John 12:27-36
Sunday Morning Bible Study
May 12, 1996
Introduction
It's the last Sunday before Jesus is to die, the day known as Palm Sunday.
We saw Jesus enter triumphantly into Jerusalem, being hailed as king.
We saw Greek Gentiles come to seek out Jesus.
Jesus responded that the time of His death was drawing near, and that He would be laying down His life.
If these Greeks wanted to serve Him, they would need to follow Him as well.
:27-36 A voice from heaven
:27 Now is my soul troubled
troubled - tarasso - to agitate, trouble; to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind ...
Jesus is bothered about what is ahead of Him.
He's aware that He's going to be betrayed and arrested.
He's aware that He's going to be put on a Roman cross and suffer.
He's aware that He's going to be dead within the week.
:27 and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
»(NAS) "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
Jesus is going to go through the epitome of a "bad week".
But He's not backing down or copping out.
He knows that this "bad week" is the very reason He was born for.
Jesus came for the purpose of dying for the sins of the world.
Lesson:
Work your way through the hard times.
Nobody likes to go through hard times.
But it's part of life, and the process of going through them is what makes us grow as Christians.
If you just try to escape or somehow avoid them, you'll only have to go through them down the road.
Illustration:
There are people who tell me about all the difficult people they work with, and they go quit their job because they can't stand a certain person.
But sure enough, at the job that person's there, only in another form, someone who's hard to get along with.
It's better to stick it out and learn how to get along with the person rather than running.
Jesus is our example
»Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
v.1 The "great cloud of witnesses" are all the heroes of faith mentioned in the previous chapter.
They were all men and women facing difficult circumstances, but rather than being defeated by difficult times, they learned to walk by "faith", by trusting in unseen things, and persevered.
Illustration:
One day John Wesley was walking with a troubled man who expressed his doubt as to the goodness of God. He said, "I do not know what I shall do with all this worry and trouble." At the same moment Wesley saw a cow looking over a stone wall. "Do you know," asked Wesley, "why that cow is looking over the wall? Because she cannot see through it. That is what you must do with your wall of trouble -- look over it and avoid it." Faith enables us to get above circumstances and look to Christ who is over all, blessed forever.
v.1 "run with patience" - this is what we are trying to achieve, to endure, to make it to the end of the race. It's the picture of a marathon race, and you're in it for the long haul.
v.2 - "Looking unto Jesus" - this is how we are to make it to the end, by keeping our eyes on Him.
When you're getting discouraged with your circumstances, put your eyes back on Jesus and look at how He stuck it out.
v.2 - "for the joy that was set before him" - the "for" may be translated "in place of", and not only refers to the joy of saving people that was at the end of His race, but also may refer to the joy that He always had in heaven which He willingly exchanged for a cross in order to save us.
v.3 - "consider him" - again, keeping your eyes on Jesus is the key to not growing weary and faint.
consider - analogizomai - to think over, consider, ponder
Spend time meditating on Jesus and how He pursued His goal right to the end.
Illustration:
Many people have heard of the outstanding exploits of Blondin, the tightrope walker. Blondin amused and amazed thousands of people as he made his way over Niagara Falls on a slender rope stretched from shore to shore. He never faltered or failed. But Blondin had a secret. As he made his way over the rope, he would keep his eyes fixed on a large silver star which he had erected at the far end. The star was the center of his attention and guided him to the other side.
It's as we learn to keep our eyes on Jesus that we can learn to walk the fine line that takes us through our trials rather than being eaten up by them.
:27 for this cause came I unto this hour.
For Jesus, going to the cross was the very reason He laid aside His glory in heaven and took on human flesh.
Lesson:
The prize is in finishing the race, not in quitting.
A runner will never know just how he might have placed in the final standings if he quits.
How do you know that the rough time you're facing isn't going to end up being one of the "high points" in your life?
And yet you are trying to pretend it isn't there, or you are trying to get out of it completely?
Illustration:
Arnold Toynbee, the historian, says every nation, movement, or organization can face its crisis hours in one of four ways.
1. Retreat to the past
2. Leap into day dreams about the future.
3. Retreat within and give itself to mystical experience.
4. Take hold of its crisis and transform it into something useful.
Finish the race!
:28 Father, glorify thy name.
Jesus' life was one lived in a way to bring glory to God, not Himself:
»Joh 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
»Joh 8:50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
Lesson:
Keep your finger pointing to God.
It's very easy to start doing good things so that people will look to you as a great person.
But our reason for doing good things should be so that people would give God the glory.
»Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Our good works must be done in a way so that when people see them, they give a little "praise the Lord", not a "praise Richard".
This is why sometimes it's best to try and be anonymous:
»Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
The issue isn't whether or not someone sees you doing a good work.
The issue is whether or not you did the good work so you'd be noticed doing it, and get the credit!
Illustration:
"There is no reward from God to those who seek it from men."
-- Spurgeon
Some questions to think about:
Would I do it if nobody knew who was doing it?
Am I always trying to point the thing out, so people notice that it got done?
Do I have to have someone say "thank-you" to me?
Are you doing it because of your love for the Lord?
I find that when you really love someone, you don't mind if they get the credit for something you did.
If I am doing these things because I love the Lord so much, then I won't mind if He gets the glory!
Illustration:
I Wonder by Ruth Harms Calkin
You know, Lord, How I serve You
with great emotional fervor in the limelight.
You know how eagerly I speak for You at a Women's Club.
You know my genuine enthusiasm at a Bible study.
But how would I react, I wonder,
if You pointed to a basin of water
and asked me to wash the calloused feet
of a bent and wrinkled old woman
day after day, month after month,
in a room where nobody saw and nobody knew?
:28 Then came there a voice from heaven
An audible voice from heaven was heard.
This has already happened twice in Jesus' ministry (Mat.3:17; Mat.17:5)
:28 saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
Past ("have ... glorified it")
Most recently, God received glory when Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead. (John 11:4; 11:40)
Future ("will glorify it again")
God would again receive great glory when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, would rise from the dead.
:29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
people - ochlos - a crowd; a multitude
Remember, Jesus has just come into town in His triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
He's apparently still surrounded with people.
Apparently most of the people did not understand what the noise was that they heard.
Some thought it was thunder.
Some thought an angel was speaking to Jesus.
Gill: "the Jews had a mighty notion of the discourse and conversation of angels with men, which their doctors pretended to understand; particularly R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, a Rabbi, who was living at this time, had learned their speech, and was well versed in it"
:30 This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
Jesus didn't need God's reassurance that everything was okay.
He already knew everything was going to be okay.
The voice came for the sake of the people, to give them one more reason to open up their hearts and receive Him as their Messiah.
He had already made the claims of the Messiah.
He had already done the miracles and works of the Messiah.
He showed up on the exact day that the Messiah was to enter into Jerusalem.
And now God adds the finishing touch, by confirming to them publicly that He is the Messiah.
This was what the Jews themselves said needed to happen:
"no man is to be hearkened to, though he should do as many signs and wonders as Moses, the son of Amram, unless they hear with their ears, that the Lord speaks to him as he did to Moses."
R. Mosis Kotsensis praefat. ad Mitzvot Tora, pr. Affirm. (Gill)
The nation is now without excuse.
Their Messiah stands before them.
:31 Now is the judgment of this world
»NIV - Now is the time for judgment on this world;
or, we could translate it "now is a judgment on this world"
This is kind of a difficult phrase to understand.
It could be talking about how the judgment of God upon the world's sins would be placed upon Him as He hung on the cross.
But I'm kind of leaning towards it talking about something else.
First of all, if you look at verses 31-33 as a whole, you see that Jesus is talking about the results of His death on the cross, which are three:
1) Judgment of this world
2) Prince of this world cast out
3) Drawing all to Jesus
What does this phrase mean?
judgment - krisis - a separating; judgment; opinion or decision given concerning anything; condemnation
I think that Jesus is talking about the critical time of decision that the world was facing.
Here was their Savior standing before them.
Would they believe or not?
If they choose to believe, then they will not face judgment or condemnation.
If they choose to reject, then they must face the judgment of God.
Jesus spoke of this with much the same language earlier:
»John 3:14-19 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of the world.
