Episode 93 - "Now is the Son of Man glorified" - John 13:31-32

John 13:31   When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 

To be clear, “When he had gone out” refers to Judas Iscariot who was going out to betray Jesus to those who wanted to kill Jesus. We saw how even though Satan had put it into his mind, he didn’t do it until Jesus had told his whole gang that one of them would betray him. Then he told John that the betrayer would be the one to whom he gave a piece of bread after dipping it in the wine. He then gave that bread to Judas and told him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” (v. 27) Let’s stop and process this for a minute.

As we’ve studied this gospel, we’ve seen some consistent themes and patterns. One theme is “hour(time) for glory.” This was first hinted at in the Prologue when John wrote, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) In the next chapter, Jesus is at a wedding with his disciples and his mother is there. When she tells him the bride and groom have run out of wine, he responds, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”(John 2:4) Jesus is saying that this wedding is about someone else’s glory/honor and he is foretelling that there is a coming hour for him to be glorified. Even still, Jesus miraculously provided wine for the wedding and John writes afterwards that this first “sign” “manifested his glory.” (John 2:11) It speaks of his unique power, authority, and interest in the needs of mankind.

Another repeating revelation throughout this book is that Jesus does nothing on his own authority but only what he sees and hears from the Father. He only does what God the Father wants him to do when the Father wants him to do it and how the Father wants it done. Furthermore, nothing can happen to Jesus that is not willed by the Father. How many times did people attempt to apprehend or harm him and they couldn’t despite significantly outnumbering him? 

When Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on the donkey fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah of the Messianic King coming into Zion on a young donkey as a peaceful king (Zechariah 9:9-10) he was informed that there were Greeks seeking Jesus. This was a sign to Jesus the Father was bringing “the world” to him and he understood this indicated the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified (John 12:23) and he continues by speaking about the necessity for him to die. In this we see how the Father’s will is communicated to the Son, the Son recognizes that the time is near for him to be glorified. But, his glorification will be on a cross. What is not happening is that Jesus’ enemies have finally figured out a way to get him and to overcome him. It is only now that the Father is allowing them to fulfill their evil desires. But, just as Joseph told his brothers, “You meant it (their actions of selling him into slavery) for evil. But, God meant it for good,” this is what is now happening with Jesus. All of it is within God’s permissive will. 

What we need to learn from this is maintaining a healthy perspective of what we call “free will” and God’s providence. God gives us so much liberty and freedom. But, we also need to remember that our actions are never beyond the authority and ultimate will of God. It is a mystery and we cannot fully comprehend or appreciate this. But, it’s an opportunity to humble ourselves before God and pray that He would guide us to making choices that most align with His will. That’s where we experience God’s blessings the most.  

Jesus would very soon be arrested, unjustly tried, convicted, tortured, and hung on a cross. This hardly seems as “glorious.” But, what the cross represents is God’s perfect love toward the world manifested through Him sending His own Son to satisfy the just and righteous penalty for the sins of the world. In this, both the Son and the Father are glorified. The Father sends His own Son in love and the Son faithfully obeys the Father with the same love for the world. That is Jesus’ point here. Furthermore, Jesus will defeat death. Again, the Father and Son are glorified through it. We must glorify God through thankfully trusting in Jesus for our salvation over sin and death.

Episode 92 - "One of you will betray me" John 13:21-30

John 13:21   After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at the table at Jesus’ side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

Throughout this entire book, John drops little pieces of information that should cause us to stop and reflect on why that information might be important. For instance, in verse 21, John mentions that Jesus “was troubled in his spirit.” It would appear the reason he was troubled is his awareness that one of his disciples would betray him. But, this raises some questions. 

First, why was it important for John to mention that Jesus was troubled within his spirit? What does this detail communicate to the reader? If Jesus has this foreknowledge, why doesn’t he prevent it? He’s raised the dead back to life and performed many other miracles. There is no need to be troubled because he could prevent his would-be betrayer from doing that. 

Second, why is there a need to say “one of you” and not specify who is the betrayer? It’s obvious from the context that he not only knows that he is going to be betrayed by one of the twelve, but he knows who it is. Yet, he does not announce that to the group. 

My answers to these questions will be at least in part based on my speculation. But, I will try to defend them within the context of this book.  My answer to why Jesus was troubled within his spirit and why John shares it with us is due to both his humanity AND his deity. Let me explain. Jesus was human in every way except without sin. The author of Hebrews makes that point in Hebrews 4:15. But, John is emphatic about communicating that Jesus is both divine and human. In John’s prologue, he wrote of the Word who was God, “and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) John did not understand this reality for quite a while. In fact, Jesus had made John one of his closest friends. John saw and heard things being near Jesus that many others did not. But, later when he records his own entrance into the empty tomb, he “believes.” Believes what? He doesn’t tell us specifically. But, I think it’s when he first believed that his friend Jesus was God in human flesh. As this understanding settled in, he realized that the Incarnate Son of God had chosen to hang out with him, teach him, and love him. This is why I think he doesn’t refer to himself in this book by name, but as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” John is not bragging. John lived the rest of his life humbled by the immense grace God showed to him in having this uniquely privileged place and role in human history. He is in complete and continual awe of Jesus. Therefore, it is his passion that you and I also understand the significance of the Incarnation of the Son of God. So, he shows us the humanity of Jesus alongside his deity. He shows us Jesus weeping at Lazarus’ tomb with full knowledge that the Father will have him raise Lazarus back to life. Now in this passage, Jesus has a human response of being troubled in spirit knowing that one of his friends will betray him. Who among us would not be troubled with that kind of knowledge? So, if we understand how such treachery would cause us pain, why would a loving, holy, and just God not be troubled by our betrayal? I think John wants us to see how our own sin troubles Jesus. It should cause us to consider our priorities and seek the Lord’s help in our faith and faithfulness to Him. 

This brings us to the second question and why I think Jesus said to the whole group “one of you will betray me.” In fact, all of them would betray him in one manner or another. Yes. Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus into the hands of his enemies leading to his arrest and crucifixion. But, Peter denied even knowing Jesus three times when he was under pressure and the rest of the disciples ran. Jesus told them this before any of it happened. I cannot imagine that any of them ever forgot it. 

Why didn’t he stop it? Because this was all within the Father’s will and plan and Jesus was perfectly faithful to his Father and to us. 

