The close of John chapter 11 informed us in verse 54 that Jesus and his learning-disciples went to the city of Ephraim and they remained there away from Jerusalem - and verse 57 informed us that the chief-priests and the Pharisees in Jerusalem had given commandments in order that if ever someone would know where Jesus was, he would then disclose that location to them so that they would apprehend him.
The next event recorded in the Book of John references 6 days before Passover. Between John chapters 11 and 12 there were other events that occurred during his journey from Ephraim to Bethany (refer to Matthew 20:17-34, Mark 10:32-52, and Luke 18:31 to 19:18).
John 12:1-8:
12:1Therefore Jesus went into Bethany six days before Passover where Lazarus was whom Jesus raised-up out-from dead-people. .2Therefore they made a meal for him there; and Martha ministered, but Lazarus was one from the (people) lying-up (at the table) together with him, .3therefore Mary, having taken a pound of ointment believably much-priced spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hairs; and the house was filled from the odor of the ointment. .4But Judas the Iscariot, one from his learning-disciples, the (one) about to give him over, says, .5"Because-of-what was this ointment not sold of three-hundred denarius and given to the poor-people?" .6But he said this not because it was a concern for him concerning the poor-people but because he was a thief and having the receptacle he lifted-up the-things being thrown (into it). .7Therefore Jesus said, "You must leave her in order that into the day of my preparation-for-burial she may keep it, .8for the poor-people you always have with yourselves, but me you do not always have."
Following-on logically from the previous events recorded in John chapter 11, Jesus went into Bethany 6 days before Passover (prior to, in front of, in advance of this feast; refer to John 11:55). During that past time, historically, Lazarus was living in Bethany, whom Jesus raised-up alive in his physical/fleshy body from among the rest of the dead-people, who remain dead until the time of their resurrection (refer to John 11:43 and 44). Bethany was close to Jerusalem on the east side of the Mount of Olives.
The time of year that the Passover was sacrificed was on the 14th Nisan in the Judean calendar (some scholars indicate that this date in the year 28 A.D. corresponds to Wednesday April 28, from sunset April 27 to sunset April 28). Six days prior to this Passover would be on the 8th Nisan (Thursday April 22).
Therefore Martha, Lazarus, and Mary made a meal (a principal meal such as a banquet, feast) for him in Bethany; and during that past time...
...and the house was filled (the dwelling was filled-up, made full) from the smell of the ointment.
But Judas from the city of Kerioth, who was one of Jesus' learning-disciples (students) - and John the writer of this book explains that this Judas is emphatically and specifically the one being on the point of giving Jesus over (handing him over, delivering him alongside or beside another, handing him along to those who want to kill Jesus) - says...
Again, John the writer explains to the readers of this writing that Judas said this - not because during that past time it was continuing to be a concern (a care, interest, an object of thought) to/for for him about the poor-people - but on the contrary, he said this because...
Therefore Jesus said...
In verse 3 the verb translated "anoint" means: to smear or spread oil or ointment upon someone. This verb is not the same as the word used regarding to anoint someone or something officially with oil being dedicated to God and which is also the root word for “Christ.”
[Reference: Deuteronomy 15:11; Matthew 5:3, 11:5, 21:1, 26:11; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29; John 6:64, 70 and 71, 10:10 and 13, 11:2 and 55.]
Verses 9-11:
.9Therefore a big crowd out-from the Judeans knew that he is there, and they went (to Bethany) not because-of Jesus only but in order that also they may see Lazarus whom he raised-up out-from dead-people. .10But the chief-priests counseled in order that also they may kill Lazarus .11because many-people of the Judeans went and believed into Jesus because-of him.
Following-on logically from the fact that Jesus was in Bethany, a throng of many people from among the Judeans personally knew that Jesus is continuing to be in that location, and they went (came) to Bethany...
But the chief/high priests counseled (gave themselves counsel, deliberately determined, purposefully willed, as members of a council taking counsel from one-another) for the purpose and result that in addition they would kill Lazarus because during that past time, historically, a lot of Judean people...
[Reference: John 11:43, 44 and 53.]
