which it was made (Ecc. 12:7).1 Cor. 15:37
And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:[38] But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
It can't be explained any simpler than Paul explains it.1 Cor. 15:44
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Jesus now continues with His teaching:
If you love "you" more than anyone else, even Christ, you are in big trouble. Are you willing to give unto Him your most priceless ointment?John 12:25
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
Certain words in the English language have changed considerably since 1611 A.D. For example, the word "hateth" used here means to love less by comparison. It is a matter of priorities just as Jesus explained in Luke 14 where He said you are to "hate" your father and mother and all your relatives and even yourself. ("Hate" again means to love less by comparison.) Our heavenly Father, our closest relative, the One who created us, comes first, then family.
And if you please the Father, regardless of what man says or does, and follow Jesus, the Word of God, then you are Christ's disciple, His servant, and the Father will dearly honour you and bless you. You see, you can say you believe in Jesus, but if you don't follow the Word of God, Jesus Christ, then you are not His disciple. Jesus further explains:Luke 14:26
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Remember His sheep hear His voice, His word, and FOLLOW Him, willingly, because they love Him, not because they fear death, hell or excommunication from church. The word "Honour" means to "prize" or value greatly. Oh how He loves His children.John 12:26
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
This simply means that now His hour is come and His life is in danger! It does not mean He is scared or frightened. It was for this cause, to be the Passover Lamb, that He came into the world at His first advent! So why would He ask the Father to change or alter the plan of Salvation? He wouldn't. He didn't ask for a comfortably saddled horse or a chariot when it was written that He would ride in on the colt of an ass, did He?[27] Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
And to validate the point that the plan must be fulfilled and He would not say "Father save me", He looked up and said, "Father, glorify thy name", and the "voice of great thunder" (Rev. 14:2) replied.28] Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
And so He did glorify His name through Christ's first advent and He will do so again at His second advent.
Jesus didn't need to audibly hear His Father's voice, nor vice versa as we learned in John 11:42 when He said, "And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me."John 12:29
The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.[30] Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
In other words, the "world" is exercising its judgment, and has decided to reject and crucify the Messiah. You see, they will choose "Bar-abbas", which means "son of the father" (their father the devil), over Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, Almighty God.[31] Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
And you know what? The next step will be that the world will get its choice when the prince of this world, the prince of the power of the air, is cast out of heaven (Rev. 12:7-9) and returns disguised as the Prince of Peace, though he will be Satan himself, ("the instead of Christ).
"If I be lifted up" means that He will be, i.e. when He is lifted up on the cross and pays the price. ALL men means just that, all people both Israelites and Gentiles.[32] And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Of course when He was actually lifted up on the cross, NO ONE drew unto Him. They all deserted Him, including His disciples, except for John whom he sent home with His mother. But after that prince of this world is cast out first (at the 6th Trump) and then Jesus Christ returns (at the 7th Trump), EVERY KNEE, that's all men, will draw to Him and bow before the King of kings and Lord of lords.
This documents that the "lifting up" in verse 32 was talking about the cross, as His manner of death would be crucifixion.[33]This he said, signifying what death He should die.
They "heard" out of the law. Yes, people will sit and listen to someone speak, but do they ever "read" out of the law for themselves? Some do. Remember the Bereans who listened to the apostle Paul? It is recorded in Acts 17:11 "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."John 12:34
The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
Hmmm! Some Christians "are more noble that others". These Bereans "checked out" the apostle Paul, the one who wrote the majority of the New Testament, to see if he was telling them the truth! Now if you read that scripture to someone who claims to be a "follower" of Christ, they NEVER say, "How dare they check out what the Apostle Paul told them?" But then they get all upset if you suggest they "check out" what their pope or bishop or evangelist or local preacher is telling them. Go figure?
You see, it is not written anywhere in the Old Testament that Jesus would abide forever "at His first advent", as those in verse 34 claim they "heard" He would, perhaps from Ps. 89:29. Even Psalms 22 declares and details His very crucifixion right down to the gambling of His clothes by the Roman soldiers and the very words Jesus would TEACH while hanging on the cross.
But don't take my word for it. Check it out for yourself! You determine your own "nobility", not me.Psalm 22:1
... My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Jesus has just told the people that He must be lifted up, i.e. crucified, and they are SURPRISED at this, because they HEARD that the Messiah abideth forever when He comes. The problem is they didn't know the Word of God, because it nowhere says that, and consequently they were misled by those speaking their own voice. So Christ is about to shed some light on their ignorance, in love of course.
How do you walk in the light? The Word of God is the light! You can walk in magnificent churches with stain glassed windows, you can walk on holy ground, you can walk among holy men, you can walk around all over town and say "Praise the Lord" to everyone, but if you do not walk in the Word of God, you walk in darkness everywhere you walk!John 12:35
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
But if you abide in the light, then that light will shine brightly in you and you will truly be a child of Light. You'll glow in the dark, so to speak.
Even as Jesus Christ, the Light, glorified the Father in heaven, He will continue to do so in and through His servants, because the Light, the Word of God, is in them. So don't hide the light and put it under a bushel.Ephes. 5:8
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Again, we are the children of light, if we have that light in us.Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
They just didn't see the light, did they?John 12:36
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.John 12:37
But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
This is a direct quote from Isaiah 53:1.[38] That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
This question was asked by the prophets and the answer is "no one" or few. (See note in Companion Bible, Isa. 53:1)Isaiah 53:1
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
And why not? The answer is given in Isaiah 6:9, 10, which the following is quoted from. ("Esaias" is Greek for Isaiah.)
