Bethany and Jerusalem (Monday). A Day of Messianic Power
Bethany and Jerusalem (Monday). A Day of Messianic Power
1Or,a single.
2Many ancient authorities omitof God.
aOnce more at the close of the Ministry in Jerusalem, as at the beginning, Jesus asserts his authority over the Temple as the Messiah. In both instances his authority is sharply challenged by the Jewish rulers.
Jerusalem (Monday)John 12:20-50
Jerusalem (Monday)John 12:20-50
20Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast:21these therefore came to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.22Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus.23And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.25He that loveth his1life loseth it; and he that hateth his1life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honour.27Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say [see Ps. 42:6]? Father, save me from this2hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour.28Father, glorify thy name. There came therefore a voice out of heaven,saying,I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.29The multitude therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it had thundered: others said, An angel hath spoken to him.30Jesus answered and said, This voice hath not come for my sake, but for your sakes.31Now is3the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.32And I, if I be lifted up4from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.33But this he said, signifying by what manner of death he should die.34The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?35Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light5among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.36While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light.
These things spake Jesus, and he departed and6hid himself from them.37But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they believed notaon him:38that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled [see Isa. 53:1], which he spake,
Lord, who hath believed our report?And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39 For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again,
40He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart;Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart,And should turn,And I should heal them.
41These things said Isaiah [see Isa. 6:1, 10], because he saw his glory; and he spake of him.42Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess7it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:43for they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.
44And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.45And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me.46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness.47And if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.48He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.49For I spake not from myself; but the Father which sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.50And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.
1Or,soul.
2Or,hour?
3Or,a judgement.
4Or,out of.
5Or,in.
6Or,was hidden from them.
7Or,him.
aThe rejection of Jesus by the Jews is clearly set forth by John's Gospel. The Pharisees made many timid and afraid.
On the way from Bethany to Jerusalem. (Tuesdaya)
On the way from Bethany to Jerusalem. (Tuesdaya)
1Gr.whenever evening came.
2Some ancient authorities readthey.
3Many ancient authorities add ver. 26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
aThe Synoptic Gospels give more details of the teaching of Jesus on this Tuesday in the Temple and on the Mount of Olives than for any other single day. We had another Busy Day in Galilee (§§ 61-66).
Jesus bases His human authority on John the Baptist, His Forerunner who baptized him, and demands the Sanhedrin's opinion of the Baptism of John. This pertinent counter-question paralyzes the Jewish leaders and Jesus drives His argument home by three parables. (a) Parable of the Two Sons. (b) Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. (c) Parable of the Marriage Feast of the King's Son.
In the court of the Temple. (Tuesdayb) A Day of Controversy
In the court of the Temple. (Tuesdayb) A Day of Controversy
1And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying,2The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, which made a marriage feast for his son,3and sent forth his3servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come.4Again he sent forth other3servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise:6and the rest laid hold on his3servants, and entreated them shamefully, and killed them.7But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.8Then saith he to his3servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy.9Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast.10And those3servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests.11But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding-garment:12and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.13Then the king said to the6servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth.14For many are called, but few chosen.
1Gr.word.
2Gr.Child.
3Gr.bondservants.
4Or,the fruits of it.
5Some ancient authorities omit ver. 44.
6Or,ministers.
7Or,But shall we say, From men?
8Or,for all held John to be a prophet indeed.
9Gr.bondservant.
10Gr.Be it not so.
aIt was very common to test a Rabbi with hard questions. See this continued in the following sections. In like manner the Fourth Gospel gave us much animated dialogue between Jesus and the Jews at Jerusalem in chap. 5, and chap. 7-10. The Sanhedrin were within their rights in challenging the ecclesiastical and scholastic (scribal) standing of Jesus. He did not dodge in his answer.
bOn this last day of Christ's public ministry the Sanhedrin seek to break the power of Jesus with the people whose hero he is since the Triumphal Entry. The first attempt fails miserably, but it is followed by a series of other efforts to entrap Jesus and so turn the crowd against him. The three parables leave the rulers exposed by Jesus and they keenly feel the denunciation of the reply of Jesus.
1Or,Teacher.
2See marginal note onMatt. 18:28.
aThe Pharisees send a group of their keenest students to go with the Herodians to catch Jesus with the dilemma about paying tribute to Cæsar, a live question in current politics and theology. They offered Jesus the alternative of popular disfavor or of disloyalty to the Roman government.
In the Court of the Temple. (Tuesday)
In the Court of the Temple. (Tuesday)
1Gr.saying.
2Or,Teacher.
3Gr.shall perform the duty of a husband's brother to his wife. Compare Deut. 25:5.
4Gr.seven.
5Many ancient authorities addof God.
6Or,age.
aProbably a stock conundrum that the Sadducees had often propounded to the discomfort of the Pharisees.