New Testament Commentary - John 12

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 12 Mary anoints Jesus' feet—His triumphal entry into Jerusalem recounted—He foretells his death—To receive Christ is to receive the Father.
1 THEN Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and ^aMartha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot^a, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a ^athief^a, and had the ^bbag, and bare what was put therein.	4^a Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot Judas has a 'high' and 'trusted' position in the eyes of the other Apostles, he being the 'treasure' the holder of the bag. In this, at this juncture in time he was not only above all suspisions, what he had also taken upon himself to be an out spoken spokesman in terms of the finances of the group and of the immediate 'church' of Christ's followers. And thus when he spoken concerning the use of the expensive ointment rather than selling it for the poor, certain other Apostles had respect unto the idea and did consider whay it was not so also an indicated and implied by the other gospel accounts of this event. 6^a not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief Judas was not speaking in concern for the poor, that charity for others was not in him. His concern was unto himself, that he would have more money from which he could continue to extract portions from which for himself, for as John so exposes him to be, he was a thief, stealing from the church's treasury. This equates to stealing of the tithing and donation funds of the church for our perspective today. Thus despite his 'false face', Judas had allowed his lust for the things of the world, money in this case, to overcome any other such traits unto righteousness that he may have possessed.	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: ^aagainst the day of my burying hath ^bshe kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. 9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
10 ¶ But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; 11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
12 ¶ On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord^a.	13^a Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord This, not withstanding the added appellation of 'the King of Israel', is in fulfillment of the Messianic declaration of the prophet's words lost to whom they original belonged, but being so sung in Psalm 118, particularly in verse 26 which states, 'Blessed be he [the King of Israel] that cometh in the name of the LORD.' In that Old Testament hymn it also speaks of 'the stone', the Messiah, which the builders or rulers of the Jews, so refused in the prophetic perfect tense, that is become the head 'stone' of the corner' (Psalms 118:22). This rejection is so set forth in that parable of the wicked husbandment (verses 33-45) in Matthew chapter 21, wherein also is given the Lord's arrival appellation (Matthew 21:1-11) as is also in Matthew 23:39 as of the latter, in Mark 11:9 as the triumphant entry and as in Luke 13:35 as well concerning the latter days. And thus at both comings of the Lord is the Messianic declaration repeated, in that day riding upon the ass or donkey as foretold by Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9) and when the Lord again comes in his glory. 'Behold, the King of Israel comes in the name of the LORD,' once rejected and once accepted.
14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy ^aKing cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. 16 These things ^aunderstood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. 18 For this cause the people also ^amet him, for that they heard that he had done this ^bmiracle. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the ^aworld is gone after him.
20 ¶ And there were certain ^aGreeks among them that came up to ^bworship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23 ¶ And Jesus answered them, saying, The ^ahour is come, that the Son of man should be ^bglorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a ^acorn of wheat fall into the ground and ^bdie, it abideth alone: but if it ^vdie, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that ^ahateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him ^afollow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a ^avoice from heaven, saying, I have both ^bglorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An ^aangel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the ^aprince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be ^alifted up from the earth, will ^bdraw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what ^adeath he should die.
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that ^aChrist abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? 35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the ^alight with you. Walk while ye have the ^blight, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in ^cdarkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36 While ye have light, ^abelieve in the light, that ye may be the ^bchildren of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
37 ¶ But though he had done so many ^amiracles before them, yet they ^bbelieved not on him: 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath ^abelieved our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath ^ablinded their eyes, and ^bhardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41 These things said Esaias, when he ^asaw his ^bglory, and spake of him.
42 ¶ Nevertheless among the chief ^arulers also many ^bbelieved on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not ^cconfess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the ^apraise of men more than the praise of God.
44 ¶ Jesus cried and said, He that ^abelieveth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. 46 I am come a ^alight into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He that ^arejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that ^bjudgeth him: the ^cword that I have spoken, the same shall ^djudge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which ^asent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I ^aspeak therefore, even as the ^bFather said unto me, so I ^cspeak.