John 12

Study Guide 113: John 10-12 THE CHOICE Overview In these central chapters of John’ s Gospel we find clear evidence of the decisive rejection of Jesus by His people. Christ presented Himself as the Good Shepherd who would die for His sheep (John 10:1-21). “ The Jews” (John’ s term for the religious authorities) realized Jesus was claiming to be God, and tried to seize Him (John 10:22-42). Christ demonstrated His power over death by raising Lazarus, who had been dead for four days (John 11:1-44). The Jews did not respond to the miracle, but were afraid their people would believe in Jesus and “ take away both our place and our nation.” They determined that Jesus must die (John 11:45-57). Christ, acclaimed by the people on Palm Sunday, predicted His death (John 12:1-36), but the Jews continued in their fixed unbelief (John 12:37). Each of these chapters follows the same pattern. There is a clear presentation by Jesus of His claims, followed by a decisive rejection by the authorities, and a growing determination to kill Jesus to get Him out of the way. Even so, Jesus did not condemn. But He did warn. “ 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” (John 12:48).

Commentary Unlike the other Gospels, which trace the development of Jesus’ ministry over three years, the Gospel of John focuses on the final months of Christ’ s life, when the issues had been clearly drawn. Jesus, the Son of God, revealed over and over again the truth about life and light, and confronted His listeners with the necessity of choice. John 10:1-42 through John 12:1-50 depicts events that lead up to the Upper Room Discourse. In these chapters we see the final confrontation, and catch a glimpse of the ultimate evidence that will soon be offered to prove Jesus’ claims.