There is another important truth within this passage that I want you to see.  If you recall at the beginning of this chapter, John writes that “the Devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot . . . to betray him.” (John 13:2) But, in verse 27 after Jesus had given Judas the piece of bread dipped in the cup, John informs us that Satan entered into him(Judas). What is going on here? What happens in verse 2 is the work of the Devil to influence Judas. But, John is recording Jesus telling “the disciple who Jesus loved” a.k.a. Himself that he would reveal who his betrayer is by giving that person the morsel of bread dipped in the cup. Then, he did it and once Judas took that bread from Jesus, THEN Satan entered Judas. The point is that while Satan has the power to influence people, his power is limited and completely subject to God’s will and timing. We learn this lesson in the book of Job as well. Satan and Judas both have culpability. But the extent of what Satan can do and when he can do it is under the sovereign will of God. That’s deep stuff there, isn’t it. Understand that there are mysteries regarding God and we cannot fully understand everything He is doing. 

I believe our “takeaway” from this lesson is knowing that God is in complete control and that means things will happen that may trouble us. But, we should pray that the Lord will sustain us in being faithful to Him.

One last observation before stopping. Did you notice John pointing out in verse 30 when Judas went out to betray Jesus, that he adds, “and it was night?” That’s when Nicodemus came to Jesus. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night when he was in as much spiritual darkness as he was physical darkness. The disciples were in a boat in the middle of a stormy Sea of Galilee “and it had become dark and Jesus had not yet come to them.” Now Judas, who has been with “the Light of the world is departing into darkness.” How tragic! May the Lord sustain us in His truth and Light.

Episode 91 - "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." John 13:16-20

16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

This is another case of where do we begin and when do we stop. These few verses have so much to say to us. Allow me first to draw your attention to the fact that in these five verses, there are two “Truly, truly” statements. When Jesus says that, it means “Listen up!” The first is to make the point that “a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” Jesus is not bragging. He’s calling attention to what they have acknowledged themselves. In this context, he reinforces the need for the disciples to be humble towards each other and serve each other. If Jesus can humbly serve others, then we have absolutely no excuse to think of ourselves as superior to others around us. In fact, Jesus doesn’t stop there with that exhortation. In verse 17, he recognizes the potential for them to understand this truth in their mind, but fail to act upon it. He encourages them to let what they know translate into what they do. If they know they should be humble and serve others, then they should do it. It is too easy for us to placate ourselves by acknowledging what is good and right. But, it can be harder to turn those beliefs into actions.

Once again, Jesus indicates that this will not apply to everyone; only to those who truly belong to him. He quotes Psalm 41:9 as a prophetic word regarding Judas Iscariot who would betray Jesus. Then, he explains that he is telling them this now, even though they don’t understand it, in order that they will put the pieces together later and realize that Jesus knows everything. They will ultimately understand that he has divine knowledge and they will truly understand and value that he is God.

In verse 20 we have the second of these “Truly, truly” statements: “whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” On the surface, this may sound like Jesus is changing subjects. But, it is no coincidence that Jesus has just given his disciples a lesson on serving others, and information that will help them understand that he really is the unique Son of God and is now speaking of those he will send. Who could that be? His disciples of course. He will send them to serve others and to tell people who Jesus is. This statement is to encourage them that there will be people who will listen to their message about Jesus and believe them. Furthermore, they are not just believing the disciples, but also the Son who sent them and the Father who sent the Son. 

What would you think if someone told you that you could tell other people that a man named Jesus is the Son of God, that he willingly died on a cross to accept the punishment for our sin against God, that he conquered death and will someday return to raise us from the dead . . .  and that people would believe you? That would be hard to believe. It’s an amazing claim. 

In our society today there are many people who deny or at least question the existence of God. That’s not to mention the number of people who believe in a god or gods, but don’t know about or believe the God in the Bible is the only or true God. Yet, that is the mission for which Jesus will soon send his disciples and within a matter of a few hundred years, it would become a world religion. 

The only explanation that people would believe us is the power of the good news of Jesus. It is a divine message that has changed the hearts and minds of countless people regardless of how crazy it might seem on the surface.

The challenge to us is whether we will carry that torch and communicate the message of Jesus to others.

Episode 90 - "You also ought to wash one another's feet" - John 13:12-15

John 13:12   When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

Before I begin discussing the interpretation of this text, I want to discuss an important principle with respect to the process of interpretation. Sometimes people treat the Bible as though it were some magic book and randomly open it and read some area and then make an attempt to glean some mystical meaning that addresses some problem, concern, or question in their life. But, is that appropriate?

If you were to open a letter written by one of your parents to the other, would you point your finger at some statement in the middle of the letter and think to yourself, “those words must mean that I should find another job?” Of course not! The letter’s author had no intention of secretly hiding some wisdom for your employment decisions in what was likely a love letter to their future or current spouse. Neither the type of literature, the intended recipient/audience, or even the message of that literature support that kind of use(abuse) of their purpose in that letter. So, we shouldn’t do that with the Scriptures either. As we seek to understand the whole message of the letter, we may discover principles from the ideas expressed in the letter that may be valuable for our lives as well. However, we need to use caution how far we take the text itself.

This brief text demonstrates how Scripture interprets Scripture. It helps us rely on other indicators within the Biblical text that help us understand the intended meaning. It also demonstrates the limitations of potential interpretations that should keep us from interpreting the Bible according to our feelings, rather than sound principles which apply to writings of all kinds. Let’s take a look at it.

Jesus had just finished washing his disciples’ feet and one of the things from this text that catches my attention is that Jesus indicates he had a purpose in washing their feet beyond just making their feet clean. Were their feet dirty? Did they need washing? Sure. People wore sandals and they often walked on dirt roads, not clean pavement. Jesus did something for them that was pragmatic. But, this text gives us more information about his purpose. The text itself tells us that purpose. Jesus was teaching them a lesson. He was making it clear that if he, their teacher, could humble himself to serve others, they had no excuse to not humble themselves to serve others. 

Now, there are some traditions within the Christian faith that practice foot-washing of others in their church. They interpret this text as a mandate. I can see how they might arrive at that conviction if they focus purely on the last part of verse 14, “you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” The problem is that interpretation ignores the surrounding context. First, Jesus establishes the fact that they recognize his authority over them as their teacher. Yet, he demonstrated humble service to them, thereby removing any excuse they could conceive to protect their own egos and not humbly serve others. That is an important point of why John includes this detail. Secondly, Jesus explains that what he has done by washing their feet is an example of how they should treat each other. It’s an example, not a law. 

Does that make it wrong for people to practice foot-washing today? Of course not. It was a very good example of humbly serving another person through a practical need in that culture and time. Since we do not commonly walk around on dirt paths in sandals today, it’s not as much of a need as other things. We are free to consider the example and humbly serve others through needs of our own time and culture.

The point of the text is the importance that disciples of Jesus must humble themselves to demonstrate service to others. We cannot think of ourselves more highly than others. Our actions must demonstrate this. 

The secondary point is the lesson of interpretation. Seek to interpret the Scriptures (and other literature) from its own contexts. First, we look at the immediate context; the phrases before and after to see if they shed light on the question at hand. Then, we look more broadly at the whole letter, story, or book and see if the overall context of that piece of literature helps inform our interpretation. Then, we can move on to other works perhaps by the same author to find if a similar idea is communicated through another writing that helps develop our understanding. Then we look more broadly at the Scriptures as a whole to see how our interpretation fits within those other literary works.

Episode 89 - "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me" - John 13:6-11

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

In the last episode, I described the significance of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. Earlier in this book, John the Baptist had told people who recognized he had some divine authority that he was not even worthy to be called a slave of Jesus. Now at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, Jesus is intentionally serving his disciples as though he was their slave. 

As we look at this interaction between Peter and Jesus, we understand why Peter reacted as he did. It sheds light on why Peter responds in the manner he does. He is not about to let Jesus condescend to washing his feet. I love Jesus’ response in verse 7, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”  I don’t know about you. But, at 57 years of age, I’ve had plenty of experiences in my life in which I did not understand what was happening; experiences that seemed outside of my control. In reflecting, later on, it was easier to see what God was doing for my good and His glory.

When Peter insists he will not allow this, Jesus’ response seems a bit extreme. “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Seriously? Why does Jesus appear to react so strongly to Peter not wanting Jesus to wash his feet? Couldn’t he just say, “OK. Have it your way” and move on to the next disciple? The answer lies not so much in the foot-washing as it does the cross. This is indeed an amazing act of humility and servitude, but nothing compared to what he is about to do by laying down his own life for them. If Peter or any of the other disciples would not accept this gracious act of love from Jesus, how could they possibly accept his ultimate act of love in laying down his life for them?

When Jesus gives Peter this ultimatum, Peter’s emotions swing to the other extreme by telling Jesus to wash his whole body. Jesus’ response is to continue by using this tangible demonstration to teach his disciples a spiritual principle. The point is simple and logical: If a person has bathed recently and only been walking around, they don’t need to bathe again because they are clean and only need their feet washed. Keying off the idea of one’s body being clean through bathing, Jesus declares that all but one of them  is “clean.” He’s not saying that they’ve all had a bath recently. He is saying that they are spiritually clean, with the exception of the one who would betray him. 

I find this an interesting assessment. Peter had not yet denied him and Jesus had not yet died on the cross. Yet. Jesus knows who is clean and who isn’t. Evidence has already been displayed of this, hasn’t it? When Jesus was telling people that he had miraculously fed that they needed to eat his flesh and drink his blood, many people weren’t interested in following Jesus anymore and left. But, Peter expressed uncompromising trust; “Lord! Where do we have to turn? You alone have the words of eternal life.” 

It would not be long before, in fear, Peter would deny three times that he even knew Jesus. Yet, Jesus has already declared Peter “clean.” It would appear that God knows who is clean despite our moments of weakness and failure and those who have turned away from Jesus in betrayal and rebellion. I find it reassuring to know that my weaknesses and failures are met by God’s omniscience and mercy. Can we accept that Jesus, the Son of God, has come to serve us by dying on the cross in our place? We must in order to be clean.

Episode 88 - He loved them to the end - John 13:1-5

John 13:1   Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

As I read this text, I’m reminded of my childhood when occasionally I would have a sheet of paper or a book with “connect the dots.” By using a pen or pencil and beginning at the dot with the number ‘1’ and drawing a line to each successively numbered dot, an image would appear. This book has a number of “dots” that are to be connected and it reveals a picture of Jesus and God’s plan for sending him into the world.

First, John mentions that once again they are nearing the Passover Feast. The feast commemorated the first Passover when the ancestors of these Jews were in bondage in Egypt and the Lord was bringing judgment upon the nation. The final plague was that the Lord would kill the firstborn of every family and animal because of their evil and rebellous ways. In order to avoid this, the Jews were instructed to sacrifice a lamb without blemish, apply some of the blood to the outside of the door frame of their homes, then enter into their homes, and eat the roasted flesh of the lamb. (See Exodus 12) What significance does this have with respect to Jesus and the events that are unfolding?

Well, early in John’s gospel, John the Baptist points to Jesus and declares that he is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) It would seem that by John pointing out that the Passover is near and the context of Jesus (the Lamb of God) knowing that he will soon die seems to connect the dots that the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover is about to happen in Jesus’ imminent death.

Second, John mentions that Jesus knew his hour had come. We read that happened when it was reported to him that there were Greeks seeking him. (John 12:20-23) John adds here that Jesus had loved “his own.” Do you remember that? John 1 records, “he (the Word) came unto his own. But, his own did not receive him.” (John 1:11-12) He didn’t just come to them. John says here that he “loved them.” Now, he builds on that by saying that even though he knew they were about to kill him, “he loved them to the very end.” Is that not amazing? Jesus never stopped loving the people who would take part in rejecting him and killing him.

Now we get some specific detail when John tells us about this meal Jesus and his closest disciples were sharing and John tells us that the devil had already put the idea into Judas Iscariot’s heart to betray Jesus. This detail is helping us understand that it’s not just antagonists who were after Jesus. But, even one of Jesus’ own disciples would betray the one who would love him to the end.

John then explains that Jesus knew that God had handed all authority to him and that he had come from God and was going back to God. This would seem to suggest that John understood that Jesus could have done so many things in response to the knowledge he had. But, what he did was to get up from the table where he had been reclining, took off his outer garment, wrapped a towel around his waist, took a towel and bowl of water, and began washing his disciples’ feet.

Why is this detail important? If you recall from John chapter one, John the Baptist tells people that there is someone else in their midst whom they didn’t recognize, “the straps of his sandals I am not worthy to unloosen.” (John 1:27) The disciple of a teacher in that day was considered on a similar level of a slave and might be expected to do anything for their teacher that a slave would do except one thing. Foot care was considered so low that only a slave was expected to do that. John the Baptist was saying that he was not worthy to even be called a slave of Jesus. But, here in this text, Jesus is taking on the role of a servant to his own disciples. This helps us see how Jesus was loving his own. Shortly, we’ll learn more about what Jesus is teaching his disciples and us through this act of love. 

As you meditate on this, I hope you will not miss the point that you are included among Jesus’ “own” whom he has loved to the end. The question is whether you receive it. 

Episode 87 - "I know that his commandment is eternal life" John 12:44-50

John 12:44   And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Throughout this book, Jesus’ primary antagonists have been the religious leaders. But, in this context which I’ve been covering these past few episodes, many people are ultimately refusing to trust Jesus despite the evidence of the miracles he has worked. Conversely, John adds that some of the leaders did believe in him, but refused to confess it before others because they were more concerned about what others thought over what God thought of them. The picture John gives us with these details is that in Jesus’ life and ministry, there has been ample evidence to demonstrate his identity and authority. Yet people, in general, found a reason to not trust Jesus. 

In this segment, Jesus is concisely expressing God’s message that John has reported to us throughout this book. That message is God’s offer to mankind for eternal life. As he has emphasized before, Jesus reiterates that he came to speak God’s message and gracious offer of eternal life. So, to not trust Jesus is to reject God. To believe Jesus’ works and words is to trust God. Jesus is the “light” that shines into the darkness which we are in by nature. He reveals God’s love and power to give us abundant and eternal life. 

Christian faith is not understanding everything in the Bible perfectly. Faith that leads to eternal life is simply saying, “God - I am trusting you that Jesus is the Way to eternal life.”

In my fifty-seven years of life, I am finding it valuable to reaffirm that trust each day. It’s not that I think that somehow I lost eternal life by something I did or didn’t do. No. I believe when God gave me eternal life it was . . . eternal. What I find is that being reminded of who Jesus is and why he came into this world and simply saying in my mind “I believe that” has a way of helping drive out the darkness of the world around me and how it can so easily impact me when I’m not careful.

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 85 - God demonstrated His love toward us - John 12:27-36

John 12:27   “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

In our previous episode, we saw how Jesus recognized that his “hour had come” when he was informed there were Greeks seeking Jesus. Then, he gives a parable to those around him about a grain falling to the earth and dying in order to bring abundant fruit. It becomes clear that he is that grain. He is prophesying about his death. He adds that those who love him will also be willing to forfeit their life in this world for the eternal life he promises. Then he adds that those who do so will be with him in eternity and the Father will honor him. This does not mean that every Christian will be martyred for their faith. It does mean that our perspective toward our life should lead to an attitude of forfeiting our interests in this life to the point that we would die for our faith.

As we read this next section, it’s important to understand that Jesus is saying he is about to die. He asks the question of whether He should ask the Father to save him from this hour. Then, he answers that question himself by saying, “But for this purpose, I have come for this hour.” (v. 27b) He prayerfully speaks “Father, glorify your name.”

In response, a voice from heaven says, “I have glorified it and I will glorify it again.”(v.28) I am inclined to agree with other Bible scholars who suggest that the first time He glorified His name was at the Incarnation; when Jesus was born. Now, He will glorify it again in the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus to the Father’s side in Heaven.

This voice was audible to those around him. However, the message appears to have been understood by few if any. Some said that it was thunder. Some believed an angel had spoken to Jesus. I wonder how the author of this book, John, could confidently give us the message. Maybe John heard it clearly. Maybe others heard it clearly too, but their minds did not want to believe at the moment what they had heard. That Jesus tells them the voice was for their own benefit suggests to me that maybe they had all heard it clearly, but they reasoned it away. I wonder how often I might do that. When reading God’s clearly revealed message in the Scriptures, do I let my mind reason away the implication for me?

The next thing Jesus says is, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” (v. 31) That’s a message many people may not want to hear. Not only the idea of judgment but the fact that it is coming “now.” What does this mean? It means that Jesus’ death on the cross is the most significant event in the history of the world. God had judged the world with a flood that we read about in Genesis and spares one man and his family. But, we recall that while God considered him “righteous,” he was not perfect. There are other times that God brings judgment upon people for their rebellion against Him. But, His perfect judgment is brought at the cross upon His own Son Jesus who took the divine justice in our place and then conquered death; the penalty, and the effect of sin. The defeat of the ruler of this world, the devil, was accomplished at the cross of Jesus. As we continue in the Christian Scriptures we learn that God is demonstrating His grace and love toward mankind that others would have a chance to hear the good news of Jesus and also receive the forgiveness of their sin and the hope of eternal life. But, the event of Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection is the single historical event that makes certain the promises Jesus is offering those who forfeit their love of this life.

Verse 32 records Jesus’ words, “ And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” In John 3 we read, “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” Now, Jesus is clearly speaking of himself as the Son of Man. Furthermore, as is recorded in verse 33, he said this to indicate how he was going to die. The people get the message. But, they don’t want to buy into it. They want a Messiah who will deliver them from the Romans oppressors. They don’t want to believe this Messiah will die.

Jesus continues with his message that the light of the world will only be with them a little longer. I had the privilege of taking 10-day backpacking treks with each of my sons in the lower Rocky Mountains. Prior to going out into this rugged backcountry, each group is given very clear rules. One of them is to never hike in the dark. Why? Because it’s dangerous. You can fall down or off a mountain. You can run into a mountain lion or a bear. No one may ever find you. Jesus is saying that if you don’t walk in the light he provides, you will be walking in darkness and will fall into danger of losing the eternal life he offers. 

It seems to me that the challenge from this Scripture is whether we are willing to submit our own ideas, feelings, ambitions, and desires that are natural in this life and follow Jesus. He is the true light that came into the world. When we walk in His light, we are safe eternally regardless of what may happen to us in this life.

Episode 84 - The Whole World is Going After Him - John 12:12-26

John 12:12   The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

John 12:15   “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

behold, your king is coming,

sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

John 12:16   His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

John 12:20   Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

It would be easy to handle this Scripture in multiple sections. However, I have a purpose in treating this as a whole. That purpose is to help you see the consistency of prophecy given to prophecy fulfilled. When we see how often God reveals something that will happen and then later fulfills it, it should increase our confidence and trust in the God of the Bible. 

The historical context is the very first Palm Sunday. We celebrated that a few weeks ago. But, it is worth reviewing in order to see what unfolds from that event. Jesus has recently raised Lazarus from the dead and the report of this sign is spreading among people in and around Jerusalem as they arrive for the Passover celebration. It’s created excitement and faith in Jesus among many. But, it’s also fueling the hatred and rejection of his antagonists. 

John records that people are coming out to see Jesus as he enters the city because of this miracle. Furthermore, they are waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (v. 13) Why is this important? First, the palm branches were symbolic of the nation of Israel. As a people who are under the thumb of the Roman Empire, they are looking for hope of deliverance from that. The cry “Hosanna!” is a verbal expression meaning “Save us!” The cry is the crowd citing Psalm 118:25-26. Then, they add, “even the King of Israel!” This is not from the psalm. But, just like the crowd who had been miraculously fed and wanted to make Jesus the king, so this crowd wants Jesus to be their Messianic King. In this, we see how the people understand Jesus’ miracle as evidence that he is the One who God has sent to fulfill His prophetic promises from long ago. 

Jesus’ response also fulfills the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 which says, “Zech. 9:9   Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

righteous and having salvation is he,

humble and mounted on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

What’s important is that Jesus is not coming into Jerusalem riding on a horse like a conquering king, but one who is humble, righteous, and bringing salvation. It’s not what they expect. Even John records that his disciples did not understand the significance of what he was doing until later. But, God is fulfilling His promises.

In response to the crowd that was going to see Jesus, the Pharisees (his antagonists) respond, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” (v. 19) I love how John records people saying things out of their own evil motives, yet God superintends the words to reveal a significant truth. In this case, this statement reveals that all the efforts of mortal mankind against God’s purposes will “gain nothing.” Furthermore, in the greater context of this book, their hyperbole that “the world has gone after him” is proof that God is accomplishing his purpose. Earlier in John’s gospel we read, “For God so loved the world . . . “ (3:16) That was the point in sending His own Son into the world is for the world to come to him. So, is it true? Is that prophecy fulfilled? Look at the beginning of the next paragraph.

In verses 20-23 John records that there were some Greeks at the feast requesting to see Jesus. The Greeks represent “the world.” They are not Jews. They are not among “his own” as suggested in John 1. However, they are representatives of the outsiders who God is making His own. John records this to help us see that everything is falling into place of God’s plan and promises. We know this because when Jesus is told that these Greeks are seeking him, he recognized the significance and says, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (v. 23) Jesus is telling us that the Father is fulfilling his word. He understands that the Father’s time for him to go to the cross is very near. 

In view of this, Jesus speaks his prophecy about his own death that will soon happen and the significance to those who follow him. To summarize Jesus’ point in this teaching, he is not calling his followers to be suicidal. When he says, “whoever hates his life in this world” is drawing a comparison of our attempts to seek fulfillment in this life/world compared to the eternal and perfect life he calls us to. In that respect, our priorities upon God’s plan and God’s eternal kingdom and the eternal life he offers us should negate our desire and obsession to only find pleasure in this short, mortal life. 

When we realize that the God of the Bible has revealed His plans and consistently does what He says, it should give us confidence and awe, and desire to serve Jesus and align our priorities with His eternal plans. 

Episode 83 - Stopping at nothing to stop Jesus - John 12:9-11

John 12:9   When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The scene is the dinner in Jesus’ honor for having raised Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days, and Jesus called him back to life. This is not according to one person’s story, but the testimony of many witnesses who knew that Lazarus had indeed died, was buried, and that Jesus had called him by name while he was in the tomb and that Lazarus came out alive. 

At this dinner, John records that Jesus is speaking of his own imminent death because he tells Judas Iscariot (his disciple who would soon betray him) not to bother Mary regarding the expensive ointment she used to anoint Jesus’ feet because she would also use it for his burial. 

We’ve already learned that when the Jewish leaders, including the high priest, learned of this miracle, they conspired to have Jesus killed. Many who had witnessed this miracle believed in Jesus, which made the leaders uncomfortable.

In this section, John adds some more detail. Obviously, the news about this miracle is spreading, and people are going out to the location of this dinner to see Jesus (the miracle worker) and Lazarus (the miracle). You can imagine how this must have looked like a circus sideshow. People wanted to see a man who had died and come back to life and the one who made it possible. John mentions again that many people were going away and believing in Jesus “on account of” Lazarus. 

This fact led the high priest and leaders to expand their plan to also kill Lazarus. In earlier attempts to arrest or stone Jesus to death, the leaders had justification for their actions based upon their own reasoning that Jesus had violated the Sabbath or had made himself equal with God. But, how could they justify this murder when Lazarus had not done either. They couldn’t. But, they are so consumed with their jealousy they don’t recognize or care about the problem with this plan. They will stop at nothing to hinder the work and mission of Christ.

My question to you in light of this fact is, “Why should we expect people to act any differently today than they did then?” We should expect people to stop at nothing to impede or stop anything we are doing for the purpose of the Lord.

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 81 - The Passover and the Passover Lamb - John 11:54-57

John 11:54   Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. John 11:55   Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Once again, I think the context of these events helps us understand and appreciate what is going on. The proceeding verse reveals how the chief priest and other religious leaders were plotting to kill Jesus. There is an irony here that the people considered “most religious” were intentionally planning to violate the sixth of the ten commandments given by God at Mount Sinai to the Jewish nation; “Thou shalt not kill.” The chief priest had justified it, however, and this group bought into it. So, once again, Jesus leaves Jerusalem. 

Then, John records that the time of the Passover had come. This is not an unimportant matter in the events that are unfolding. Passover was instituted during the Exodus as the tenth and final plague upon Egypt. The Jews who had been enslaved were given instructions by God through Moses on how they could escape the effects of this plague. God would send an angel of death to pass over the land of Egypt and strike dead the firstborn of all families and animals. In order to not experience this, they had to take a lamb without blemish and sacrifice it and apply some blood of the lamb on the outer frame of the door to the home. Then they had to enter into their homes (through the blood) and roast and eat the lamb. It was on the basis of obedience and a perfect sacrifice that the life of the sacrifice represented the life of the firstborn, and they would be spared. 

Earlier in this Gospel of John, John the Baptist points to Jesus and says, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” It would appear that John is drawing a connection from the Passover lamb to Jesus as the true perfect lamb from God who would truly act as a perfect lamb to spare the lives of others through his blood. The benefit is appropriated in the same manner as during the first Passover; through faith (obedience) in God’s revelation about Jesus. 

This mob wanted to kill the true Passover lamb, but not out of faith and obedience. This reminds me of the Israelites journey into Egypt in the first place. Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave. They wanted to get rid of him. Their motives were self-serving and evil. Yet, God super-intended their actions for good. God’s motives were to save them. What is happening here is no different. The mob means to do evil. But, God intended the sacrifice of Jesus for the good of the people. That includes us as well.

Episode 80 - "It is better for one man to perish . . ." John 11:45-53

John 11:45   Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on, they made plans to put him to death.

You may have noticed that I included a few verses from the end of our last episode. I thought this was appropriate to help frame the events that followed. What had just happened was that Jesus called a man who had been dead and buried for four days back to life. Talk about “seeing is believing.” That would be a fantastic thing to witness, and I would think it quite convincing that this person was particular. Many people did indeed believe in Jesus. However, “some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. (v.46)”  The implication is that while they had witnessed this miracle, it was not resulting in them having faith. It is essential to understand the distinction between understanding facts and faith. Faith is a conviction that this truth is to be valued. Faith moves beyond knowledge into our values and our actions as well.

Notice how the Jewish leaders respond to this news. They also believe the report they have received. They do not discredit the people who tell them that Jesus has raised a dead man back to life. They know what Jesus did, but they do not have faith to affect their values and actions. Instead of saying, “If he did that, he truly must be the Messiah” or “He must be the Son of God,” they say, “If we let him continue, everyone will believe (have faith) in him.” (My paraphrase) We might think to ourselves, “Is that a problem? Is it a problem that Jesus continues to heal people and even give people back their life?” Their answer is, “Yes. It is a problem because if he becomes that popular, the Romans will take notice and take away our place and our nation.” (v. 48) What are they saying? They are saying that they would rather keep the status quo. They had made a comfortable way of life with their control over the people and appeasing the Roman authorities over them. They were saying, “We do not trust God to let this man Jesus deliver us from these Roman oppressors and sin and death itself.” How tragic!

There is a sense of sad irony in the fact that God had promised a Messiah on an eternal throne. That would suggest that they would not be under any pagan oppression but under a righteous king forever. Jesus met the requirements of that king. But they didn’t want him. 

The irony builds when the high priest Caiaphus tells the leaders, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” (Vv. 49b-50) He thinks that killing Jesus is the solution to their problem. Jesus’ death is the solution to their problem, but not the problem they believe they have. 

John explains that what Caiaphus said was a prophecy. Caiaphus said something from his evil and ignorance. But God superintended his words to speak God’s righteous message that it was better for one man (Jesus) to die than for the nation of Israel and others outside of the Jews to perish. (Vv. 51-52) Why is that? The reason is that none of us can undo our problem, our condition of being under oppression, not of a foreign and ungodly government, but the oppression of our rebellious “sinful” nature. We can do nothing to make it right with God. We deserve death, as the Scriptures make it clear. But, God doesn’t want us to experience that. He chose to send His perfect and righteous Son, who was God himself, into this world He made.  The purpose was for the perfect God-Man to die in our place. Just as he had raised Lazarus from the dead, he would overcome his own death. This demonstrates that we can trust his promise to raise us from the dead.

In this text, we see the approaching culmination of what John wrote in this book’s early chapters. He said, “He (the Word) came unto His own. But, His own did not receive Him. But, as many as have received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:11-12) In chapter 3, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) 

The question before us is, “Do we believe Jesus is God’s Son who died for our sin and was raised from the dead and who will also return to raise us from the dead to eternal life?” The alternative, as stated in the text, is to perish. How tragic for anyone to suffer this fate when this hope is being offered to the world. Let us receive this truth in faith.

Episode 79 - Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God? - John 11:38-46

John 11:38   Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” 45   Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

We now arrive at the pinnacle of this event. Jesus went to the tomb and there are many people there grieving with Mary and Martha. When Jesus gave the command to remove the large stone that sealed the cave’s entrance, Martha voiced the only response that everyone there was likely thinking based upon human reason and experience. Because Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days, normally the corpse would be rotting and stinking by now. It’s clear from this that no one would believe that Lazarus could possibly be alive and certainly would not come back to life after being dead. Jesus’ response to her complaint was, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? (v.40) Do you think they were believing? Well, they removed the stone. This seems to me like an example of Jesus’ point in Matthew 17:20 where he suggests that people just need “faith as a grain of mustard seed.” God will use the smallest amount of faith to reveal His glory. I don’t those people rolling the stone away really expected anything but a bad odor to come from that cave. But, they were obedient to Jesus’ command and God demonstrated a great miracle in front of their eyes.

Jesus called Lazarus by name. I suspect John recorded this fact so that people wouldn’t argue that Jesus had staged the event by having a live person come out and then they could argue that Jesus hadn’t specified who should come forth. 

The result of Lazarus coming out of the tomb alive was manifested in two ways. The glory of God was revealed by many people believing in Jesus. But, it was also manifested by exposing the darkness in some who saw this miracle with their own eyes, but they returned to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. The implication is that they stood in contrast with those who believed.

Can you imagine that? Watching Jesus call a dead man by name and that person coming back to life and watching people walking away in rejection of the truth about who Jesus is? It is amazing. But, it’s amazingly sad. 

This is an important reminder that no one can make people believe in Jesus. No matter what they see or hear, some will still turn away from the good news of Jesus Christ. So, we cannot think of ourselves as failures if people reject the message we share or think of ourselves as so great or special if they believe it. It’s not about us. It’s about Jesus and the power of the good news about Jesus.

Episode 78 - Jesus wept - John 11:28-37

John 11:28   When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

Just as Martha went out to meet Jesus on his way to Bethany, we see that Mary goes out to him as well. The reason is not given why Jesus remained outside and allowed Mary to come out instead of him going to her. But, at the very least, it probably afforded her the one-on-one interaction with Jesus. It’s obvious from verse 37 that the word has spread how Jesus gave sight to the man born blind because people reference this miracle in verse 37. 

When Mary comes to Jesus she falls down before him and says the same thing her sister had said to him. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Mary has the same kind of faith in Jesus as well as the same kind of doubt, ignorance, or whatever about Jesus. Like her sister Martha, Mary believes that Jesus could have prevented their brother from dying. But, does she believe that Jesus could restore the life to Lazarus’ dead body? Apparently, she does not.

John mentions Jesus seeing Mary and others with her weeping. It is in this context we find what people like to point out is the shortest verse in the Bible; “Jesus wept.” Often it is interpreted as showing Jesus empathizing with our grief and our own emotions. But, let’s take a closer look at this.

It seems unlikely that Jesus is weeping for Lazarus because he knows what is going to happen. John records that Jesus’ first response to the weeping of Mary and the Jews with her is that he was “deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.” (v. 33) The Greek word that is translated “deeply moved” is often translated more like “indignant.” This emotional response of Jesus is not just of great sadness and empathy, but more like anger. From this emotional response, he moves to the place of burial and sees the tomb. At this point, John records that Jesus wept. 

What does this mean? It’s difficult to say with certainty. But, I don’t think that Jesus is upset with Mary and Martha or the people. I also don’t think he is weeping over the loss of Lazarus even though the people present, upon seeing him weep, take it as an indication of how much Jesus loved Lazarus. But, John often shows the people around Jesus expressing a truth, but often missing the full significance of what is happening.

I think that given the confessions by Martha, Mary, and even the crowd that they believed Jesus could have prevented Lazarus from dying, but they have no expectation that Jesus is the “resurrection and the life.” They don’t have any notion that Jesus is not only able but about to restore life back to Lazarus. Therefore, Jesus is weeping over the effects of sin and death and the “darkness” that comes from sin. As the truly righteous one, he is angry to the point of weeping at sin and death. 

Here is the take-away from this segment. Shouldn’t we also be angry and grieved at sin? When we lose a loved one, are we just sad for our own loss or are we deeply moved and troubled by the sin that brought it about? It should affect us so that we respond to the Lord as David did when he said, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) 

Episode 77 - "I am the resurrection and the life . . . " John 11:17-27

John 11:17   Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

In this part of the story, John gives us some important information. First, when Jesus arrives at Bethany, Lazarus had already been dead and buried for four days. The obvious purpose in telling us this is to emphasize that Lazarus is truly dead. There is no chance that he has been barely hanging on. 

The second important point is that Bethany is a near suburb of Jerusalem where Jesus’ enemies recently wanted to stone him. With the news of the death of Lazarus and people coming and going to grieve his loss with his family, the news would likely have spread that Jesus was there. Perhaps they would not dare do something to him at Mary and Martha’s home due to the circumstances. However, they likely would go out to keep an eye on him. 

With these matters established for the setting, Martha hears that Jesus is coming and she goes out to meet him. In my opinion, her words are so “human.” What I mean by that is she knows what Jesus has already done. She knows that he can heal the sick. We need to realize that Martha has great faith and trust in Jesus. But, her faith and understanding have room for growth. Her words to Jesus are, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (v. 21) How many people, perhaps doctors or other medical personal, could you have said that to with regard to a loved one that died? I can’t think of anyone I could or would have said that to. This is an amazing conviction of Martha; that Jesus absolutely could and would have stopped the death of Lazarus. She follows up her veiled complaint with, “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 

What is that? Does she believe Jesus can and will call her brother back to life? I don’t think so. As we’ll soon see, she offers another complaint when Jesus commands for the stone that seals the tomb to be removed. I believe what is happening is that Martha is a grieving sister of the deceased and is disappointed that Jesus had not come in time to prevent Lazarus from dying. Yet, she is also expressing her faith that Jesus is from God and that God listens to him. She is confessing her commitment to Jesus. She just doesn’t understand or believe that what is about to happen, can and will happen. 

Jesus uses this to prepare her (and I would argue everyone else with her and us) by telling her that her brother will rise again. She agrees that she believes he will live again in the resurrection at the end of time. Jesus continues with, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (vv. 25-26) Martha recognized that God listened to Jesus and would give Jesus whatever he asked for. It would be an amazing claim to assert that you had access to authority or power to heal and to raise people from the dead. But, Jesus claims here to be the authority and power. Furthermore, he adds, that whoever believes in him will live even if he dies and that everyone who lives and believes in him will never die. This is a claim that challenges the “best of us” doesn’t it? How can he say that believers in him will never die? We know people who’ve been strong believers in Jesus and yet have died. How can Jesus make this claim? It seems to me that what he is saying is consistent with what he said at first concerning Lazarus when he said, “This illness does not lead to death.” (11:4) He knew that Lazarus would stop breathing and his heart would stop beating. But, he also knew the Father’s will for him to raise up Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus, like Martha and Mary, believed in Jesus and the eternal life that Jesus was promising was something they received when they believed. There is no suggestion that this eternal life was at risk to not happen. This is a bold promise by Jesus that when you believe in him, eternal life is guaranteed regardless of the inevitable event when our bodies stop breathing and our hearts stop beating. John has already recorded Jesus stating that the Son of Man would someday return and speak and the dead would rise. Those who had not believed would be condemned and those who believed would raise to eternal life. The point is that Jesus promise is guaranteed when one believes in him. 

Upon making this claim, Jesus asks Martha if she believes what he just said. She replies, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” Notice that she is accepting what Jesus has told her. It doesn’t mean that she understands everything perfectly. She certainly doesn’t yet comprehend that Jesus is about to bring her brother back to life. But, this is the nature of true faith. We confess to be true and accept what God has revealed about Jesus, even if we don’t quite understand it all. I don’t know about you. But, I think that is exciting and liberating. 

Episode 76 - Lazarus dies and Jesus' promise to raise him up - John 11:5-16

John 11:5   Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake, I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

If you recall from the last podcast, these sisters sent a message to Jesus concerning their brother Lazarus who was ill saying, “the one you love is ill.” Now, John tells us that Jesus loved Mary and Martha. In other words, Jesus was very close to this family. But, John’s statement here serves to impress this upon us prior to revealing the next detail of the story. John tells us that upon learning of Lazarus’ illness, he stayed where he was two more days. For someone who has demonstrated the ability to heal illnesses and give sight to a man born blind, this appears to be an odd and not-so-loving response.

After this delay, Jesus says to his disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” This evokes a concerned response from the disciples. They are concerned that the Jews who were seeking to stone Jesus have not calmed down and may quickly attempt to fulfill their desire if they go back. This is Jesus’ opportunity to teach again and to prepare them for what they have yet to learn and believe. Jesus, the Light of the world, uses an analogy of light and how people accomplish things in the light because the light illumines what is around them and they don’t stumble. There is God’s work to be done while the Light is with them. 

Jesus then tells them that Lazarus is asleep and he is going back toward Jerusalem to awaken him. I can easily empathize with the disciples when they reply, “If he is asleep, he will recover (wake-up).” I suspect the attitude among these men was, “Are you kidding me? We’re going to risk our lives to go wake up Lazarus from sleep?”

Remember that in our last session, upon learning of Lazarus’ illness, he said, “his illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (verse 4) Later he tells the disciples that Lazarus is sleeping. But, now after the disciples take Jesus very literally, Jesus tells them, “Lazarus has died.”(v. 14) In fact, when we read the whole story, we discover that Lazarus likely died very soon after the messengers went in search for Jesus. Jesus knew it all along. So, why did he say that the illness would not lead to death and then say that Lazarus was sleeping? I think the answer comes in what he says after he tells the disciples that Lazarus has died. He tells them,  “for your sake, I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.” (v. 15) Believe what? If Jesus said that Lazarus was asleep and he was going to wake him, but he knew that Lazarus had died, what is Jesus really saying he’s going to do? He is going to raise him from the dead. This is why he waited; so that everyone would know that Lazarus wasn’t just unconscious and appear to be dead. People believed that Jesus could heal his sickness. But, they did not yet believe that Jesus had the ability to restore Lazarus’ life. 

