John 13:1-11 ESV

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. 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.”

LORD, DO YOU WASH MY FEET?

The washing of the disciples’ feet is one of the surprising acts Jesus did to them. Certainly, Jesus had demonstrated love and patience with the disciples, as He gave the last segments of His lessons prior to being arrested. What is more surprising is that this washing included Judas, who wasn’t just an unbeliever but a traitor or betrayer. Jesus’ compassion is seen here.

Unexpectedly during the middle of the dinner, Jesus wore a garb, took basin and water and began washing their feet. In that era, ancient roads were covered in dirt, dust, waste, and animal droppings. Ancient people wore sandals or went barefoot. Hence, washing of feet was necessary before they enter a house, but it was dirty and inconvenient act. It was always performed on someone of higher status by someone of lower status, usually the lowest slave in the house. Thus, it was ludicrous for a master, even Jesus to wash the feet of His inferiors. It’s not a surprise that Peter reacted and said, “You shall never wash my feet.” The others might had thought the same.

This is exactly the point Jesus seeks to make. The task Jesus did, by definition, was one performed as an act of servitude and modesty and yet a mark of greatness. A thing they would understand later when Jesus will explain it to them. Certainly, His example should shatter our natural pride and vanity, should it not? If humble servanthood has not belittled the Son of God, it shouldn’t belittle any person who claims to follow Him in this act. Let’s be like the Lord Jesus, who are willing to serve others.

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John 12:44-50 ESV

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.”

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44 Si Jesus ay sumigaw at nagsabi, “Ang sumasampalataya sa akin ay hindi sa akin sumasampalataya, kundi doon sa nagsugo sa akin. 45 At ang nakakita sa akin ay nakakita doon sa nagsugo sa akin. 46 Ako'y naparito na isang ilaw sa sanlibutan, upang ang sinumang sumampalataya sa akin ay huwag manatili sa kadiliman. 47 Kung ang sinuman ay nakikinig sa aking mga salita, at hindi tumutupad ng mga iyon ay hindi ko siya hinahatulan, sapagkat hindi ako naparito upang humatol sa sanlibutan, kundi upang iligtas ang sanlibutan. 48 Ang nagtatakuwil sa akin at hindi tumatanggap sa aking mga salita ay mayroong isang humahatol sa kanya. Ang salitang aking sinabi ang siyang hahatol sa kanya sa huling araw. 49 Sapagkat ako'y hindi nagsasalita mula sa aking sarili kundi ang Ama na nagsugo sa akin ay siyang nagbigay sa akin ng utos, kung ano ang dapat kong sabihin, at kung ano ang dapat kong bigkasin. 50 Nalalaman ko na ang kanyang utos ay buhay na walang hanggan. Kaya't ang mga bagay na sinasabi ko ay aking sinasabi ayon sa sinabi ng Ama.”

KNOW CHRIST, KNOW THE FATHER

As Jesus shouted to raise Lazarus to life, so Jesus did a loud, deliberate proclamation here. That is, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” His claims corresponded to what Heb 1:3 states, that is, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.”

People were confronted with two only two options being confronted by Jesus, claiming as the light. That is, either they will believe and follow Him as the light or they remain in darkness. There is no in between. And as the light, His words reveals the Father. When one hears from Jesus, they are hearing from God the Father. Rejecting the Son is as rejecting God (John 3:36). Paul affirmed this by saying that Jesus is the visible form of the invisible Father.[Col 1:15] Jesus is the "light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."[2 Cor 4:4]

During His first coming, Jesus did not come to judge the world but to save the world from darkness. However, we must receive Him and His words to keep it. Rejecting His words is costly someday. To "remain in darkness" is not merely to choose ignorance. It means to decide to remain away from God, forever (Mat 25:30). What awaits for them is God’s judgment. It is unfair for a teacher to give an examinations to his students a subject matter that he had not taught yet, is it not? God is just. Likewise, the words that they heard from Jesus will judge them someday. In other words, the gospel that the people reject would be the basis of their condemnation.

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John 12:36-43 ESV

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?”

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

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.”

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.

THE PERIL OF UNBELIEF

Jesus rebuked His religious critics for refusing" to acknowledge the obvious works or acts of God through Him. They were given by God specifically to encourage belief in Him through Christ. Anyone who claimed they needed "more evidence" to believe in Jesus was lying, not only towards others but even to themselves. The proof includes God’s work in nature (Psalm 19:1), in our experience or conscience (Rom 1:18–20), Scripture (John 20:30–31) and credible human testimony (Mat 28:19) These are more than enough, are they not? What stopped them from believing the gospel was not the lack of knowledge but their stubbornness. More often than not, unbelief is about what a person wants, not about what he knows.

John alluded their hardheartedness to what Isaiah had prophesied in Isa 53. Isaiah had asked a rhetorical question: "who has believed what he heard from us?" The expected answer to this question is much the same as when a modern person uses the expression "who cares?" The fulfilment of this prophesy had both a immediate application to the people during that time, and in the future for this is true also to most people today. Sadly, the nation of Israel had rejected their own Promised One (John 1:11, Mat 23:37; Rom 10:16–21).

Moreover, John quoted Isa 6:10. By doing this, John is saying that God can, and does, use "hardening" and "blinding" as a form of judgment—should a person does make up their minds themselves in rejecting Him. In Exodus, God speaks of how He will "harden the heart" of Pharaoh to prolong the plagues demonstrating God's glory (Ex 4:21). Eventually, God does just that (Ex 9:12). But God doesn't influence Pharaoh until Pharaoh has repeatedly and frequently hardened his own heart (Ex 7:13, 22; 8:15, 19, 32). In other words, God is gracious and doesn’t delight in man’s hardening heart.

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John 12:27-31 ESV

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.”

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27 “Ngayon ay nababagabag ang aking kaluluwa. At ano ang aking sasabihin? ‘Ama, iligtas mo ako sa oras na ito?’ Ngunit dahil dito ay dumating ako sa oras na ito. 28 Ama, luwalhatiin mo ang iyong pangalan.” At dumating ang isang tinig mula sa langit, “Niluwalhati ko na, at muli kong luluwalhatiin.” 29 Narinig ito ng maraming taong nakatayo roon at sinabi nilang kumulog. Sinabi naman ng iba na, “Isang anghel ang nakipag-usap sa kanya.” 30 Sumagot si Jesus, “Ang tinig na ito'y dumating para sa inyo, hindi para sa akin. 31 Ngayon ang paghatol sa sanlibutang ito. Ngayon ang pinuno ng sanlibutang ito ay palalayasin.

LIFT UP JESUS

As one fully human, Jesus experienced the same emotions as anyone else [Heb 4:15]. Thus, Jesus was "troubled," implying an agitation or disturbance, given all He knows of what's to come (John 19:1,16) In the midst of this, He sought to glorify the Father, praying, “Father, glorify your name.”

Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The people around Him heard it literally. But, some claimed that this sound was only thunder and they seemed to dismiss it as something mindless, natural, and meaningless. That's an appropriate parallel to modern-day skepticism, where mounting evidence of God's influence in nature is brushed aside. Whether it's a lack of spirituality (1 Cor 2:14) or outright stubbornness (1 Tim 4:2), the result is the same.

Others have a less-skeptical interpretation, which is to assume the voice they heard was that of an angel. Both, however, find themselves in a moment of decision. As Jesus will explain, these events serve as "signs" that ought to lead people to faith (John 12:30–36). Those who reject God will have no excuse for their disbelief. Later verses in this same passage make this idea very clear (John 12:37–40).

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John 12:20-26 ESV

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.

SIR, WE WISH TO SEE JESUS

The Passover is one of the festivals for which Jewish men are required to make a pilgrimage to the city of jerusalem (Deut 16:16). Hence, the city was being teeming with visitors. As Jesus entered the city on a donkey, people lined beside the streets rejoicing while weaving palm leaves. (John 12:12–19). Not all of those visiting are ethnic Jews, however.

Some of those who have come to celebrate the Passover were Gentiles, who like the Jews honor the God of Israel. They wanted to see Jesus, too. They approached Philip, specifically. It is possible that Philip was acting as the first layer of security for Jesus, vetting those who wanted to get close to Him (John 12:22). Or, perhaps it’s because Philip, who having a Greek name, who they knew before in Bethsaida.

His critics claim that "the world has gone after Him" was proven right. This was an evidence that "the whole world" is going to be called to know Jesus, not merely from among the Jewish people only (John 10:16). Jesus, who has been evading the crowd has now expressed, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Jesus used a metaphor of a seed, growing and spreading (John 12:24). The seed, in a sense, "dies," but in reality, it is transformed into the more mature and productive life as it means to be.

