Six Days Before Passover | Easter Week: Through John’s Eyes | John 12:1-36

This is a week in history like no other. Many refer to it as Holy Week. I refer to it as You Are Loved week. This is the time of the year that we set aside to remember what Jesus did for you, what Jesus did for me. We’re going to do something a little different this week. I want to encourage you to actually find a Bible. You know the one with actual pages like that you hear rustling right now. I want to encourage you to open your Bible and read the Word of God with me. I think there’s something about holding God’s word in your hands. It’s as if you’re holding his Hand. Let’s open it up together.

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Transcription:

This is a week in history like no other. Many refer to it as Holy Week. I refer to it as You Are Loved week. This is the time of the year that we set aside to remember what Jesus did for you; what Jesus did for me. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. My name is Erica. I’m your host, and this week we’re going to do something a little different. I want to encourage you to actually find a Bible. You know the one with actual pages like that you hear rustling right now. I want to encourage you to open your Bible and read the Word of God with me. I think there’s something about holding God’s Word in your hands. It’s as if you’re holding his hand. John, whose sandals we’re going to walk in this week was the one who told us in the first chapter of his gospel that the Word was with God and the Word was God.

So, I want to invite you to join me now in John’s Gospel, chapter 12. This week as we walk in John’s sandals, though we’re going to do a lot more of simply reading the Bible together. There will be very little commentary from me. There might be moments where I pause and ask you to reflect with me. I might say a little prayer, but I want this week to feel different. I want us to feel more loved than ever before by the God who sent His Son to die for us, and then to rise again defeating everything you and I have ever been afraid of. There is much to reflect on this week. There is much to be grateful for. So, John chapter 12, now beginning in verse one.

Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,

That’s Lazarus’s sister.

…and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. 4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. 7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” 9 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus. 12 The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,“Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: 15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” 16 His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him. 17 Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. 18 That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!”

Let’s reflect a moment together that we serve a God who raised the dead and raised himself. Let’s pause for a moment and reflect on his power.

[Pause]

Thank you Lord. Picking up the story now in verse 20.

Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 21 paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am.

Oh Lord, I am your servant. I know my friend who is listening who wants to serve you. We want to be where you are. Lord. Picking up the text now in verse 26.

And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. 30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die. 34 The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?” 35 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

Isn’t that beautiful? What you and I are doing right now is becoming children of the Light because we’re sticking close beside the Light of the world. Until next time, you are loved.

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