Verses 12-19:
.12On the morrow the big crowd, the (crowd) having come into the feast, having heard that Jesus comes into Jerusalem, .13took the branches of the palms and they went-out with-a-view-to a meeting with him and cried-out, "Hosanna; having been blessed2 (is) the (one) coming in (the) name of (the) Lord; the king of Israel." .14But Jesus having found a little-donkey sat-down on it according as it is having been written2, .15"You must not be fearful, daughter of Sion. Look!, your king comes sitting-down on a colt of a donkey." .16His learning-disciples did not know these-things formerly but when Jesus was glorified then they were caused-to-remember that these-things were having been written2 on him and they did these-things to him. .17Therefore the crowd, the (crowd) being with him when he sounded (to) Lazarus out-from the memorial-place and raised him up out-from dead-people, bore-witness; .18because-of-this also the crowd met him because they heard him to do2 this sign. .19Therefore the Pharisees said towards themselves, "You must view-with-attention because you do not profit nothing; look!, the world went-away behind him."
The next day (Friday, 9th Nisan) the throng of many people, emphatically and specifically the crowd who came for the feast (directed to Jerusalem for the celebration of this festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread) and after they heard that Jesus goes into Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm-trees and they went out from Jerusalem with a view to a meeting with Jesus (the purpose being into, directed to a meeting without prior arrangement with him).
The branches of the palm-trees represented their joy and expression of triumph. However, on this occasion Jesus entered into Jerusalem in judgment.
They cried-out (made an outcry, clamor, scream, and in this context they shouted publicly regarding Jesus)...
Jesus was blessed and remains blessed by God because God spoke well of him; He spoke words that are good to and regarding Jesus. What God says comes to pass and the recipient receives the blessing. What is spoken by God happens to the recipient which is good for him. Jesus receives the good things that God says, God's blessings.
We should understand that when reading in God’s Word about something being done "in the name of" something or someone else, it incorporates the fullness of everything involved with the one named. In verse 13 above, the people say that Jesus is coming in the name of the Lord - not his own name - but God is referred to by the name of Lord (Greek noun Kurios) and this usage emphasizes and confirms the validity and authenticity of God’s lordship, dominion and authority over and relative-to His creations, plus the respectful submission due to Him. This word is used in Greek as a translation for the Hebrew word Jehovah (Yahweh) and refers to God in His covenant-relationship to that-which He created.
What the people spoke regarding Jesus was prophesied in Psalm 118:25 and 26. Jesus was indeed coming to these people in the Lord God’s name.
But after Jesus found (located) a small/young donkey (the colt of an ass), he sat down on it in accordance with what was written and continues written as part of the old covenant writings...
Jesus entered into Jerusalem sitting down upon the colt (not the donkey) on this first occasion as part of the fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. The Prophet Zechariah spoke the words that God gave him to speak regarding something still future to Zechariah (and these words were also written down). We should note that in this record Jesus comes into Jerusalem riding on a colt being God’s appointed judge declaring judgment (refer also to Luke 19:29-44 and Mark 11:1-11) – this is not the same as the following day which was the time of his second entrance into Jerusalem being God’s appointed king declaring blessing, which occurred on Saturday, 10th Nisan, and is recorded in Matthew 21:1-17. When Jesus entered into Jerusalem in blessing - then the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 was fulfilled.
John the writer of this book explains that Jesus' learning-disciples (students) did not personally know these things formerly (they did not have a truly active and relative knowing, they were not personally knowledgeable of the totality in meaning of these events at first, before, prior to now) - but contrary to when these events actually occurred - at the time when Jesus was glorified (given importance, splendor, renown by God) then they were caused to remember (be reminded, it was called to their minds, they recollected) that during a past time, historically, these things were written and they continue written in the old covenant writings being prophecy resting or based upon Jesus and that the people did (performed) these things to/for Jesus.
Jesus was glorified by God after his resurrection (which was 3 days after his death) and after his ascension into heaven (which was 40 days after his resurrection) as Jesus explains in verses 23-25 below.
Following-on logically from verses 12-14 above, the throng of people...
...were bearing witness during that past time (attesting with information that they personally had about Jesus and therefore they were stating what he did regarding Lazarus with authority to other people). On account of this also the crowd (this was another reason why some of the people in the crowd) met him at this time (without prior arrangement, as verse 13 above) because they heard regarding him doing this sign (performing this designated standard or signal showing authenticity, and that fact had not changed).