Paul expanded on this metaphor of planted seeds in 1 Cor 15:36–42. A life, like the seed which is planted seems to "die,” so that everything seems lost, as far as it appears. In reality, the seed must be planted in order to become what it was always meant to be. Just as the seed must "lose its life" to fulfill its ultimate purpose, so too does each person need to "lose" their worldly life in order to gain eternity (John 12:25). Definitely, this doesn’t mean physical death or martyrdom, but one’s willingness to sacrifice everything in order to follow Christ (see Mark 8:35–36). Do we want to see Jesus. then, we must be willing to sacrifice for Him. Are we?

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John 12:12-19 ESV

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,

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

behold, your king is coming,

sitting on a donkey's colt!”

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.”

HOSANNA!

While waving palm leaves, the people are cheering and celebrating Jesus as their Promised One when He entered Jerusalem (v. 12–13). Notedly, palm branches are symbols of victory. They were shouting, “Hosanna”, which is a kingly shout derived from the Psalms, and they are eagerly anticipating a Savior. These are fulfillments of O.T. prophecy. In Daniel 9:25, it even suggests a specific date, indicating a certain time from a kingly decree to the arrival of Messiah. Examining those details points to the date of March 30, AD 33, which is the Monday prior to Passover (John 12:1, 12).

Moreover, in Zech 9:9, it speaks of the king of Israel riding on a donkey's colt which was cited by John in v.15. Conquering heroes of the ancient world would have ridden in on horses—animals used in that region for war. Jesus, the king of kings however, entered in on an animal which is used only for peaceful purposes. His exaltation is yet in the future. It’s not an exaggeration that all these are fulfilled.

Certainly, Jesus’ popularity was highlighted by the raising of Lazarus from the dead miracle. However, He had earned the reception of the people gradually but steadily to fit the prophecy written in the scriptures. However, most people still expected the Messiah to be a political or military leader. This was the very reason, the religious leaders overreacted as they suspected that Jesus would rebel against Rome.

At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. Hindsight is always the best sight. In the next days leading up to Jesus' crucifixion, the disciples are in that same situation. Despite all Jesus has said and done to teach them (Mark 8:31; Luke 17:25), it won't be until after His resurrection that the disciples finally have the benefit of hindsight. Definitely, this ws the Holy Spirit’s teaching presence unto them. (John 16:12–13).

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John 12:9-11 ESV

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.

9 Nang malaman ng maraming mga Judio na siya'y naroroon, sila'y pumunta hindi dahil kay Jesus lamang, kundi upang makita nila si Lazaro, na muling binuhay mula sa mga patay. 10 Kaya't pinanukala ng mga punong pari na kanilang patayin din si Lazaro, 11 sapagkat dahil sa kanya'y marami sa mga Judio ang umaalis at naniniwala kay Jesus.

AN EXTRAORDINARY TESTIMONY

People during those times would have either seen or heard or both to what Jesus has done and taught. Among those amazing miracles was the raising of Lazarus, whom Jesus brought back to life after four days in a tomb (see John 11:38–44). The people came not only to see Jesus but him.

Like Jesus, Lazarus also became a household name. An ordinary person becoming extraordinary because of what Jesus did to him. When sinners who are dead begin to show life, their friends and acquaintances will find them puzzling, even attractive. [see 2 Cor 5;17] Lazarus became a showcase of God’s divine power and glory.

Through Lazarus, Jesus became irresistible. His popularity became viral. But for the “Jews”, there was no such thing as "enough evidence," because their minds are already made up. At whatever means, they have to annihilate Jesus, including Lazarus. Lazarus, for nothing wrong he did, became an object to their hatred.

Later Jesus said about those who would follow Him, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me”[John 15:18-21]

After here, scripture does not tell us about Lazarus and whether the plot to kill him succeeded. This just shows that those are touched with miracles, such as Lazarus, are not to be credited with special significance later on, or enshrined with echoes of divine power. They're still ordinary people, with extraordinary stories.

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John 12:1-8 ESV

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.”

IT IS NOT A WASTE

Here, Jesus is being treated to a dinner in the home of a man named Simon (Mark 14:3–11), in the town of Bethany (John 12:1). This is to celebrate Jesus' raising of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha (John 11:38–43). Each of these siblings, in a way, does represent a mode of service Christians can emulate in their lives, does it not? Martha provided a tangible service. Lazarus was a living demonstration of Christ's influence. Whereas, Mary did sacrifice and worship. She anointed Jesus’ feet with a spikenard oil.

