trusted online casino malaysia
Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
The Scriptorium

A Great Draw

Jesus is drawing the whole world to Himself.

The Gospel of John: John 12.12-27

Read and meditate on John 12.17-19.
John continues to set the stage and the mood for the events by which Jesus will be glorified.

                                                    17Therefore,
the people who were with Him witness bore –
they who were there when He raised Lazarus from
the dead. 18And others, hearing this, had come
to meet Him also. 19Then the Pharisees
complained among themselves: “And now you see
that you accomplish nothing. Look now! All
the world has gone out to Him!”

- John 12.17-19

Reflect
1.  John identifies more specifically the people who were accompanying Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. The first group consisted of those who were with Jesus when He raised Lazarus from the dead. What were these people doing? Of what did that consist? Complete the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I can’t explain everything about You or the Gospel, but what I do know and have experienced, let me…

2.  My sense of this situation is this: As Jesus was coming to Jerusalem from Bethany, the people who had witnessed Him raise Lazarus from the dead accompanied Him. That would have been a small company, but conspicuous. As Jesus mounted the donkey’s colt for the last leg of His journey, this would have piqued the curiosity of others, and those accompanying Jesus would have said something like, “This is Jesus, Who called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead.” Their witness would have increased the excitement about Jesus, and the crowd accompanying Him would have grown, as this witness spread to others (cf. Matt. 21.10, 11). Perhaps someone in the crowd cried out, “O save us! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!” This would have triggered huzzahs and similar cries from others, since everyone would have been familiar with this line from Psalm 118. As the chant spread through the crowd, and the clamoring increased, more people would have gathered, joining in the chant, caught up in the excitement of the moment, but not really understanding the significance of what they were witnessing. People got excited about Jesus, and even hailed Him as Savior and King, but mainly because of the situation, not because of any true understanding or sincere faith. Is there a danger of such being the case in churches today? Explain. Give me grace, Lord, to know You truly, and to grow in my relationship with You, and not merely to…

3.  The noise and crowd attracted the attention of the religious leaders. First, they went straight to Jesus, and demanded He tell the people to desist (Lk. 19.39). That failing, the procession went on further into the city, ending at the temple (Mk. 11.11), where Jesus surveyed the situation, then left to return to Bethany. Rebuffed by Jesus, as the multitudes passed them by, the Pharisees were left embarrassed and angry, lashing out at one another. Here is where verse 19 fits. Their bitter words are stunningly accurate: “The world (kosmos) has gone out after Him!” If the world was going after Jesus, where did that leave the Pharisees? How did this make them feel? Is there any sense in which this situation exists yet today? Lord, You challenge every vain pretense of authority and power, so I should not be surprised when…

4.  The Pharisees’ word was true in two senses. First, they were indeed accomplishing nothing – that is, in the way of silencing Jesus. That was a terrible admission for them to have made. But would that stop them from trying harder? How does this counsel us as witnesses to Jesus? Lord, I know that some people will only get angry as I bear witness to them, and that they may go further and…

5.  Second, look at John 12.32. In the Greek, the word peoples is not present. The text reads, literally, “I will draw all things [that is, the entire cosmos] to Myself.” The Pharisees were exaggerating out of frustration, but Jesus meant what He said. In what sense were they both right? Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.

Summary
“Even though they did not know it, the Pharisees were telling the truth when they said, ‘Look, the world has gone after him,’ for not only Jews but Gentiles as well were destined to accept the faith.” Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD)

Jesus, as is evident, was a “great draw.” Should we expect as much today? What causes the world and everything in it to “go out” after Jesus?

Closing Prayer
What shall I render to the LORD
For all His benefits toward me?
I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD
Now in the presence of all His people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD
Is the death of His saints.
O LORD, truly I am Your servant;
I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant;
You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD
Now in the presence of all His people,
In the courts of the LORD’s house,
In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 116.12-19

Psalm 116.7-19 (Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise to God, Who Reigns Above)
Full well the Lord has dealt with me; my soul from death He delivered.
My weeping eyes, my stumbling feet, He has redeemed forever.
Forever I before His face shall walk with those who know His grace,
And dwell with them forever.

Afflicted, I believe His Word, though lying men would undo me.
What shall I render to the Lord for all His blessings to me?
Salvation’s cup I lift above and call upon the God of love
And pay my vows most truly.

How sweet to Him when saints depart – save me, Your servant, Savior!
From sin You loosed my wand’ring heart; I praise Your Name forever!
On You I call, my vows to pay; here in Your presence I would stay
Your praise to offer ever.

T. M. Moore

We are happy to offer each week’s Scriptorium studies in a free weekly PDF, suitable for personal or group use. You can download all the studies in our series on the Gospel of John by clicking here. Please prayerfully consider sharing with The Fellowship of Ailbe through your giving. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Men, God is calling you to pray. Watch this brief video, then seek the Lord about joining our Men at Prayer movement.

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.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

Subscribe to Ailbe Newsletters

Sign up to receive our email newsletters and read columns about revival, renewal, and awakening built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification.