Episode 86 - "Do you believe what Jesus' miracles say about him?" John 12:36-43

36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” 

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,

and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

John 12:39   Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

John 12:40   “He has blinded their eyes

and hardened their heart,

lest they see with their eyes,

and understand with their heart, and turn,

and I would heal them.”

John 12:41   Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

I begin this episode with verse 36 which has Jesus speaking, “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” John began this letter by saying that Jesus was the true light coming into the world. It’s important to recognize this invitation Jesus is giving to these people who are expressing their doubt even after all these things he has done; even after raising a dead man back to life.

Now in verse 37, we read that Jesus “departed and hid himself from them.” What happens when light is hidden? It’s dark. John seems to emphasize how tragically illogical their response in not believing him even though Jesus had “done so many signs before them.” (v. 37)

John draws the connection of this reality to the prophet Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 53:1. Isaiah was allowed to see the glory of God and told to tell it to others. But, God warned him that they would not believe. What happened then happens again when Jesus comes into the world and reveals glimpses of his glory through his signs. 

At this point, John’s teaching gets uncomfortable because he says in verse 39, “Therefore, they could not believe.” He continues by quoting Isaiah 6:10 speaking of God, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart . . . “ (v. 40) We might be inclined to slam on the breaks and say, “Wait a minute! Why would God do that?” It sounds like God doesn’t want people to believe. 

The problem is that response goes completely against what we’ve seen through this entire gospel. Even in the introduction, John writes, “He came unto his own. But, his own did not receive him. But, as many as have received him, he gave the right to become God’s children. (John 1:11-12, my paraphrase) So what is going on?

When we look at the context here, Jesus has been working the signs the Father has given him and invited them to believe in him. But, through all the signs and teachings they have not believed him. So, at this point, it may be that God has brought judgment upon them so that they could not believe and repent. But, why would God do that? The answer I believe is in what is about to happen. Their rejection of Jesus will lead them to be a party to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. This was the Father’s will and Jesus knew it. Through his death on the cross many more people would have the opportunity for forgiveness of sin and hope of eternal life through faith in Jesus. 

We cannot fully understand everything God does. But, what we should learn through this whole book and reinforced through this text is that we just respond to the message of Jesus and the cross while we have a chance. When that light shines in our hearts and minds, we should walk in that light and believe in Jesus. Otherwise, if we reject the light, it may become hidden and we will be forever in the darkness in which we were born.

Another question this text brings to us is, “If we believe in Jesus, do we confess him before others, or do we prefer glory from mankind rather than glory from God?”

It seems that our daily prayer needs to seek the Lord’s help in letting the light in our life shine upon others.

Episode 82 - Mary anoints Jesus' feet - John 12:1-8

John 12:1   Six days before the Passover, Jesus, therefore, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Once again, we find Jesus back in Bethany, a rural suburb of Jerusalem. His friends Martha, Mary, and their resurrected-from-the-dead brother Lazarus are among the participants at a dinner. Martha is cooking. Lazarus is at the table with other guests, and Mary is doing something that is in sharp contrast with one of Jesus’ twelve disciples named Judas Iscariot. 

John mentions that this Judas Iscariot was the one who was about to betray Jesus. John did not know this at the time of the dinner. However, he adds this to clarify who this person is and to show his character.

What Mary is doing is anointing Jesus’ feet with a very expensive and aromatic ointment or perfume. John records Judas’ words which may have even reflected what some others were thinking in response to this act. In verse 5, he says, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” In these words, we learn two things: first, the value of the ointment (300 denarii) appears to be understood by everyone, and second, that Judas is voicing a belief that something more righteous and good could have been accomplished with the value of this ointment.

Let’s break this down. What is the value of denarii in Jesus’ lifetime? In Matthew 20:2, we learn that one denarius was offered and accepted as a day’s wage. If a denarius was a daily wage of the average working person of Jesus’ time, then 300 denarii were equal to approximately a year’s wages. Wow! That is significant, and we can begin to understand perhaps the shock in the mind of Judas and possibly others as well. 