This explains why Jesus said earlier that Lazarus’ illness would not lead to death, but for the glory of God. Even though Lazarus would die, it would only be temporary because God wanted people to believe more about Jesus. Who has the power to give life but God Himself? This sign is to further confirm the deity of Jesus. 

This section closes with a statement from Jesus’ disciple Thomas who concedes, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” While I suspect that this primarily reveals Thomas’s doubt or lack of faith, I wonder if John includes these words to suggest a divinely prophetic message in them that these disciples must die to themselves. When they witness Jesus call a dead man back to life and later Jesus taking back his own life, their faith is being perfected and they truly understand Jesus’ identity. Maybe all of this is recorded to affect the perfecting of our faith.

Episode 75 - "So that the Son of God may be glorified" John 11:1-4

John 11:1   Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

This is the beginning of the final “sign” of Jesus that John reports to his readers. Let’s review them.

1. Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding in Cana.

2. Jesus healed the noble man’s son by speaking from a long distance.

3. Jesus healed the lame man by the pool.

4. Jesus miraculously fed at least 5,000 people by the Sea of Galilee.

5. Jesus walked on water.

6. Jesus gave sight to a man born blind.

7. Jesus calls a dead man by name (Lazarus), and he comes out of the tomb alive.

John begins this account by saying, “a certain man was ill.” Then, he tells us the man’s name, where he’s from, and his relationship to Jesus. It is difficult to determine with great confidence. But, I wonder why John felt it import to speak of him as a certain man. I guess that it may be because he knew him and maybe because this story is so astounding that John is giving us information to affirm that this is historically true. This really happened to a real person, and it’s not just a fictional, legendary story to teach a moral or make Jesus appear more amazing than he really was. John says this story is about “a certain man,” and here is his name and here is where he lives. Talk to him and his family and friends if you don’t believe me (John). 

Lazarus, a nickname for Eleazer, means “God has helped.” He is the brother of Martha and Mary. These are the same sisters who welcomed Jesus into their home, and while Martha focused on hospitality, her sister Mary sat down to listen to Jesus’ teaching. (Luke 10:38-42) Jesus knew this family well. Bethany is within a few miles east of Jerusalem on the road to Jericho. This place became a base for Jesus during his ministry. In verse 2, John tells us more about Mary, that she was the one who anointed his feet before the event actually occurs. We’ll read about that in the next chapter. 

Then, John tells us these ladies sent Jesus a message, “he whom you love is ill.” They don’t say, “Lazarus is ill.” Why this choice of words? Again, it’s only my conjecture. But, I suspect that they are aware that there are people nearby (due to their proximity to Jerusalem) who are on the lookout for Jesus to do him harm, and they are framing their request in such a way to heighten the need for him to come back toward Jerusalem. Perhaps it’s even a bit from their own selfish desires for Jesus to come and heal their brother. Therefore, they don’t say, “Lazarus, our brother, is ill.” They say, “he whom you love” is ill. The point is not to cast them in an evil, manipulating light. It simply shows their humanness and their love for their brother. They believe Jesus can heal their brother, and they are appealing to him in the strongest way they know-how. 

Jesus response to this message has three parts:

1. This illness does not lead to death.

2. It is for the glory of God.

3. So that the Son of God may be glorified through it

Let’s look at each part on its own. 

What does Jesus mean by “This illness does not lead to death?” Of course, it leads to death. Is Jesus lying? Did John misunderstand Jesus? One does not have to read much farther to learn that Lazarus dies. The point here is that death is not the end or purpose of this illness, and this is verified by the fact that at the end of the story, Lazarus is alive and well. So, what is the purpose? That is explained in the second part of Jesus’ answer.

“It is for the glory of God.” Does that sound familiar? It should. This was Jesus’ explanation for the condition of the man born blind; so that God would be glorified not only in him receiving his sight but also hope for eternal life through the faith he gained in Jesus. Does it seem to you that perhaps the signs that Jesus performs and even the order in which they occur are working together to bring glory to God and His Son, Jesus? I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Jesus healing the man born blind so that the glory of God might be revealed happens prior to Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. His disciples would have (and did) remembered this saying because they had just heard it right before Jesus healed the man born blind. These things are all in God’s plan for Jesus’ disciples and ultimately for us to understand and believe in Jesus.

That is the final part of Jesus’ response; “So that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” We will see how this sign leads to his glorification as we continue through this book. But, for now, it’s important to understand that God is glorified when His Son Jesus is glorified. 

Episode 74 - "Everything John said about this man was true" - John 10:40-42

John 10:40   He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.

We have seen how the animosity towards Jesus by people in Jerusalem has grown. People have sought to stone him to death or to arrest him. Yet, they have failed because it has not been Jesus’ hour. 

In this brief section that follows the most recent attempt to stop and silence Jesus, Jesus leaves Jerusalem and travels across the Jordan River to where John the Baptist had been baptizing people. This location is where Jesus’ ministry began when he went to be baptized by John. Doesn’t this feel like the author is bringing his story to a close by drawing attention to Jesus returning to where his ministry started? If you look at the whole Gospel of John, you will notice that we are only half-way through the book. The first half of the book has covered a span of a few years of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Yet, the last half of the book covers only the last few weeks of his life and then the short time on earth following his resurrection. So, I believe this is here to indicate a coming completion to Jesus’ ministry. 

Do not overlook the mention that this was where John had been baptizing. The author reminds us of John and his ministry.  It should evoke in our mind the purpose for John baptizing, calling people to repent of their sin, and preparing the way for the Lord. Did he accomplish that? Absolutely! This fact is evident by what happens when Jesus goes there and remains there. 

Many people go to him. But, they did not go there to stone Jesus or to arrest him. They were drawn to him, and they recall John the Baptist’s message. They realize that many people recognized that John the Baptist was a prophet. They believed him even though he did not perform a single sign. They realized that Jesus did perform signs, and they understood that everything John said about Jesus was true. It would seem evident that they should, therefore, believe in Jesus. 

These people were like the sheep Jesus spoke of, aren’t they? While some people heard Jesus’ teaching, saw his miracles, but still rejected him, these people became convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. 

How about you? After reading or hearing about Jesus’ healing people and giving sight to a man born blind, and considering his claims about his identity, do you believe that he is the Messiah (Christ)? Do you believe he is the unique Son of God who could and would lay down his own life as he said he could and that by believing in him, you can be forgiven of your sins and have hope of being raised from death to eternal life with God?