Therefore the Pharisees said towards themselves (with one-another)...
The chief-priests and the Pharisees had not been able to accomplish their goal of killing Jesus even though everyone attending the feast could see him arriving there (refer to verse 10 above, and John 11:47-53 and 57 for their plot against Jesus at this time).
[Reference: Judges 5:10, 10:2-4, 12:14; Psalm 118:25 and 26; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 1:20-25; Mark 1:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 1:49, 2:22, 7:39.]
Verses 20-28:
.20But there were some Greeks out-from the (people) ascending in order that they may worship in the feast, .21therefore these-people went-towards Philip, the (person) from Bethsaida of Galilee, and they asked him saying, "Lord, we intend to see Jesus." .22Philip goes and says to Andrew; Andrew and Philip go and say to Jesus. .23But Jesus answers them saying, "The hour came2 in order that the son of man may be glorified. .24With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you, if-ever the kernel of wheat having fallen into the earth may not die - only it remains; but if-ever it may die - it carries much fruit. .25The (person) loving his soul destroys it, and the (person) hating his soul in this world will keep-watch (regarding) it into eternal life. .26If-ever someone may minister to me, he must follow me; and where I am, there also the minister, my (minister) will be; if-ever someone may minister to me, the Father will honor him. .27Now my soul was disturbed2, and may I say something: 'Father, You must save me out-from this hour'? - but because-of-this I came into this hour! - (I say:) .28Father, You must glorify Your name." Therefore a sound came out-from heaven, "Both I glorified and again I will glorify."
During that past time, historically between the events recorded in verses 12-19 above and the events recorded in John chapter 13, there used-to be some Greeks (Hellenists, Greek-speaking people of the Gentile background, proselytes) from among the people ascending (mounting, going upwards to Jerusalem located on higher elevation than the surrounding areas) for the purpose and result that they would worship in the feast (pay homage to the only true God, be obeisant towards Him during the time of celebration of the festival of the Passover and Unleavened Bread).
Therefore these Greeks went towards Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee (refer to John 1:44), and they were asking him (this usage of words implies familiarity between these Greeks and Philip asking him to do something) saying...
Philip comes to Andrew and tells him their request; then Andrew and Philip go together and they say this to Jesus. However, Jesus judicially replied to their request by saying...
Following-on logically from what Jesus said to his Father, a sound (voice, uttered-tone) came originating from heaven (referring to God's realm above the earth)...
Jesus gave Andrew and Philip and all of the people of the Judean/Israeli background and of the Greek/Gentile background a lot of information regarding himself and his assignment from God his Father at that time in order to accomplish redemption and salvation for mankind (human-beings). Jesus was not going to allow himself, or his students, or anyone else, to distract him from carrying-out his assignment.
Notes:
The son of man
The phrase "the son of man" refers to Jesus himself and emphasizes that he is the one who is descended from the man whom God created and made and formed as recorded in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, the first man Adam to whom God gave dominion, etc, on/over the earth. However, this first man gave it to satan as recorded in Genesis chapter 3. In accordance with God's promise - Jesus is the seed of the woman (refer to Genesis 3:15).
Today of course Jesus has accomplished redemption and salvation and so he is the resurrected Christ, the second man, having received his spiritual body, the life of which is holy spirit (not soul/breath life). Therefore the title "the son of man" is not relevant to holy-people (Christians) because true Christians have the spirit of Christ within them - Christ being the new man, the last man. After the time that all Christians will be gathered together away from the earth, Christ Jesus will come to be present on earth for those who will believe at that time among the nation of Israel and the other nations, the Gentiles, as "the son of man" and he will exercise the authority that he has, his dominion on/over the earth having regained and replaced the first man and all that the first man gave to the devil/satan.
[Reference: Exodus 12:48; John 1:44, 5:23, 6:6-10, 8:12, 10:27, 11:33, 13:1 and 31, 14:3, 15:7 and 8, 17:1 and 4; I Corinthians 15:36-38; Hebrews 5:5. Also refer to the articles Adam and Eve, and The name of God.]
