John Chapter 12
We now come to the last days of Jesus where He entered triumphantly into Jerusalem to the loud shouts of “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” (v 13)
While we can draw many lessons from this chapter, which our Preachers will share in our daily morning Bible Reading and Prayer sessions, here is my glimpse of what spoke to me as I read this chapter this time.
The main question that kept on ringing in my head was this: “Am I like…”
Am I like Mary Who Anointed the Feet of Jesus?
We are all familiar with this story about Mary choosing to anoint the feet of Jesus with a very expensive oil of spikenard that costs 300 denarii (almost a year’s wages in those days). While others, especially Judas, rebuked her actions, Jesus answered, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” (vs 7-8).
Mary did not care what others thought. She only cared that she did what she could for the Lord while the opportunity still exist.
What about us today? Like Mary, we have received much from the Lord. We have sat at His feet and listened to His teachings. Our family has been blessed. But do we strive to try, in our own way, to repay (we know we can hardly even begin to do so) what Jesus has done, is still doing and will do for us?
Peter says,
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. “
~ 1 Peter 4:10-11 ~
We have all received different gifts from God. Let us use it as good stewards to the manifold grace of God so that others may see and also glorify God in heaven.
Am I Like the Disciples Who Did Not Understand?
Ok, I was being naughty and ‘under-quoted’ this phrase. It should actually read…
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
~ verse 16 ~
The context of this is in the preceding verses where Jesus entered the city to the loud cheers of Hosannas and came riding on a donkey. The people were celebrating Jesus as the Promised One. The Messiah King whom they have been waiting for a long long time. This enthusiastic response was in large part also due to the recent resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus and also that the Scriptures do speak of such a Saviour.
When I looked the disciples’ reaction then, I also asked myself this question.
Am I like them, seeing what is happening, knowing the Scriptures in the Bible but not quite understanding these things?
For example, we live in turbulent times where the pandemic has been ongoing for a few years with no signs of going away. Geo-political tensions grow amongst other countries despite an ongoing war. Natural disasters continue to happen – floods, drought… Civil unrest in countries. Violence not just among criminals but even among young teenagers. The list just goes on. Indeed, we live in perilous times.
And for us Christians, we should not be surprised as the Bible has already warned us of all this. Jesus spoke about these things when questioned about the last days in Luke 21:7-28. These are the signs that Jesus is coming very soon.
But are we like the disciples who did not understand then? We see the signs. We see the fulfillment of the Scriptures and yet, we live our lives as though the coming of the Lord is still a far off thing. We do not respond to all this with the urgency to fulfill the Great Commission and to love the Lord our God with all our heart soul, mind and might?
Am I Like the People?
Jesus, in verses 27-33, spoke about how He would be lifted up and draw all peoples to Him.
34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
~ verse 34 ~
Verse 37 continues with this… “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him”.
So despite Jesus telling them directly who He is and what He needed to do, and having done many signs, wonders and miracles before them, including raising Lazarus from the dead, they still asked, “Who is this Son of Man? “
John quoted from Isaiah to say that the people were blinded in their eyes and hardened in their hearts. That is why they failed to recognize Jesus.
What about us?
Jesus said in verse 36, “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
Let us not be like the people who chose to harden their hearts and have a veil over their eyes and that while we still have the chance, to become sons of light.
Am I Like The Rulers Who Believe in Secret?
The last group of people in this chapter were the rulers who believed in Jesus but did so secretly for fear of the Pharisees (vs 42). And the Bible said, “for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (vs 43).
Jesus followed that by telling us that the Word of God will judge all the last days and that He speaks as sent by the Heavenly Father.
We are all believers of Jesus. But we are also members of this house of God who has the truth that saves. Others may not view kindly to our message as we do not conform to how they perceived the Bible.
But are we then acting like the rulers who believe, but do not dare openly share and tell others of our beliefs?
Jesus was very clear.
“And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” (verse 50)
Do we truly believe that His command is everlasting life and speak just as He has commanded us?
Let us be reminded of these words today and boldly proclaim Jesus to all.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
~ Mark 16:15-20 ~