The Fisherman's Story

A Study in the Gospel of John John 12:20-50   by Samuel E. Ward   March 11, 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   Since chapter 5 of John's gospel we have been observing increasing opposition to Jesus from the chief priests and religious rulers in Jerusalem.  In spite of this, many of the common people within Israel had heard Jesus teachings and witnessed His miracles and had come to believe that He was either the prophet who was to come like Moses as prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:15 or perhaps even the long-awaited Messiah. This mixture of belief and unbelief continued even into the final week of Jesus' earthly ministry.  The hopes and dreams of most for a king who would remove the heavy yoke imposed upon them by Rome was be dashed in a couple of days from the events we are studying in John chapter 12. In our study we are in the sixth stage of this parallel of growing belief among the people and the increasingly desperate opposition of the religious elite.   VI. "The Fisherman's Story" Records the Building Tension between Jesus and His Enemies, John 12.   A. The Tension Was Present at the Dinner in Bethany, John 12:1-11.   1. Judas showed his lack of respect to Jesus by expressing his contempt for the worshipful act of anointing Jesus' feet by Mary. 2. The chief priests showed their fear of Christ's popularity by seeking to kill the reason for the massive following of Christ, Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.   B. The Tension Was Present During Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem, John 12:12-19.   1. The crowd was ready to make Jesus their king as He entered Jerusalem riding on the donkey in fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy. 2. The Pharisees were frustrated by their inability to stop the flood of Jesus' popularity.   The tension continues as we note that . . .   C. The Tension Was Present As Jesus Prepared to Unseat the Prince of this World, Satan, John 12:20-36.   1. Some were still seeking Jesus (some Greeks), John 12:20-22.   (John 12:20-22 NIV)  Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. {21} They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." {22} Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.   2. For some, the time for finding Jesus was fading, John 12:23-28.   a. The Son of Man announces that the critical hour of His life is imminent, John 12:23-26.   1) Seeds can only reproduce when they die and are planted, John 12:23-24.   (John 12:23-24 NIV)  Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. {24} I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.   2) Jesus shall become the firstfruits of those risen from the dead which will insure the harvest of all who will inherit eternal life.   (1 Cor 15:22-26 NIV)  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. {23} But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. {24} Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. {25} For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. {26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.   3) Jesus sets the example of devotion to the point of willingness to expend one's own life in service to Christ.  To withhold one's physical life is to forfeit one's spiritual life, John 12:25-26.   (John 12:25-26 NIV)  The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. {26} Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.   4) Jesus explains that it was for the purpose of giving His earthly life that He was given earthly life.  To draw back from it would destroy our hope for salvation and miss this unparalleled opportunity for God to glorify His gracious name, John 12:27-28a.   (John 12:27-28 NIV)  "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. {28} Father, glorify your name!"   b. The Father in Heaven affirms His promise to enable Jesus to complete His mission, John12:28b-33.   (John 12:28b-33 NIV)  Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." {29} The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. {30} Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. {31} Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. {32} But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." {33} He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.   c. The crowd challenges Jesus' prediction concerning His death, John 12:34.   (John 12:34 NIV)  The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"   1) One of Old Testament passages they may have been recalling is Psa 89:27-29   (Psa 89:27-29 NIV)  I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. {28} I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. {29} I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.   2) However,  another Old Testament passage confirmed Jesus' prediction concerning His death, Isa 53: 4-5, 10-11.   (Isa 53:4-5, 10-11 NIV)  Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. {5} But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed . . . {10} Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. {11} After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied ; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.   3. For all, the time to believe in Jesus is ALWAYS NOW!, John 12:35-36a.   (John 12:35-36a NIV)  Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. {36} Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light."   D. The Tension Caused by Jesus Led Many to Stubborn Unbelief   1. They were not convinced by His miracles, John 11:36b-37.   (John 12:36-37 NIV)  When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. {37} Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.   2. They were judged for their stubbornness by God's by God acquiescence to it, a spiritual condition prophesied by Isaiah, John 12:38-41.   (John 12:38-41 NIV)  This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "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, as Isaiah says elsewhere:  {40} "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn--and I would heal them." {41} Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.   E. The Tension Caused by Jesus Led Many to a Timid Belief, John 12:42-43.   (John 12:42-43 NIV)  Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; {43} for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.   F. The Tension Will Be Resolved One Way or Another, John 12:44-50.   1. Believers in Jesus find themselves in harmony with the Father Who sent Him, John 12:44-46.   (John 12:44-46 NIV)  Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. {45} When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. {46} I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.   2. Unbelievers will find themselves at odds with the Father Who shall judge them for their unbelief and disobedience, John 12:47-48.   (John 12:47-48 NIV)  "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. {48} There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.   3. The ultimate truth is that by the Father's decree the only way to eternal life is revealed and found through Jesus Christ, John 12:49-50.   (John 12:49-50 NIV)  For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. {50} I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."   Conclusion   1. The time to seek and find Jesus is always  NOW!    (2 Cor 6:1-2 NIV)  As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. {2} For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.   (Heb 4:1-2 NIV)  Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. {2} For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.   (Heb 2:1-3 NIV)  We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. {2} For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, {3} how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.    (Luke 12:40 NIV)  You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."   2. The time to harden your heart is NEVER!   (Rom 2:5 NIV)  But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.   (Heb 3:12-13 NIV)  See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. {13} But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.