The Shepherd and His Sheep: John 10:1-42In the Old Testament, the picture of a shepherd and his sheep was often used to illustrate the relationship between God and His people. “ The Lord is my Shepherd,” one psalmist said. Another added, “ We are the sheep of His pasture.” Shepherd was also a term applied to spiritual leaders in the Old Testament. Jeremiah chose harsh words to describe leaders who perverted their spiritual role: “‘ Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:1). The prophet declared that God would set His own Shepherd over His sheep when the promised Son of David (Jesus) reigns. The people would have had these symbolic pictures of divine leadership in mind when Jesus announced, “ I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). Jesus then developed a contrast between Himself and the religious authorities of His day. Jesus was concerned for God’ s people, and exemplified the morality of grace. The Jewish rulers, on the other hand, ignored the welfare of their people. They, therefore, were false shepherds. By this time, the leaders of Israel were firmly committed not only to rejecting Jesus’ claim to divine authority but to destroying Him as well. So in this message Jesus did not speak to the rulers; He appealed directly to the individuals who made up the nation. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN Adults and children have been drawn to the shepherd imagery from faith’ s beginnings. Let older boys and girls look in their own Bibles and make discoveries from John 10:1-18. Guide their reading with questions: “ What does a shepherd do for his sheep? How close are the sheep and shepherd?” Study the passage yourself to be ready to point out verses or phrases they may miss. List discoveries on the chalkboard. Then translate each observation into a statement about the relationship between Jesus and your boys and girls. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN Younger boys and girls can make model sheep. Cut cardboard in the shape of sheep. On one side glue cotton balls to make a woolly sheep. On the other side place a sticker that pictures Jesus. Jesus is always with His sheep, as close to us as anyone can be. True Shepherd recognized (John 10:1-6). In Israel sheep were not herded with dogs or by men who walked behind them. The shepherd of the Middle East led his sheep. He knew each one by name, and the sheep recognized his voice. At night several herds of sheep might sleep in the same fold. In the morning, when the one door was unbarred, each shepherd could unerringly pick out his own flock. And each member of that flock would be able to distinguish his shepherd from the others because the sheep would know the shepherd’ s voice, just as God’ s people would recognize Jesus as the living Word of God. The Pharisees who claimed to speak for Moses would be followed, but not by those who belonged to God. The true sheep would hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. Good Shepherd identified (John 10:7-17). Now Jesus condemned the leaders of Israel, saying, “ All who ever came before Me were thieves and robbers.” Such men care “ nothing for the sheep.” Jesus, on the other hand, is the Good Shepherd. The Palestinian shepherd commonly slept in the single opening to the fold through which wild animals might attack. As “ the door” Jesus protects His own, by placing His body between the sheep and their enemies. The Good Shepherd guides His sheep to pasture, concerned not only that they have life, but that they “ have it to the full.” How deep is the commitment of the Good Shepherd to His sheep? “ The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” How clearly this must have spoken to the men and women of Israel. Their rulers, like religious leaders of many times and many faiths, were quick to demand respect and obedience. They were quick to lord it over others; quick to judge, advise, condemn. But no one in Israel would imagine for a moment that one of the authorities would lay down his life for one of the common people. Those leaders might lay down their lives for truth. More than once the men of Israel had refused to fight on the Sabbath, and had been killed easily by pagans. More than one Israelite had offered his body to Roman swords rather than permit a statue of Caesar, or even the Legion Eagles, to enter Jerusalem. To die for a conviction was not that uncommon. But to die for love of the sheep? Never! Truth was important to the authorities; people were not. But to Jesus, the sheep — sinners not worth the contempt of the righteous — were worth dying for! One with the Father (John 10:18-30). Jesus could die for the sheep because He had the authority from God to lay down His life, and “ authority to take it up again. This command,” Jesus continued, “ I received from My Father” (John 10:18). These words sent the Jews back to the old debate. “ He is demon-possessed and raving mad,” some said. But others answered, “ Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” Again the Jews asked the central question: “ How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly” (John 10:24). Once again Jesus explained that His sheep hear and respond to His voice. To such He gives eternal life. He can bestow this gift because, “ I and the Father are One” (John 10:30). LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT The imagery of sheep and shepherds is as rich for adults as for children. Give your group members large sheets of paper and make crayons available. Each is to study John 10:1-18, and draw a picture showing as many of the relationships as possible that Jesus represents between the sheep and the shepherd. When pictures are drawn, have each member show his or hers, and explain it. In the process your group will develop a much better picture of all that Jesus’ presentation of Himself as the Good Shepherd means to us today. Refusal to believe (John 10:31-42). Jesus’ renewed claim to be God the Son was recognized by the people: “ Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him.” How strange. “ Tell us if You are the Christ.” And when Jesus told them, they tried to kill Him because they did not want to hear the truth! The Jews accused Jesus of blasphemy “ because You, a mere Man, claim to be God.” Jesus stunned them with a quote from the Psalms: “ Is it not written in your Law, ‘ I have said you are gods’ ? If He called them ‘ gods’ to whom the Word of God came — and the Scripture cannot be broken — what about the One whom the Father set apart as His very own and sent into the world?” (John 10:34-36) If those who receive the Word are exalted by the Lord Himself and called “ gods,” how much more deserving of that name is the One who is the Word? The passage Jesus quoted is Psalms 82:6, “ I say, ‘ You are “ gods” ; you are all sons of the Most High.’” The life Jesus offers us is eternal life, God’ s life. When we receive Jesus, we become the sons of God. As Peter put it, “ You are sons of God now; the live, permanent Word of the living God has given you His own indestructible heredity” (1 Peter 1:23, PH). Unable to grasp grace, the Pharisees and other leaders had no concept of what a personal relationship with God meant. They were no more able to understand the gift Jesus offered than they could imagine God could care enough for human beings to become a Man in order to bring us to Himself. But while the leaders continued to try to arrest Jesus (John 10:39), many others heard in Jesus the voice of God, and began to believe.

