John 12 reminds me of “a friend for life”. That is an expression I use to describe someone that was with me during an important time. The shared experience changes the way I see that person forever. Some remain close friends and others are never seen again, but that moment stays in my heart. We begin “Six days before the Passover”, with Jesus in Bethany being honored at dinner. Lazarus was among the guests along with his sisters; each honoring Him in their own way. “Martha served”, while “Mary took about a pint of… expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair”. Jesus had brought her brother back from the dead. No doubt, Jesus was her Lord for Life. This was a deeply personal act of worship and a prelude to the Passover. I believe that Mary understood the sacrifice Jesus would become. Not surprisingly, Judas viewed this as a waste of money, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?” Too often the greedy want control of other people’s money. John notes, “as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself”. Jesus made two important points. First, Mary’s anointing was “perfume for the day of My burial”. This was Mary’s funeral preparation. Jesus rebuked Judas, “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me”. Redistribution of money will never eliminate poverty, but receiving forgiveness through Christ makes everyone more generous. The one that has been forgiven much knows how to love much, and give cheerfully.
John described the triumphal entry. “The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem”. They laid palm branches down and shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is the king of Israel!” They believed He was going to be the earthly king that would defeat Rome. Jesus did not enter riding on a war horse; He rode “a young donkey”. Those that had witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus spread the word. “Many people, because they had heard… went out to meet Him”. Three specific groups were mentioned: the disciples, who “did not understand all this”; the religious leaders who wanted to kill Jesus; and the Greeks that just wanted to see Jesus. All waited to hear Him.
Jesus began, “unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds”. At the height of His popularity, Jesus spoke about the purpose of His death. Certainly some thought He was speaking of being injured in warfare, but Jesus made it clear, “it was for this very reason I came to this hour”. In fact He added, “Now is the time for judgment on this world”. Some will read that as a threat, but Jesus was preparing to accept that judgment Himself. Later He explains, “For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world”. Many dear friends were only with me for a season, but their impact on my life was profound. Jesus informed those gathered, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you”. Times of darkness and despair will come, what will you do? Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness”. John quotes from Isaiah chapter 6; noting that some will not listen or understand that guilt and sin have been atoned on the cross. Like Isaiah, we are to keep sharing this hope. Jesus’ final public address to the crowd said, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me only, but in the one who sent Me… I know that His command leads to eternal life”. My friend, if you are in darkness, here are words of hope, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). If you believe that promise, it will change the way you see Jesus forever.