The Gospel of John: John 12.27-36

Read and meditate on John 12.34.
It’s not clear whether the people here were trying to get some clarification from Jesus, or to trap Him in an inconsistency. Some of both motives may be reflected here, since this one question is reported as coming from “the people” (literally, the crowd).

³⁴The people answered, “But the Law insists
that Christ remains forever, yet You say,
‘The Son of Man must lifted be.’”

- John 12.34

Reflect
1.  Let’s start by giving the crowd the benefit of the doubt, and suppose that some of them were only seeking clarification. The mention of “the law” here probably references the entire Old Testament, and not just the first five books written by Moses. Were the people right? Does the Old Testament teach that the Christ “remains forever”? Where? If the Old Testament does teach this, why would it be important for us to know this? Complete this prayer: The Old Testament is full of prophecies, types, and symbols pointing to You, Lord, and the better I know these…

2.  The crowd challenged Jesus’ statement about the Son of Man being “lifted up.” Do they seem to have known what that implied? What does this suggest about Roman governance of Judea? About why it was so important to the religious leaders of Judea to silence Jesus (cf. Jn. 11.47, 48)? Lord, when we fear men more than fear and love You, we…

3.  Jesus was deliberate in referring to Himself as “Son of Man.” This is an Old Testament idea that appears especially in the book of Daniel, and would have been familiar to Jesus’ Jewish contemporaries. Daniel lived and prophesied at a time not unlike that in which Jesus lived. In Daniel’s day, the nation was captive to the Babylonians in Babylon, whereas in Jesus’s day, they were captive to the Romans in their own land. Look at Daniel 7.13-27. What is attributed to the “Son of Man” here? How does this help us to understand Jesus’ appropriating this title for Himself? Lord, thank You for giving us Your Kingdom, and for calling us to…

4.  Let’s assume that Jesus had Daniel 7 in mind as He talked with the crowd in Jerusalem. As this relates to Jesus’ “hour”, when do the events of Daniel 7 occur (cf. Pss. 47, 110)? How does this help us to understand what Jesus was looking ahead to, what His hour of glory would entail, and why it was so important for Him to be “lifted up”? Does being “lifted up” take up significance beyond Jesus’ death on the cross? Explain. Lord, as You faced trial, self-denial, and sacrifice in gaining the Kingdom, so we, in seeking it, should expect…

5.  Finally, let’s think about Jesus’ detractors, those who were always trying to trip Him up on His own words. What were those who asked this question from this perspective hoping to accomplish? Do you think unbelievers still try to catch those who bear witness to Jesus in contradictions? How can we make sure we don’t stumble into such a trap as we are bearing witness to the Lord? Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.

Summary
“And so we see that they understood many of the things that he spoke in parables.… As he had talked about death earlier, they saw now what was meant by his being lifted up.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD) “Or they interpreted the word by their own intended act. It was not wisdom imparted but conscience disturbed that disclosed its meaning to them.” Augustine (354-430 AD)

The Son of Man has been lifted up in death, lifted up to life, and lifted up in glory at the Father’s right hand. He has received an eternal Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14.17, 18), which He is giving to His saints to possess and advance, even in the face of opposition. What are your expectations and hopes for seeking and advancing the Kingdom of God in your own Personal Mission Field?

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.