The Gospel of John: John 12.1-11

Read and meditate on John 12.9.
The motives of those who sought to see Jesus were not always what they should have been. But that was OK. At least they came.

                                        ⁹The Jews knew He
was there, and many came because of Him,
but also that they might see Lazarus, him
whom Jesus raised.

- John 12.9

Reflect
1.  Many people gathered around Jesus for a variety of reasons throughout the course of His earthly sojourn. Quickly review Jesus’ ministry from John 1 to our passage for today. What kind of motives can you discern among those who came to Jesus? Complete this prayer: Lord, let my motives in seeking You be always what they ought to be. Guard me against…

2.  Word got out that Jesus was in Bethany, and many came to see Him. The only way they would have known that Jesus was in the vicinity was by word of mouth, since mass media didn’t exist in Jesus’ day. What can you imagine was being said about Jesus, that would cause “a great many of the Jews” to come to Him? How do people today think about Jesus? If you aren’t sure, ask a few of the people you see today. I’m sure people have many different opinions about You, Lord, but my calling is to…

3.  John makes a point of telling us that many of those who came to Jesus wanted also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. What was the fascination in this? Meditate on Ephesians 2.4-10. Should people be curious to see Jesus because of what they see in us? Explain. Thank You, Lord, for giving me life; help me to…

4.  John has been deliberately mixing the themes of death and life in this and the last chapter. Review John 11.1-12.9. Cite the verses in which John mentions one or the other of these themes. Why is John doing this? Is he trying to focus us more pointedly on this theme? Explain. Lord, You are the Life we need. You raise us from the dead and give us eternal life with You and the Father. All around us, Lord, people are dead in their trespasses and sins, as I once was. But You have appointed me to…

5.  John does not condemn the people who were coming to see Jesus out of mere curiosity. He merely tells us this was the case. Are people today as curious to see Jesus as these people seem to have been? Why or why not? Should they be curious to see Him? What is our responsibility, as individuals and churches, in provoking people to greater curiosity about Jesus? Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.

Summary
“The Jews discovered that Jesus was again in Bethany, staying with Lazarus and his sisters, and was in fact with them at that moment. Many came … perhaps expecting to hear something extraordinary from him, like somebody who comes back to civilization from a strange and remote land. For this reason the chief priests, when they saw that the crowd was also greatly attracted by the desire to see Lazarus, thought to kill Lazarus together with Christ. They obviously had the idea that the crowds would have not confined themselves to see Lazarus but by seeing him would have been led to faith in Christ—as if he who had raised [Lazarus] from the dead once could not bring him back to life again.” Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428 AD)

Not everyone who came to Jesus came because they were seeking relief from the burden of their sins. They came out of selfish interest – bread or healing – or simple curiosity – would He raise another dead person? Or just because some friend was excited about seeing Jesus for one reason or another. Jesus created a stir wherever He went, and people came out to see Him. Is this the case still today? Jesus lives in those who believe in Him. Local churches are the very Body of Christ. Why do people today seem less curious than in Jesus’ day to get a look at Him?

Closing Prayer
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised
In the city of our God,
In His holy mountain.
Beautiful in elevation,
The joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
God is in her palaces;
He is known as her refuge.
For behold, the kings assembled,
They passed by together.
They saw it, and so they marveled;
They were troubled, they hastened away.
Fear took hold of them there,
And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs,
As when You break the ships of Tarshish
With an east wind.
As we have heard,
So we have seen
In the city of the LORD of hosts,
In the city of our God:
God will establish it forever.
Selah
We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness,
In the midst of Your temple.
According to Your name, O God,
So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;
Your right hand is full of righteousness.

Psalm 48.1-10

Psalm 48.1-11 (Cwm Rhondda: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah)
Great is God, now greatly praise Him in the city of the Lord.
Holy she, His lovely mountain, great and glorious by His Word!
God her King is great within her, He, her Stronghold ever sure!
He, her Stronghold ever sure!

Earthly kings, amazed and wond’ring, look upon the Church with fear.
See them flee in dread and anguish, knowing that the Lord is near.
For the city of the Savior God will keep forevermore!
God will keep forevermore!

For Your grace and lovingkindness we proclaim Your matchless worth!
As Your Name is, great and boundless, let Your praise fill all the earth.
Let Your people sing rejoicing for the judgment of Your truth;
For the judgment of Your truth.
           
T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.