Verses 29-36:
.29Therefore the crowd, the (crowd) having stood2 and having heard, said thunder to have come-to-pass2; other-people said, "An angel uttered-forth2 to him." .30Jesus answered and said, "Not because-of me this sound came-to-pass2 but because-of you. .31Now there is judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be thrown-out outside; .32and if-ever I may be heightened out-from the earth, I will draw all-people towards myself." .33But this he said signifying what-kind-of death he was about to die. .34Therefore the crowd answered him, "We heard from the law that the Christ remains into the age - and how do you say that it is necessary (for) the son of man to be heightened? Who is this son of man?" .35Therefore Jesus said to them, "Yet a small time the light is among you; you must walk as you have the light in order that darkness may not take-hold-of you; and the (person) walking in the darkness did not know2 where he goes. .36As you have the light you must believe into the light in order that you may become sons of light." Jesus uttered-forth these-things; and having gone-away, he was hidden from them.
Following-on logically from what Jesus told all of the people in verses 23-28 above, the crowd - emphatically and specifically the throng of people who stood and were still standing, and after they heard the sound out from heaven - were saying that thunder came to pass (rolling, rumbling sounds became, happened, occurred, and this fact has not changed).
During that past time other people were saying, "An angel uttered-forth to him (a spirit-being angel spoke to Jesus, and this fact has not changed)."
Jesus answered and said...
However during that past time, historically, Jesus was saying this - being heightened out-from the earth - signifying (giving the signal, designating and authenticating) what sort of death he was on the point of dying (he was about to be lifted up suspended on a pole in death by crucifixion; refer to John 3:13-16 and Numbers 21:8). Jesus was going to be the Passover lamb that year and he was about to die on behalf of the people (instead of all of mankind dying). After God would raise him up from being dead and heighten him to God's right-hand side in heaven, only then would the resurrected Christ be able to draw all-people towards himself (certainly not while he was dead on cross or buried in the earth!).
Following-on from what Jesus said, the throng of people said to him...
These people thought that Jesus was contradicting the old covenant writings regarding the Christ and that perhaps Jesus was saying that the son of man whom he was talking about was someone else other-than the Christ!
Therefore Jesus being the son of man and the Christ said to them...
Jesus uttered-forth (spoke) these things; and after he went away from there, he was hidden from them (he was concealed, with the idea of being protected from those people).
Notes:
[Reference: Numbers 21:5-9; Matthew 4:8-10, 25:41; John 3:13-21, 6:44 and 65, 7:33, 8:12, 28 and 59, 9:5; Acts 2:33, 5:31; Hebrews 2:14 and 15; I John 2:11; Revelation 12:7-9, 20:10 and 14, 21:1-4. Also refer to the articles Angels, Adam and Eve, and The devil, satan, and evil.]
Verses 37-43:
.37But (after) his having done2 so-many signs in-front-of them, they did not believe into him, .38in order that the word of Isaiah the prophet may be fulfilled which he said, "Lord, who believed the thing-heard of us? And the arm of (the) Lord was revealed to whom?" .39Because-of-this they were not able to believe because again Isaiah said, .40"He blinded2 their eyes and hardened their heart in order that they may not see with the eyes and mentally-perceive with the heart and be turned, and I will heal them." .41These-things said Isaiah because he saw his glory and uttered-forth concerning him. .42Even-yet also yet-indeed many-people from the rulers believed into him but because-of the Pharisees they did not express-agreement in order that they may not become away-from-synagogue, .43for they loved1 the glory of men rather than the glory of God.
However, John the writer of this book explains that after Jesus did and continued to do (perform) such an amount of signs in front of them (designated standards or signals showing authenticity before them, in full view of them), during that past time, historically, they were not believing into him (they did not have faith-in, trust into, directed-to, or regarding Jesus whereby he was the object of their believing, they were not trusting what he was saying and doing even though he is the light referred to in verse 36 above).
The ending result of this was that the word of Isaiah the prophet (the spoken-account containing individual words constituting what was spoken – the spoken account of God’s inner thoughts which God revealed to the Prophet Isaiah for him to make known to other people concerning the past, present and/or future) would be fulfilled (filled-up, made full, accomplished), which Isaiah said and it was written down and recorded in Isaiah 53:1...
