John 12
Jesus came to Bethany six days before the passover. A supper was prepared for Him; Martha served, Lazarus sat at the table with Him, while Mary cheered the heart of Jesus and worshipped as she took costly spikenard and anointed His feet. While wiping His feet with her hair (her glory), the fragrance of the ointment filled the house. Here, with the remnant of faith, Jesus found comfort and rest just before He went to the cross. How His heart was cheered.
Judas Iscariot said that the poor would be better served by selling the costly ointment and giving them the money. But, being a thief and carrying the bag, he really did not care for the poor. Jesus reminded Judas that when He left they would still have the poor with them, but they would not always have Him.
Jesus seized this opportunity to show the reason why Mary poured out the ointment on His feet. He was rejected by all, except Mary and the little remnant. She had done this in anticipation of His death, anointing His body for the burial. Christ valued the ointment-what it signified-more than anything else that was done; Jesus understood Mary's heart. Mary represents the assembly, hidden now, but soon to come forth in all of the splendor of the life of God-eternal life.
The people came to see Lazarus who was raised from the dead. The chief priests consented to putting Lazarus to death, because he was the means of many believing on Jesus.
Celebrating Jesus As King
Jesus asserted His rights to the throne of David before He went to the cross. As the Son of man He will possess all of the kingdoms of the earth. As Zechariah prophesied (Zech. 9:99Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9)), Jesus rode on an ass's colt into Jerusalem. The people strewed branches on the way and cried, "Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." The Pharisees complained, saying, "Behold, the world is gone after Him."
After the raising of Lazarus from the grave, Gentiles were seen coming to worship at the feast. They said to Philip, "Sir, we would see Jesus." Jesus answered, "The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified." When Israel by their leaders gave up the way of salvation in Jesus, the Gentiles came in to take their place (Rom. 11:7-117What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. 11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. (Romans 11:7‑11)) of blessing, as the result of the death of Christ.
Redemption, although for Jew and Gentile, has a special application to Gentiles. It is the fullness of Christ in all of the work that He has done. The Church is spoken of as the "fullness of Him that filleth all in all." (Eph. 1:7,22,23;4:107In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)
22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23)
10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:10).) In Eph. 1:23,23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23) the bride is spoken of as the fullness because she was the object of that work—a Gentile bride. This could be the reason for the answer given to the Gentiles by the Lord Jesus, "The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified." He never could have that bride unless He would die and be raised and glorified.
At Pentecost the remnant of the Jewish believers formed the Church. Later the Gentiles were brought in. Today the Church has the character of being Gentile. Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles.
The work of grace is crowned by Mary's ointment which fills the house as she anoints and wipes His feet with her hair. It is Mary who typified the Church. She sat at Jesus' feet to hear His Word. Next, she poured the ointment on His feet-those blessed feet which brought tidings of grace to the vilest sinner. How the courts of heaven will respond with songs of praise at the marriage of the Lamb.
Martha had faith; she knew much about the Lord. But Mary knew the Person of the Lord. Service is good in its place, but Mary had the good part to sit at His feet. We, the trophies of His grace, will be His companions forever. The Church knows His Person.
What, then, goes with such a full salvation of love and grace? "He that loveth his life shall lose it." If I prefer the present things that belong to the first man, my time in this world will be lost. A wasted life to present to Jesus in response to such grace is hardly in order, but "he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal" would be the proper response to a Savior's love which has rescued us from so great a death.
The one who serves should follow Jesus. His walk through this world is the pattern-we should walk in His steps. "And where I am, there shall also My servant be." This is communion in service. The Father will honor such.
"Save Me From This Hour"
Jesus, in anticipation of being made sin, said, "Father, save Me from this hour." Those two things, that the Father be glorified and that Christ may have a bride, are the reason why Jesus came to this hour. He would not, as a man, abide alone.
The Father's name is glorified in the raising of Lazarus, and is glorified again at the death and resurrection of Jesus. The corn of wheat must die so that there might be much fruit. "Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it." Eph. 5:2525Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25). The counsels of God are hereby fulfilled.
The time had come for Satan (the prince of this world) to be cast out. Christ, on the cross, drew all men by His death. The people asked, "Who is this Son of man?"
Jesus, knowing that the people knew, said, "While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light."
There was only one Isaiah, not two as some suppose. Some have divided chapters 1 to 39 from 40 to 66. But in John 12:37-41,37But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. (John 12:37‑41) we see by inspiration that both passages refer to the one author.
We are given to see the state of Israel during these two thousand years before they will be restored. The remnants say, "How long?"
Many of the chief rulers believed, but loving the praise of men more than the praise of God, they would not publicly own Jesus.
Christ did not come to Judge, but the Word that He taught shall be the Judge in the last day. The Father's commandment is life everlasting.