The Resurrection, Now: John 11:1-57Jesus now moved to a culminating miracle, a final demonstration of His ultimate authority as God’ s Son. During Jesus’ public ministry Christ had been very close to Mary and Martha and their brother, Lazarus. When Lazarus became seriously ill, the sisters sent a message to Jesus: “ Lord, the one You love is sick.” But to the amazement of the disciples, Jesus seemed to make no response. He stayed where He was for two more days before He set out with the Twelve for Bethany. When they arrived, Lazarus was dead and buried, just as Jesus had told His disciples he would be. Martha rushed out to meet Jesus and, in tears, cried, “ Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Jesus consoled her. “ Your brother will rise again.” Martha thought she understood what Jesus was saying. “ I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” But Christ’ s words rearranged her thinking. “ I am the Resurrection and the Life,” Jesus said. “ Do you believe this?” Then Jesus went to Lazarus’ grave. When He told the bystanders to roll away the great rock that sealed the cave, Martha objected. “ But Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there for four days.” Jesus demonstrated that His resurrection power was not limited to sometime in the future, but that His power to bring life knows no limits. “ Lazarus, come out!” And, at Jesus’ word, the man appeared in the cave doorway, still wrapped with the embalming linens. “ Take off the graveclothes, and let him go,” Jesus commanded. This miracle stunned nearby Jerusalem. Many came to see Lazarus, and many believed. But the chief priests were still unmoved. They could not deny Jesus’ signs. But what they could do was to act immediately on the high priest’ s pronouncement: “ It is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish” (John 11:50). From that day on, the authorities plotted with renewed determination to execute Jesus. Then Jesus withdrew and waited. Waited for the Passover, when He would go up to Jerusalem again and, as the Good Shepherd, would die for the sheep. Then Jesus would be restored on the third day, to an endless life. What is the meaning of the resurrection of Lazarus for us? The same as it was for the disciples and other witnesses in Bethany. This event is a demonstration of Jesus’ ability to make His resurrection power available to His people — now!It is one thing to believe that Jesus has the power to raise us up on the last day. He does and He will. But it’ s something else to realize that Jesus’ power is unlimited now; that Jesus can bring new life to the deadened areas of our own personalities; that because of Jesus’ power, we can risk taking actions that we might otherwise never have the courage to take. We need never draw back from anything God asks, for the unlimited power of new life is ours in Him. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Draw a square “ box” on the chalkboard. Write above it “ Resurrection power.” Have your group members study John 11:1-57, and in the box write down Martha’ s concept of this power which she did believe Jesus had. Then outside the box sketch Lazarus’ tomb. Point out that Martha believed Jesus had power to bring life, but wrongly limited His exercise of life-giving power to the future. Ask your group members to imagine something in their own lives that they have assumed lies outside the realm of Jesus’ exercise of power. Then erase the box, and read Romans 1:4, which says Jesus was “ declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead.” Even more than Lazarus’ return to physical life, Jesus’ own resurrection affirmed that He now has all power. Nothing in our lives is beyond His power to transform and to change. Give your group members time to meditate on this fact, and to praise Jesus that His power is available now.