It is because God loves His children that those without eyes to see and ears to hear might learn through the hardening of their hearts [minds] to turn to Him in utter defeat, or after having experienced the pros and cons of joy and pain and love and despair and see the mercy and the grace and the love of God, and say "Abba, Father" and be converted, and Christ should heal their eyes that they might see Him. That's what flesh is all about. It is, after all, only a temporary body which can be diseased, mutilated and even killed (for it only lasts a short time anyway), yet not harm the soul at all. It is given to the sons of God for the purpose of learning to decide to chose between God and Satan. I sometimes refer to our trip through this flesh age as "earth school".John 12:39
Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,[40] He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
Remember in chapter 3 that we discussed the plan of God was to have the host of heaven, all of us, His sons, (yes, us, we spirit beings who He created way back even before the first earth age, who lived here with the dinosaurs), be born from above, i.e. come down from heaven and be born of woman and dwell in flesh bodies, born innocent, i.e. with no memory whatsoever of the rebellion of Satan and the "world that then was"? And remember the blind man? He was BORN blind! And Jesus placed clay on his eyes and told him go wash off the clay, which is symbolic of flesh.
The point is, you see, the flesh itself is blind to that which is spirit. In other words, eyes to see and ears to hear are not standard equipment on flesh bodies. You must receive them from your Father.
A few years ago, the pastor of a major Christian denomination in a nearby community told me that he began teaching the Bible from the pulpit on Sundays, instead of just giving sermons. When word of his activities got back to the denomination's headquarters he was notified that if he continued to teach in such a fashion that he would be fired. Unfortunately he decided to keep his job![41] These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.[42] Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
So don't kid yourself. There are many preachers in the churches today who do not teach God's Word, as it is written, because they know they would lose their jobs. In fact, I am told most sign agreements that they will not teach anything other than the approved doctrines of the church. So they teach those topics and sermons handed down by the church hierarchies in their little quarterlies. Therefore, they are as these Pharisees in that they do NOT confess Him, because they withhold the true Voice of the Shepherd, the Word of God.
So should it be any surprise that we are nation of Biblical illiterates? Jesus will say in verse 49 that the Father gave Him everything that He should speak, and He boldly and courageously said every word of it. Well, the Father has also given to His servants that which they should speak, IN WRITING! It is called the Word of God. Yet those who call themselves ministers and preachers and teachers, i.e. "men of the cloth", speak their own words and the words of other men, and NOT the words of the LORD! So what are we left with? The famine of the end time that Jesus told us of in Mark 13 and Matthew 24.John 12:43
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Here again is what that famine is:
Yep, they are afraid of being put out of the church and they love their lofty positions and some even like dressing up in fancy religious garb, where people look up to them as "Reverends", etc. Shame on them!Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
You can't believe in Jesus without believing in the Father. And as John has documented both in this Gospel and in his epistles, if you don't have the Son, you don't have the Father either! You see, Jesus did not even speak His own words, but only those that the Father gave Him. So His words were the Father's and vice versa.John 12:44
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
In a just couple of chapters hence Jesus will be asked by Philip, who was present here and heard what Jesus just said in verse 45, to "show us" the Father.[45] And he that seeth me seeth Him that sent me.
Here's Jesus' reply:
How many times has He already said that He and the Father are one?John 14:9
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Do you believe Jesus is the "I AM"?John 14:10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Jesus is the light that came into the world and "you know who" is the darkness. Which one do you abide in? Did you know that Satan looks like Jesus to most Christians? That is his "image", even the image of the religious beast, which is why most people will follow him and worship him as Jesus when he is cast out of heaven to this earth (Rev. 12:7-9).John 12:46
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Jesus is the real Light, Satan is the transformed light or the AntiLight.2 Cor. 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Jesus said this very same thing back in chapter 3. He came as the "Savior", not the "Judge".John 12:47
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Judgment is reserved unto the appointed time, which is the "day of judgment", following the Millennium (see next verse). The plan was laid out in the beginning.John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Let there be no doubt about it. ALL judgment either past, present, or future is by the Word of God. In the past, in "the world that then was" (II Pet. 3), Satan was judged by God and sentenced to die (Ezek. 28) in the lake of fire following the final "great white throne" judgment. God's elect were also justified and predestined to be used by Him to bring about His plan. And all those who have died believing in, and those who are alive and believe in Jesus, will be part of the first resurrection and shall be rewarded with eternal life, (i.e. their judgment is reward). They will not partake in the final judgment in the last day of the Millennium as it is written in Rev. 20:6 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."John 12:48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
But Jesus explains in this 48th verse, those who reject the Word of God,and who do not change by the end of the Millennium, will be judged by Him, the Word of God, at that time, when the books are opened (Rev. 20:12). The Father wants everyone to know that and so He had it both spoken by the Living Word and recorded in the Written Word. We are without excuse.
Much of what the Father gave Jesus to say was already written in the Torah, word for word.[49] For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
The Word of God lives and abides forever (I Pet. 1:23). And if you abide in it, you can too![50] And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
o study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.
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