Looking at the context, however, we get a more accurate picture of what is happening. The first thing we need to come back to is that not only has Mary taken the precious ointment and began anointing Jesus’ feet with it, but she is also using her hair as the towel. This is a picture of great personal sacrifice and humility on behalf of Mary. Why would she do this? The answer must be in the fact that Jesus has restored the life to her brother’s dead body, and she is responding in extreme gratitude for this act and overwhelming awe of Jesus’ power and authority. This is worship.

Contrasted with this is Judas Iscariot, who John tells us was about to betray Jesus. Then, John informs his readers about Judas’ true motives in making this statement about selling the ointment and giving it to the poor. Would it have been a good thing to sell it and give it to the poor? Certainly! Throughout the Scriptures, we see God desiring His people to take care of the poor, the widows, and the orphans, those who could not reasonably take care of themselves and had no one immediately connected to them with the ability to care for their needs. 

However, that was not Judas’ true motives. John tells us that Judas kept the money bag for Jesus and his followers, and he was “a thief.” He would help himself to what he wanted. Judas, in all likelihood, had witnessed Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. He was undoubtedly aware of it and now in Lazarus’ presence. Yet he was not thankful or in awe of Jesus’ power and authority. He was only interested in serving himself.

Jesus not only defends Mary but adds that she will use some of this for his burial. He also explains that throughout their lives, they will have ongoing opportunities to serve the poor. But, they will not be able to dine with him, listen to him teach, watch him perform miracles, or tangibly show him gratitude in his presence because he will not be there. He is prophesying about his imminent death and ascension to the Father’s side. 

It seems to me that the application to us couldn’t be more obvious. Are our motivations that drive our actions more like that of Mary or more like that of Judas? Do we have such overwhelming gratitude and awe of Jesus that we might sacrifice something valuable to the world to honor the Lord? Are we so humble before the Lord that we do not care what others might think? OR . . . Are we more like Judas, self-serving thieves who say and do things to make others believe we are selfless and righteous?

Our priority must first be to honor the Lord. When we do that, our motives to serve the needs of others will be right as well.

Episode 48 - Are you offended? - John 6:60-65

John 6:60   When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

Did you notice something? Up to this point, we’ve seen “the Jews” as those who are not receiving or believing in Jesus even though they’ve seen evidence and recognize the divine source of what Jesus is saying and doing. But now, even many of Jesus’ disciples are letting their reason and pride get in the way of faith and an appropriate response to God’s revelation through Jesus. Through their unwillingness to accept what Jesus is telling them about himself, they are saying that no one can accept his teaching. 

I love Jesus’ response to them. “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” Where is that? Where was Jesus, the Son of Man, before? Answer: With the Father in Heaven. I’m not certain. But, I think there is an element of sarcasm in Jesus’ words. Basically, he’s saying that they’ve seen him work miracles and recognized those miracles as indicative of Jesus being the Prophet like Moses. They recognize a divine source or authority in what Jesus is doing. But, they are rejecting it. So, Jesus is saying, “If I do something more significant and more that testifies of my origin from heaven itself, you will reject even more.” Wow!

This is why in verse 63 he says, “the flesh is no help at all.” Jesus is telling them that their eyes, and all their senses with their human reason does not help them have faith. “It is the Spirit who gives life” and “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (v63) They need to trust Jesus' words. He is explaining to them that by saying that they need to “eat his flesh” and “drink his blood” it is a spiritual message and not literal cannibalism. They need to internalize everything that he says and trust him because they are the eternal life giving power from God. 

Then, he says, “But, there are some of you who do not believe.” (v. 64) John adds that Jesus knew all along who did/would believe and who wouldn’t. He even knew who would betray him. Yet, he still called them to follow him. How could he possibly know this? Answer: He’s from heaven. He is God. Despite everything that God already knows, He demonstrates His grace by inviting people to hear Jesus’ words and to believe him.

This section closes by Jesus telling these people that no one can come to Jesus unless granted by the Father. The point of this statement is to emphasize the reality that people do not get to heaven by their own schemes and efforts. All the credit goes to God who leads people to Jesus. They need to trust in him.