The Gospel of John: John 12.12-26

Read and meditate on John 12.16.
John clarifies what he had written in the previous verse. While he cites the Old Testament prophecy concerning Christ’s triumphal entry as King of Israel, this is only in retrospect. At the time, he and the other disciples didn’t understand the meaning of Jesus’ actions. This would only come to them once Jesus had risen from the dead.
 
                                                        ¹⁶Now these
things His disciples did not understand
at first. But they remembered and began
to know them after He was glorified,
that is, once Jesus had been crucified,
and resurrected. They remembered what
was written about Jesus, namely, that
the Jews would do these things to Him.

- John 12.16

Reflect
1.  John feels the need to clarify his account. Especially in the light of subsequent events, it makes sense that he would want us to know that he and the others did not yet understand the meaning of what Jesus was doing. Explain. Complete this prayer: Lord, I don’t understand everything, either, but what I do understand, help me to…

2.  We note that Jesus did not bother to explain to the disciples what He was doing or why. Why do you think He didn’t? Teach me to wait on You, Lord, for Your perfect timing and will, and let me…

3.  John mentions Jesus’ being glorified in relation to what the Jews did to Him. He doesn’t tell us at this point what that was, but only that this was when Jesus was glorified. To what is he referring? How was Jesus glorified in these events? In this is Your true glory, Lord, that…

4.  Something about those events made things come together for John and the others. They had been with Jesus for three years, yet, despite their close association and faith, they all deserted Him. But a new understanding of their Master – and of themselves – began to coalesce in them after He was glorified. Seeing Jesus in His glory has transforming power, as Paul indicates in 2 Corinthians 3.12-18 and 4.6. How does Jesus in His glory affect you in your mind (thought life), heart (affections), and conscience (values and priorities)? Lord Jesus, show me Your glory, and work in me as I work out my salvation, so that…

5.  What does it mean to say that Jesus was “glorified”? What is the “glory of God” that we see in Scripture, and in the face of Jesus revealed there? How do you know when you’re in the presence of God’s glory, and how should that affect you? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.

Summary
“he Evangelist does not hesitate to mention the ignorance of the disciples, nor their subsequent understanding, since he did not care about the respect of people but pleads for the glory of the Spirit and shows what kind of men the disciples were before the resurrection and what sort of men they had become after the resurrection.” Cyril of Alexandria (374-444 AD)

We have only truly learned anything when what we are learning derives from and leads to Christ being glorified. The highest and most acclaimed expressions of secular learning are half-truths at best, unless they derive ultimately from God’s treasury of wisdom and knowledge, and contribute to our better knowing, loving, and serving His King. Better to admit our ignorance, our failures, our confusion, and our uncertainties, and to acknowledge that we are on a journey of learning, than to parade mere head knowledge as true learning, when it may be – as in the case of Judas – nothing of the sort. What are the keys to learning like this?

Closing Prayer
Teach me Your way, O LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will glorify Your name forevermore.
For great is Your mercy toward me,
And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
O God, the proud have risen against me,
And a mob of violent men have sought my life,
And have not set You before them.
But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!
Give Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your maidservant.
Show me a sign for good,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Psalm 86.11-17

Psalm 86.10-17 (Andrews: Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven)
For You are great, You wondrous deeds do;
You are the only and sovereign Lord.
Teach me Your way, let me give heed to,
With all my heart, Savior, all Your Word!
Lord, be gracious to me, Lord, be gracious to me,
Praise Your Name forever, Lord!

Great is Your mercy, Lord, toward me;
You have delivered my soul from hell.
Though dreadful foes and threats arrayed be,
You will Your grace and Your mercy tell!
Lord, be gracious to me, Lord, be gracious to me,
Slow to anger, loving well!

Turn to me, Lord; be gracious to me;
Grant me Your strength; save Your servant, Lord!
Let me a sign of something good see;
Shame all who hate me beneath Your Word.
Lord, be gracious to me, Lord, be gracious to me,
For You help me, sovereign Lord!

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.