This portion of the Book of Isaiah foretells about the coming Christ, the Messiah, the savior who would redeem mankind from their predicament of the lack of holy spirit-life and their state of being liable to death. John quotes this because he is also writing regarding the Christ and the people of Israel, but many did not believe and do what God made known regarding the Christ during the time of Isaiah and also at the time when Jesus was living before his death doing exactly what had been foretold about him.
The people of Israel not only had the old covenant writings regarding all that God did with/for them previously, but also at this time they had Jesus living among them - God's son being the son of man and the Christ - doing signs in front of them. At that time Jesus was the evidence of the "arm of the Lord" to/for them.
John the writer of this book continues: During that past time, historically, it was on account of this (for this reason) that they were not able to believe (they were continuing not to have the ability, the capability of believing, having faith, trusting God and His son Jesus) - on account of what? - because again Isaiah said (a second, another, further time, once again this prophet said and it was written as part of the old covenant writings, referring to Isaiah 6:10 but not a quotation)...
By using the Hebrew idiom (where the active form of the verb is used to indicate that the subject of that verb permitted or allowed the thing to take-place), this passage from Isaiah 6:10 emphasizes that God allowed the people to exercise their own freedom of will - but God did not cause/force them to be this way against Him. They did not see with their eyes, and they hardened their heart so as not to mentally-perceive what God said or did to/for them, and they did not allow themselves to return to the only true God - therefore they rejected the healing that God would have given to them. They became influenced by the devil and his evil spirits to such a degree that their quality of living of everyday life and their perception of the only true God’s spiritual things became dull as being asleep, not alert or ready for the action requested of them by God.
God revealed to Isaiah the prophet what had occurred and he was to speak it to the people so that they would be fully aware of what they had done to themselves by rejecting God's Word to/for them. If the people were allowed to continue to receive God's healing after they had rejected Him - then it would be in total contradiction to what God had spoken to/for them previously. God would not accept their lack of belief and that kind of behavior as being correct in accordance with what God said - therefore He made their rejection of Him and the consequences very clear to them .
John the writer of this book continues to explain that Isaiah said these things because/when...
By revelation from God, Isaiah saw the glory of the savior, the Christ (the Anointed-one, the Messiah) whom God had promised since Genesis 3:15. During Jesus’ everyday living of life he was God’s glory in manifestation, in evidence, as an exhibition, demonstration, or illustration.
In addition very emphatically in this case indeed a lot of people from among the rulers (the people being chiefs over Judeans, those in a dignified hierarchical or first-placed position relative to other Judeans - referring to the religious leaders of the Sanhedrin which was Israel's ruling religious council)...
[Reference: Isaiah 6:8-10, 53:1-12; Matthew 13:13-15; John 3:1, 5:44, 7:13 and 48, 8:43 and 56, 9:22; Acts 13:17, 28:25-27; Romans 10:16, 11:7-10; II Corinthians 3:13-16, 4:4; I John 2:11.]
Verses 44-50:
.44But Jesus shouted and said, "The (person) believing into me, does not believe into me but into the (One) having sent me; .45and the (person) viewing me with-attention, views the (One) having sent me with-attention. .46I - light - came2 into the world in order that every-person believing into me may not remain in the darkness; .47and if-ever someone may hear my spoken-matters and may not keep-watch, I do not judge him, for I did not come in order that I may judge the world but in order that I may save the world. .48The (person) rejecting me and not receiving my spoken-matters, has the (word) judging him, the word which I uttered-forth - that will judge him in the last day, .49because I did not utter-forth out-from myself but the Father Himself having sent me gave2 commandment to me what I may say and what I may utter-forth, .50and I knew2 that His commandment is eternal life, therefore which-things I utter-forth - according as the Father said2 to me, thus I utter-forth."
Also during that past time, between the events recorded in verses 12-19 above and the events recorded in John chapter 13, Jesus shouted and said (he cried-out saying)...
Jesus was fully aware of his assignment from God his Father regarding what he would need to say and to utter-forth in order to accomplish the tasks that the Christ would need to accomplish in order to make redemption and salvation available to/for mankind - thereby allowing Jesus himself and consequently also other human-beings to receive eternal life.
[Reference: Deuteronomy 18:18 and 19; John 3:17, 5:19, 24, 30 and 47, 6:40 and 63, 7:16-18, 8:12, 15, 20 and 26, 9:5, 10:18; Hebrews 4:12. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]
