John 12

John 12:1

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold. Not Jews, of whom his followers then were, but Gentiles who would soon be called to him. These would hear his voice, enter through the door, into the same fold as the Jewish Christians, so that there would be “one fold and one shepherd”. There is only one Church and one door into it, and one Shepherd over it.

John 12:3

I lay it down of myself. His life. He gave himself for man of his free will. He laid it down on the cross; he took it up when he rose from the dead. Abbott says of the lesson in John 10:1-18, “I understand this lesson to be a parable with a double application. First, Christ compares the Pharisees to shepherds, himself to the door, and declares that those only are true shepherds who enter through the door; that is, through Christ and his authority. All others are thieves and robbers. Then he changes the application and declares himself the good shepherd whose praises David and Isaiah sung, and indicates the nature of the service that he will render unto his sheep by giving for them his life”.

John 12:7

It was . . . the feast of dedication. Two months after the last incidents, which occurred at and shortly after the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Dedication occurred in December, was not divinely appointed, but was instituted by Judas Maccabaeus in 164 B.C., to commemorate the purification of the temple after it had been defiled by the Syrians. Jesus took the occasion to teach the people that came together. There is no proof that he observed it.

John 12:8

Walked . . . in Solomon’s porch. A long covered colonnade that was a part of the temple.

John 12:9

The Jews . . . said. The ruling class. They came, not for information, but to secure ground for accusation.

John 12:10

I told you, and ye believed not. See John 5:19 8:36,56,58 9:36.

John 12:11

Ye believe not, because ye are not my sheep. Not from lack of proof, but from a lack within themselves. If, as his sheep, they would follow (hear and obey), they would recognize him.

John 12:13

I give unto them eternal life. To his sheep. Eternal life means not eternal existence, but eternal bliss. God hath made the soul deathless, but it may exist in banishment from heaven.

John 12:14

No [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand. The sheep who hear his voice and follow him (John 10:27). This is the condition of their safety. If they comply with it God’s grace will save them from the adversary.

John 12:15

I and [my] Father are one. Are so united that the Father is pledged to keep the sheep of the Son. These words the Jews held to be blasphemy, and sought to stone him. Compare 8:52.

John 12:18

For blasphemy. Because he said he and the Father were one (John 10:30).

John 12:19

Is it not written in your law. In Psalms 82:6. I said, Ye are gods? It was there addressed to judges. Christ’s argument is: If your law calls judges gods, why should I be held guilty of blasphemy for saying that I am the Son of God?

John 12:21

Whom the Father hath sanctified. Set apart.

John 12:24

Therefore they sought again to take him. A few moments before they would have stoned him by mob violence (John 10:31), but when they had cooled somewhat they sought to arrest him.

John 12:25

And went away again beyond Jordan. He had been nearly three months in Jerusalem, a very stormy ministry. Twice efforts were made to mob him (John 8:59 10:31); twice, to arrest him (John 7:32,45 10:39). His time would not come yet for three months, till the next passover, and he retired from the storm for a season. In the other gospels there are recorded a number of the incidents of his ministry beyond the Jordan.

John 12:29

Lazarus Raised from the Dead SUMMARY OF JOHN 11: Lazarus Sick Unto Death. Jesus Sent For. Lazarus Dead and Buried When He Comes. The Resurrection and the Life. Lazarus Comes Forth at the Word. Many Jews Believe. The Sanhedrin Takes Counsel Against Christ. The Prophecy of Caiaphas. The Passover at Hand. A certain [man] . . . [named] Lazarus. He is not named in the other Gospels, though his sisters are. Bethany. About two miles east of Jerusalem, on the eastern slope of Mount Olivet. The town of Mary . . . and Martha. John speaks of the sisters as well known in the church. They had been named by Luke, who wrote before him (Lu 10:38-42).

John 12:30

It was [that] Mary. As there are several New Testament Marys, John points out this one by the well known incident of the anointing described in John 12:1-11.

John 12:31

His sisters sent unto him. Unto Jesus who was now beyond Jordan. In their distress they turn to the Lord.

John 12:32

This sickness is not unto death. That is, death shall not prevail, but God shall be glorified by his rescue from death.

John 12:34

He abode two days still in the same place. Because his work there was not yet done. He was in Perea; Lazarus was at Bethany in Judea.

John 12:37

Are there not twelve hours in the day? This is his answer to the protest of his disciples against going to Judea again, where the Jews seek his death. He sees his course clearly and is walking in the day.

John 12:39

Our friend Lazarus sleepeth. Jesus before called death a sleep (see Matthew 9:24 Mr 5:39 Lu 8:52), because it was only a temporary slumber.

John 12:44

Let us also go, that we may die with him. The Jews were so hostile when they left Jerusalem that they expect him to be put to death.

John 12:47

Many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary. Jews from Jerusalem, of which Bethany was a suburb. As “Jews” in John’s usage means the ruling classes, the fact that they came shows that the family of Lazarus was influential. These came to “comfort”; that is, to sit with and talk to the mourners. The mourning was kept up thirty days.

John 12:49

If thou hadst been here. Martha’s faith made her believe that Jesus would have healed Lazarus, but even she did not expect him to call back from the grave one already buried.