A spikenard, is an oil made from plants grown in northern India. lf a modern-day liter. A bit less than a liter, this was valued at some 300 denarii, nearly an entire year's wages for a common laborer. And as a woman of the ancient Middle East, Mary may not owned a property or land. Thus, without question, it was a substantial part of her life savings. Moreover, the container, made of the marble-like stone called alabaster (Mark 14:3), showed how valuable this ointment was.

And this was used all at once, to anoint one man! Should we not give our all and best to Jesus too? [see Ecc 9:10] To some people in the room, Judas' complaint that it was a waste makes sense, and Mark expressed how others echoed it (see Mark 14:3–11). In no way it was a waste. In fact, anything we do for Jesus with the right motive glorifies God.

But, Judas' assessmentwas a well-dressed lie. His real anger is in seeing money "wasted" on Jesus instead of going into the disciple's communal money-bag, where he can steal some of it (John 12:6). It was a manipulative lie for Judas had no interest in the poor, but he knows how to disguise his real intentions. How many times people today are deceived by charlatans who use Christian jargons to make themselves appear truthful?

Jesus, for His part, will defend Mary’s actions in light of His impending death (John 12:7–8). Whether Mary fully understands what is about to happen, what she has done carries a prophetic element. This Mary is described elsewhere as an avid student of Jesus (Luke 10:38–42). This privilege to honor Christ, as Mary did, was once in a lifetime. Her act resulted in an example that's been preserved in the very Word of God, to be cherished for all time (Mark 14:6–11).

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John 11:54-57 ESV

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. 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.

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54 Mula noon, si Jesus ay hindi na naglalakad nang hayagan sa gitna ng mga Judio, kundi pumunta siya sa lupaing malapit sa ilang, sa isang bayan na tinatawag na Efraim. Siya'y nanirahan doon kasama ng mga alagad. 55 Ang Paskuwa nga ng mga Judio ay malapit na, at maraming umahon tungo sa Jerusalem mula sa lupaing iyon bago magpaskuwa, upang linisin ang kanilang mga sarili. 56 Hinahanap nila si Jesus, at sinasabi sa isa't isa habang nakatayo sila sa templo, “Ano sa palagay ninyo? Hindi kaya siya pupunta sa pista?” 57 Ang mga punong pari at ang mga Fariseo ay nag-utos na sinumang nakakaalam ng kinaroroonan ni Jesus ay dapat ipagbigay-alam sa kanila upang siya'y kanilang madakip.

A WILDERNESS ESCAPE

The council, comprising primarily of religious leaders, was determined to arrest and kill Jesus. Thus, Jesus fled to the countryside. Was Jesus afraid to die? Definitely not. He isn’t governed by fear of man but fear of His Father. He came and is passionately devoted to do His Father’s will. His escape was not a sign of timidity but of wisdom and prudence.

Simply put, it was not yet time. Notedly, while He was evading the public, He spent time with His disciples. He did not vanish into the wilderness to be idle, did He? A time from hostile crowds became a fruitful ministry with His faithful few. It was a change of focus.

The feast was fast approaching and many people were looking for Him, mostly for the wrong reasons. Apart from a few who believed Him, the rest either sought Him for benefits from His miracles or to arrest Him. Jesus, in no doubt, was popular. However, he wasn’t carried away by the lure of popularity. His heart was locked in fulfilling the will of his Father. He said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will.

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John 11:45-53 ESV

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.

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ONE MAN SHOULD DIE FOR THE PEOPLE

Having seen Lazarus coming out from the grave, many of them believed. But, obvious miracles aren't enough for the stubborn in heart, are they? (Luke 16:31) Some who did not believe told the religious leaders, who immediately convened the council. They said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 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.”

This extreme evidence of Jesus’ claim was counteracted with extreme measures of violence. They thought Jesus was a political threat. That, He will have a great following to remove them from power. Caiaphas, the high priest, had left with no other option. Jesus has to die for the nation. Their insecurity and jealousy of power and influence made them murderers.

The plight of Jesus here isn’t incidental. Jesus would shine amidst evil men as the star glitters in the backdrop of deep darkness. “Surely the wrath of man shall praise you.” [Psa 76:10] What seemed as man’s wrath gone wild would contribute to the praise of God. Similarly, it was when Pharaoh had hardened His heart that Yahweh got the greatest glory, was it not?

They were all wrong. For far from what these furious religious leaders believed, Jesus’ kingdom is purely spiritual. His kingdom is not of this world. His crucifixion is the payment for the sins of the whole world so that sinners who are in the kingdom of darkness will be translated to the kingdom of light. As Peter had said, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” [1 Pet 3:18]

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