All a person has to do to receive God's salvation is to accept the free gift of forgiveness that Jesus has paid for.
But if you do not receive God's gift of forgiveness, then you must face judgment and condemnation for your sins.
:31 now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
I don't think Jesus is saying that Satan was going to be cast out of the world.
That is still yet to come after Jesus comes back the second time (Rev.20).
I don't think Jesus is talking about Satan being cast out of heaven, because he is still the accuser of the brethren who constantly accuses us before God night and day (Rev.12:10).
And though he will be cast out of heaven, it won't take place until the middle of the tribulation period.
I think instead He's talking about the triumph over Satan, and the end of Satan's power over people:
»Col 2:13-15 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth
Just as in John 3, Jesus talks about being "lifted up".
He's talking about His crucifixion (vs.33)
:32 will draw all men unto me
This is a commonly misunderstood verse.
It's often quoted as if to understand that "lifting Jesus up" means to be praising Him.
It's used in the sense of, "Let's praise Jesus, and lift Him up, and people will be drawn to Him."
But it's really referring to Him being lifted up on a cross to die.
Even the people listening to Him understood Him correctly.
It's probably not a good idea to sing songs that say, "Let's lift Jesus higher ..."
For us, He's been lifted high enough on the cross.
draw all men -
Note: "men" is not in the original Greek.
The original says "I will draw all unto me"
Not all in the sense of every individual, but all in the sense of people from all races, such as the Gentiles.
Not all in the sense of every individual, but in the sense of all that are being saved.
The cross of Christ does not draw every person to Christ, but only those who want to be saved.
»1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
:34 The people ...
Or again, "the crowd" or "multitude"
:34 We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever
The Old Testament indeed has a lot to say about the Christ being eternal: (See also Ps.110:4; 72:17)
»Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
They are correct, the Scriptures do say this!
:34 how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
They're right in their understanding of some of the Scriptures, but they haven't been looking at the whole picture.
Sure the Messiah will reign forever.
But first He has to die for their sins!
»Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you.
Jesus has used this language of "light" and "darkness" several times in the gospel of John.
Here, when He's talking about the light, He's talking about Himself.
»Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Lesson:
You don't need to be afraid of Jesus.
The Bible says:
»1Jo 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
The contrast of light and darkness is often the contrast between good and evil, between sinfulness and righteousness.
And because Jesus is the Light, there is no darkness in Him.
There's lots of reasons why people develop this strange kind of fear of Jesus, as if somehow they need to run from Him.
Perhaps it's because they've been abused by a father or a husband.
Perhaps it's because someone they love has betrayed them horribly.
Perhaps it's because they've gone through some hard times, and have come to the conclusion that God is out to get them.
But there is absolutely no darkness in Jesus (nor the Father or the Holy Spirit!).
He is not like the person who abused you, and you need to wake up to that fact.
And though you have been through hard times, and though we might not understand why, we can rest knowing that it's not because God has some sort of wicked sense of humor.
Jesus, as the Light, would only be on planet earth for a little while longer.
:35-36 Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you:
The picture is that of a person on a journey, and the sun is still up overhead.
As long as you've got light, you can continue on your journey.
But when the sun sets, you don't have the ability to continue on your journey.
Lesson:
Take advantage of the opportunities in front of you.
1) To know Jesus.
Maybe you've started to get to know more and more about Jesus, but haven't yet made the decision to follow Him.
This is your chance, to follow Him before you loose the opportunity.
I'm not one to give high pressure talks, but the truth is, you don't have forever to decide to follow Him.
It could be that you might die tonight.
It could be that you might choose to say no one too many times, and decide to walk away.
2) To go through the doors ahead of you.
I can see this also apply to those of us who know Jesus.
There are times when we have opportunities in front of us.
It's like the door is open.
The light is turned on, for awhile.
You've got to move while the opportunity is still there.
Illustration:
My wife likes to snip coupons.
But if the coupon has expired, it's not going to help you much.
You have to take advantage of it while you can.
:36 departed, and did hide himself from them.
Remember, it's still only Sunday, and He can't allow Himself to be arrested and crucified until Friday!