John 12¶

Overview:¶

v.3¶

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

v.5¶

"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."

v.8¶

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

Jesus’ reply alludes to Deuteronomy 15:11, which urges generosity to the poor, who will always be in the land; the context promises that God will bless his people if they care for the poor. Jesus thus does not play down giving to the poor but emphasizes his impending death; he must be his followers’ first commitment.

craigkeener¶

v.9-11¶

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ¹⁰So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, ¹¹for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

The religious leaders decide to have Lazarus killed. John’s irony: those who receive life by Jesus’ death must die because of it; witnesses get martyred. Irony was a common ancient literary device.

craigkeener¶

v.25¶

The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

The two words translated "life" are different (GK 6034 & 2437). The first is generally rendered "soul" and denotes the individual personality, with all its related experiences and achievements. The second is usually coupled with the adjective "eternal" in John and means the spiritual vitality that is the experience of god (17:3; cf. Mt 10:39; Mk 8:36; Lk 14:26). The expression "who hates his life" is a hyperbolic expression which means that one is to base one's priorities on that which is outside oneself. In this instance, it is to make Christ the Master of one's life.

merrillctenney¶

v.35¶

Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.

v.42-43¶

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

v.47-48¶

"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. ⁴⁸There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.