JOHN 12:27–28A “Now My soul is troubled.… But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name” (John 12:27, 28a). As the hour of Jesus’ death approached, the burden upon Him grew heavier. We cannot begin to fathom the pain and torment that He suffered upon the cross. The physical afflictions were … Continue reading “GLORIFY YOUR NAME”
HE WHO DIES WILL LIVE
JOHN 12:20–26 “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25). In this response to the Greeks, Jesus gives a message of hope along with a sober warning: those who are willing to give up everything for Christ will … Continue reading “HE WHO DIES WILL LIVE”
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
JOHN 12:12–19 “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” (John 12:13). One thing we did not discuss in our previous study on Mary’s anointing of Jesus was its symbolic significance. This dimension of Mary’s service comes into focus in the passage before us as we see … Continue reading “THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY”
MALICIOUS INTENT
JOHN 12:9–11 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus (John 12:10–11). When those who oppose Christ cannot discredit Him, they attack His followers. This was the case with Lazarus. He was living proof of the power … Continue reading “MALICIOUS INTENT”
HUMBLE SERVICE
JOHN 12:2–8 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair (John 12:3). John 12:1–8 provides one of the most striking contrasts between humble generosity and selfish pride. On the one hand, Mary debases herself in service of her Lord. On … Continue reading “HUMBLE SERVICE”
HIDING THE LIGHT
JOHN 11:53–57 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples (John 11:54). With the plot to kill Jesus fully under way, Jesus withdrew from Judea to a remote city somewhere in the wilderness. … Continue reading “HIDING THE LIGHT”
CONCURRENT PURPOSES
JOHN 11:51–52 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation (John 11:51). One of the most perplexing doctrines in the Bible is the “doctrine of concurrence.” Concurrence is defined as the cooperation of divine power with all secondary … Continue reading “CONCURRENT PURPOSES”
THE GUISE OF SURVIVALISM
JOHN 11:45–50 “If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation” (John 11:48). Returning to our study of John, we pick up in chapter 11 where the Sanhedrin plot to kill Jesus. With Jesus performing more extraordinary signs and … Continue reading “THE GUISE OF SURVIVALISM”
THE HOPE OF GLORY
REVELATION 21 “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Rev. 21:3). It is the hope of heaven that carries us through the troubles of life, sustains us in our darkest hours, and … Continue reading “THE HOPE OF GLORY”
GRIEF AND COMFORT
ISAIAH 40:1–5 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” says your God (Isa. 40:1). Inevitably, when you encourage people to endure suffering with grace, to look beyond death and its tangled web of fear and regret, to live with their eyes fixed on heaven instead of the transient things of earth, you run the risk of sounding … Continue reading “GRIEF AND COMFORT”