The Fisherman's Story

A Study in the Gospel of John John 12:1-19   by Samuel E. Ward   March 4, 2012   Introduction:  Review   Part One:  "The Beginning of the Fisherman's Story",  John 1:1-18 Part Two:  "The Telling of the Fisherman's Story", John 1:18-12:50   I. "The Fisherman's Story" Unveils the Redemptive Promise of God, 1:19-4:54. II. "The Fisherman's Story" Records the Rising Controversy Over Jesus' Claims and Demonstrations of His Divine Nature and Power, John 5:1-47. III. "The Fisherman's Story" Records the Growing Conflict Between Jesus and the Jews Over His Identity Claims, John 6:1-8:11. IV. "The Fisherman's Story" Records the Intensification of the Controversy Between Jesus and the Unbelieving Jews, John 8:12-59 V. "The Fisherman's Story" Records Several Manifestations of the Opposition Against Jesus, John 9:1-11:57 VI. "The Fisherman's Story" Records the Building Tension between Jesus and His Enemies, John 12.   A. The Tension Was Present in the Dinner at Bethany, John 12:1-11.   1. Jesus is honored with a dinner by His friends, John 12:1-2.   (John 12:1-2 NIV)  Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. {2} Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.   2. Jesus is worshiped with an anointing by Mary, John 12:3.   (John 12:3 NIV)  Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.   Dr. Merrill Tenney provides some detail concerning this verse   Spices and ointments were quite costly because they had to be imported. Frequently they were used as an investment because they occupied a small space, were portable, and were easily negotiable in the open market. Mary's offering was valued at three hundred denarii (See John 12:5), approximately a year's wages for an ordinary workingman. Perhaps it represented her life savings. She presented it as an offering of love and gratitude, prompted by Jesus' restoration of her brother to the family circle. Wiping his feet with her hair was a gesture of utmost devotion and reverence. The penetrative fragrance of the ointment that filled the house told all present of her sacrificial gift.   Expositor's Bible Commentary:  New Testament-"John", Merrill C. Tenney   3. Jesus is disrespected by a critical Judas , John 12:4-6.   (John 12:4-6 NIV)  But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, {5} "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." {6} He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.   a. John makes two negative statements concerning Judas:   1) He would later betray Christ. 2) He was a thief.   b. But he was still classified as a disciple.  c. John has shown us that there are levels of belief and discipleship that fall short of salvation.   1) The example of Judas   (John 17:12 NIV)  While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.   2) The example of those who ceased to follow Jesus   (John 6:64-68 NIV)  Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. {65} He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." {66} From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. {67} "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. {68} Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.   d. An additional observation:    People begin a relationship with Jesus Christ for many reasons only to fall away when He does not fulfill their expectations.  This is the point of the parable of the seed and the sower.   (Mat 13:20-23 NIV)  The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. {21} But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. {22} The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. {23} But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."   People who come to Christ seeking eternal life will find that and so much more. Remember the words of Jesus in John 6.   (John 6:40 NIV)  For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."   If you demand that in exchange for your faith in Christ that you escape trouble, persecution, worry, and anxiety; and that He provides all of your material desires as well, then you have sought to make Him your "genie in a bottle" and not your Lord and Savior.   Seek eternal life and God will take care of your temporal needs.   (Luke 12:22-23 NIV)  Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. {23} Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.   Fear God alone and you need not fear men.   (Luke 12:4-5 NIV)  "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. {5} But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.   4. Judas is rebuked by Jesus, John 12:7-8.   (John 12:7-8 NIV)  "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. {8} You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."   5. Jesus and Lazarus become the center of attention.   a. The crowd wanted to see Jesus the Miracle-Worker and Lazarus the miracle-worked, John 12:9.   (John 12:9 NIV)  Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.   b. The chief priests wanted to identify their second target for murder, Lazarus, the reason many put their faith in Jesus, John 12:10-11.   (John 12:10-11 NIV)  So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, {11} for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.   The raising of Lazarus should have been the sign of God's declaration of Jesus as His Anointed One.  Instead it became a reason to put Lazarus to death.   (Acts 2:22 NIV)  "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.   B. The Tension Was Present During Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem, John 12:12-19.   1. The great crowd praised Jesus as He entered the city, John 12:12-16.   (John 12:12-16 NIV)  The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. {13} They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! "  "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" {14} Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, {15} "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." {16} At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.   The people wanted the King—they, however, were not ready for His Kingdom.  The deliverance Jesus was offering transcended human politics and earthly governments.  He came offering peace on that day in Jerusalem.  He would have to return again on a day much later to bring it.  Zechariah encompasses both days when he records God's prophecy.   (Zec 9:9, 14,16 NIV)  Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. . .{14} Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south . . . {16} The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.   2. The crowd who had witnessed Lazarus' resurrection spread the word about it and many went to meet Jesus, John 12:17-18.   (John 12:17-18 NIV)  Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. {18} Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.   Later, Jesus' own resurrection would supersede the importance of Lazarus' resurrection and become the core truth of the gospel as it relates to the hope of resurrection for all who believe in Christ.  For this reason, the church is the crowd that should be proclaiming the hope of resurrection to the rest of the world.   (1 Pet 1:3-4 NIV)  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {4} and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you,   3. But the Pharisees see nothing good about the miracle or the Miracle-Worker, John 12:19.   (John 12:19 NIV)  So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"   Conclusion   1. Dinners are an appropriate way to honor the blessings of Jesus in our lives. 2. We must examine ourselves and our faith. What is the motivation for our faith? Eternal life with Christ is the prize. The Christian life is a mixture of suffering and blessing, both of which can be experienced with joy if we serve for the sake of Christ's glory and not ourselves. Christ is not a "genie in a bottle" to grant all of our wishes.  3. There will always be those who oppose Christ because He requires that we grant to Him absolute sway over our lives and will.  This is necessary because of what He knows about the basic nature of humanity.   (Jer 17:9 NIV)  The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?   (Rom 3:10-18 NIV)  As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; {11} there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. {12} All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." {13} "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." {14} "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." {15} "Their feet are swift to shed blood; {16} ruin and misery mark their ways, {17} and the way of peace they do not know." {18} "There is no fear of God before their eyes."   Jesus is willing to be your Lord and Savior, but He will not be your "genie."   4. There is only one way to break away from the sin that would destroy us.  We cannot become righteous on our own because it is at best in God's eyes as "filthy rags" (Isa 64:6).  If we desire to be made right before God we must exchange our sinfulness for Christ's righteousness by faith.   (Rom 3:22-24 NIV)  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, {23} for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, {24} and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.