NIV Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 52
J ohn 1 2 : 1 4
14 Jesus
•
page 1828
found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do
not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.” a j
12:15
jZec 9:9
16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. k Only after Jesus was glorified l did
they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had
been done to him.
17 Now the crowd that was with him m when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised
him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18Many people, because they had heard
that he had performed this sign, n went out to meet him. 19So the Pharisees said to one
another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” o
Jesus Explains Why He Must Die (185 )
20 Now there were some Greeks p among those who went up to worship at the festival.
21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida q in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they
said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in
turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. r 24Very truly I
tell you, unless a kernel of w
heat falls to the g
round and dies, s it remains only a single
a
lJn
12:17
11:42
mJn
12:18
nver 11
12:19
oJn 11:47,48
12:20
pJn 7:35; Ac 11:20
12:21
qMt 11:21; Jn 1:44
12:23
rJn 13:32; 17:1
12:24
15:36
s1Co
15 Zech. 9:9
the disciples saw how Jesus had led them into a deeper and better understanding of the truth about him. Take time to think about the events in
your life leading up to where you are now. How has God led you to this
point? As you grow older, you will look back and see God’s involvement
more clearly than you do now.
12:18 The people flocked to Jesus because they had heard about his
great miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. For some of them, their
adoration may have been short-lived and their commitment shallow, for in
a few days this cheering throng would do nothing to stop his crucifixion.
Devotion based only on curiosity or popularity can fade quickly.
12:20-21 These Greeks were probably converts to the Jewish faith
who had come to the Passover celebration. They may have gone to
Philip because, though he was a Jew, he had a Greek name. He was
from Bethsaida near the territory inhabited by many Gentiles, including
Greeks, and he almost certainly spoke their language.
12:23-25 This is a beautiful picture of the necessary sacrifice of Jesus.
Unless a kernel of wheat is buried in the soil, it will not become a living
plant producing many more seeds. Jesus died to pay the penalty for our
sin and to show his power over death. His resurrection proves he has
Mediterranean
Sea
GALILEE
N
SAMARIA
Sea of
Galilee
Jordan River
TIME WITH
THE DISCIPLES
Lazarus’s return to
life became the last
straw for the religious leaders, who
were bent on killing
Jesus. So Jesus
stopped his public
ministry and took
his disciples away
from Jerusalem to
Ephraim. From there
they returned to
Galilee for a while
(see the map on
page 1766).
12:16
9:32
2:22; 7:39; 14:26
kMk
Ephraim
Jerusalem
JUDEA
IDUMEA
PE
RE
A
Dead
Sea
0
0
20 mi
20 km
eternal life. Because Jesus is God, he can give this same eternal life to
all who believe in him (see 1 Corinthians 15:36, 42-44).
12:25 We must be so committed to living for Jesus that we hate our
lives by comparison. This does not mean that we long to die or that we
are careless or destructive with the lives God has given us, but rather that
we are willing to die if doing so will glorify Christ. We must disown the
tyrannical rule of our own s elf-centeredness. By laying aside our striving
for advantage, security, and pleasure, we can serve God lovingly and
freely. Releasing control of our lives and transferring control to Jesus
brings eternal life and genuine joy.
12:26 Many believed that Jesus came for the Jews only. But when Jesus
said, “Whoever serves me must follow me,” he was talking to these Greeks
as well. No matter who the sincere seekers are, Jesus welcomes them. His
message is for everyone. Don’t let racial, social, or economic differences
become barriers to sharing the gospel. Take the gospel to all people.
12:27 Jesus knew his crucifixion lay ahead, and because he was human,
he dreaded it. He knew he would have to take the sins of the world upon
himself, and he knew this would temporarily separate him in his humanity
from his Father. Being fully human, he wanted to be delivered from this
horrible death, but being fully God, he knew that God the Father had
sent him into the world to die for our sins, in our place. Jesus said no to
his human desires in order to obey his Father and glorify him. Although
we will never have to face such a difficult and awesome task, we are still
called to obedience. Whatever the Father tells us to do, we should do his
will and bring glory to his name.
12:28-30 For the third time in Jesus’ life, God’s voice sounded from
heaven in support of him and his ministry. The first was at Jesus’ baptism:
“This is my Son, whom I love” (Matthew 3:13-19). The second was at the
Transfiguration, when God said, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen;
listen to him” (Luke 9:28-36 ). The third is recorded here: “I have glorified
[my name], and will glorify it again.” These events would have been strong
evidence of Jesus’ divinity to both Jews and Greeks.
12:31 The prince of this world is Satan, an angelic being who rebelled
against God. Satan is real, not symbolic, and is constantly working against
God and those who obey him. Satan tempted Eve in the Garden and persuaded her to sin; he tempted Jesus in the wilderness but did not persuade
him to fall (Matthew 4:1-11). Satan has great power, but people can be
delivered from his reign of spiritual darkness because of Jesus Christ’s
victory on the cross. Although Satan has power, Jesus’ power is much
greater. Jesus’ resurrection shattered Satan’s deathly power (Colossians
1:13-14). To overcome Satan we need faithful allegiance to God’s Word,
determination to stay away from sin, and the support of other believers.