The Hour Has Come: John 12:1-50As this chapter opens, it is only six days until the Passover and Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus repeated the truths He had been stressing, and we are given a special insight into how Jesus Himself felt as the tension grew. We will also see in brief vignettes the reactions of those around Jesus. Prepared for burial (John 12:1-8). At the home of Mary and Martha, Jesus was anointed with an expensive ointment as a sign of life. Mary did not know it, but the ointment (one used in embalming) ex pressed not only her love but the love of God, soon to be shared as Jesus gave up His life for us. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN The story of Mary’ s gift, and of Judas’ reaction, contrasts two attitudes. “ I love and give,” and “ I want it for myself.” Draw on the board a smiling face on the left, and then a mean, frowning face on the right. Tell the story, with Mary represented by the smiling face and Judas by the frowning one. Then talk about these questions: “ Why is Mary smiling? (It makes us feel good to give, love makes us happy, etc.) Why is Judas frowning? (Selfishness makes us mean, etc.)” Also talk about which of these two people would have more friends, and why. Which would please God, and why? Finally, let the boys and girls list under each fact things they do or might do that are like Mary, or like Judas. Triumphal Entry (John 12:9-19). The next day Jesus entered Jerusalem to the cheers of the crowds. His entry fulfilled prophecy and seemed to the elders and priests evidence that “ the whole world has gone after Him.” But Jesus’ sudden popularity was rooted in the spectacular sign of the raising of Lazarus, not in true faith. A celebrity for a day in our society realizes how quickly such popularity disappears. The Triumphal Entry was an evidence of curiosity and enthusiasm, but not of faith. Inner anguish (John 12:20-33). The pressure on Jesus in view of His approaching suffering was great. Still He remained firm in His commitment: “ What shall I say? ‘ Father, save Me from this hour’ ? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” There are several important spiritual principles in this brief section. It is through death that new life comes; a seed loses its individual identity to become the source from which many grains grow. In the holding onto one’ s life in this world, we will ultimately lose it. But the person who is willing to follow Jesus’ example, turning away from those things that would only be for his own benefit and serving others as Jesus did, will find the true meaning of life. And will find fulfillment. So Jesus warned, “ Whoever serves Me must follow Me.” The example Jesus set in His death is one we are to follow in our lives. What then will be the benefits of Jesus’ death? He will destroy the power of the ruler of this world (Satan), and will “ draw all men to Myself.” In His death Jesus glorified God by bringing you and me into fellowship with Him. They did not believe (John 12:34-43). Then the crowd that had just cheered Jesus as their King showed the shallowness of their allegiance. They rejected what Jesus said about Himself: “ We have heard from the Law [the Old Testament] that the Christ will remain forever, so how can You say, ‘ The Son of man must be lifted up’ ?” The people were still unwilling to submit themselves to Jesus as the Son of God. They insisted that their will, not God’ s, dominate. The passage says, “ Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in Him.” And those who did believe kept their faith secret because they feared the Pharisees and wanted human acceptance (John 12:42-43). The final choice (John 12:44-50). Jesus said again what He had been teaching among them for months. But this was their last chance. Jesus would not speak to the crowds again. What did Jesus say? I am the revealer of the Father. Belief in Me is belief in the Father. Whoever believes in Me will no longer live in darkness. If you reject Me, you reject the eternal life offered you by the Father. If you reject Me, you place yourself under sure judgment. The living Word has spoken. Now is the time to respond, and to receive life through the Word.

In Summary The repetition in John’ s Gospel is there for a purpose. No one must miss the central issues of life and death which Jesus raised. These are issues that you and I face today just as surely as the people of Israel had to face them. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, revealed the loving heart of the Father. For the first time you and I realize how complete God’ s concern for us is: He will lay down His life for His sheep. Jesus, in the incident at Bethany, also showed us the full extent of God’ s power. The eternal life Christ offers brings us a resurrection power that operates now. God is able to bring life even to the dead areas in our personalities today. But we must respond with faith to the voice of God. Unlike the men and women of Jesus’ day who held back, we need to hear in Jesus the voice of the Good Shepherd, and choose to follow Him.

Teaching Guide Prepare Find in a concordance references to shepherds in Psalms, Isaiah, and Ezekiel. What do you discover there that helps you to better understand Jesus as your Shepherd?

Explore

1. Begin by concentrating on the imagery of the sheep and shepherd that has proven so powerful an image to God’ s people. Use the “ link-to-life” idea above, which suggests direct study of the text of John 10:1-42 by group members.
2. Or provide your group members with a list of references to shepherds found in Psalms, Isaiah, and Ezekiel. Use a concordance to find the verses. Divide into teams, with each team looking at a different Old Testament book. What do they learn about the relationship between God and His people through this image? What do they learn about their own relationship with Jesus?

Expand

1. You will probably want to take the rest of group time to look at the power incident reported in John 11:1-57. The resurrection of Lazarus reminds us, as it did Mary, that there are no limitations of time or space on the power of Jesus. Use the “ link-to-life” idea above to help each group member remove any personal limits he or she may have unconsciously placed on the power of Jesus to touch deadened places in each life.

Apply Read aloud John 12:44-50. Ask each to consider, and then share, what this last, powerful public statement of Jesus says to him or her personally.