Verse 34 sets up all of John 13-17 (and really how God feels about us in general/our right response to Him). Just as Jesus loved, so we are to love one another. We aren’t just doing whatever we want however we want. We have been extravagantly loved to extravagantly love others.

Jesus washing feet shows this. He takes on the role of a servant and serves to show His love. Do you do this?

He shows this love by coming to earth in the first place (John 3:16). He loves us, He left eternity to enter time/space/matter/human flesh to show us the extant of His love. What a good God! What does this mean to you?

It has meant the world to me!

Notice that Jesus didn’t come to judge, but His words themselves judge! By Him just speaking (the Word), we realize that we are missing something. We are blessed, though, as Jesus Himself is the answer to that judgment! He gives us His righteousness and calls us to follow Him! We have access!

Also note the times that the Father speaks and many are able to hear! It happened at the baptism, transfiguration, now here in John 12. These are terrific signs to experience! How could you not believe?

Also, note that John alone points out the fact that many Greeks come to see Jesus after the triumphal entry. Jesus has a wide reach even before His death and resurrection.

Sorry for the blog break over the holidays! I’ll catch up over the next couple days. Hope you had a Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!!

Jesus then shows that His sheep know His voice – as even the dead respond to it!

The sisters are both upset and Jesus weeps. Why does He weep? Here’s a few options I’ve heard people say: 1) He is moved by death and the condition of the world. 2) He is feeling the emotions of everyone and succumbs as well Himself. 3) He feels misunderstood and wonders if they will ever get it. 4) He wishes they would just believe. 5) He is just pandering to their emotions to “fit in.”

I’m sure there are more reasons out there, but these are the ones I’ve heard.

Let’s review context. John tells us that Jesus is teaching in John 10 that the sheep know His voice. The sisters know their brother will rise at the resurrection of the dead (last days). Jesus is surrounded by people that are saying, “surely had he been here, Lazarus would not have died.” Lastly, Jesus is capable of ANYTHING! Faith in Him means stepping aside and letting Him write your story through you. Are you doing that?

So Martha knows Jesus can do anything – and tries to define it her way.

Mary is overwhelmed and says that Jesus could have saved Lazarus. She then weeps.

The people all around are talking and defining Jesus their way.

Jesus wept.

I think He weeps because we don’t always get it. I think He weeps because sin is real and it’s consequences are palpable. I think He weeps because He feels all we feel and relates to us. I think He weeps because this amazing world He created is but a shadow of what it is supposed to be. I think it is at least all of this, perhaps more.

Lazarus being dead for 4 days means he’s really dead. Not mostly dead, but dead. Jesus brings Him back.

He deserves all the praise!

He’s God.

He reaches out to us.

He loves deeply.

Are you one of the sheep? I know of many who struggle with whether they are saved or not… I feel that this passage should help with that (not this passage alone – we will get to Romans later). Jesus is saying that His sheep know His voice. We know Him and know that He is our answer for salvation. Many that I speak to are struggling because their actions don’t always honor God, so they question salvation. We are on a lifelong journey of becoming more like Him. That takes time! However, at the same time, we are saved if we cling to Him as our source for salvation. The longer we do that, we look and act more like the sheep we are supposed to be: loved by Him and welcomed in.

Are you His sheep?

The drama unfolding in this passage… a man receives sight, the leaders freak, Jesus makes them all look dumb and the blind man does the same. He is amazing!

Two quick things: the Sabbath and judgment.

People keep saying Jesus doesn’t keep the Sabbath and therefore can’t be of God. It has come up before and has been dealt with in various ways on this blog. Today, I just want to point out that the only people who are saying this are those that claim to have a corner on interpretation of the law. They tell others how it should be understood. Yet Jesus is the embodiment of the law (fulfillment and perfect follower of it) so His interpretation would trump theirs, right? If Jesus heals on the Sabbath, He knows if He has broken the law (which He hasn’t) and chooses not to defend that, but to challenge their thinking in other ways. We must learn this and practice it – you can’t tell someone they are wrong too often and get the results you want, they often must come to that conclusion themselves. Jesus allows this, which shows how much He loves them! He wants them to turn to Him and will use any tactic available! Let’s pray that we follow the Spirit’s leading and do likewise.

Judgment is a common theme in John, but 9:39 and 12:47 seem at odds with one another at first. Yet they aren’t at odds at all. The passage of 12:47ff explains that Jesus did not come to judge, but that the world is judged by His presence. His being on this planet shows us our failure and need for a Savior. This is judgment! So He didn’t come to judge (action) but came to save (action). However, we are judged (status) by His walking on this planet. In His perfection and glory, we see our shortcomings and sin. So, in this way 9:39, the blind will see and those who think they are seeing clearly are confronted by their blindness. I hope that helps!

When Jesus is challenged, His answers are never what you expect! He’s confident, truthful. To the outside observer He could seem arrogant. Unless He is right. Then He’s just right! “I am the light of the world.” If I said that, it’d be arrogant. Even Kanye wouldn’t say that. (Maybe he would, but that’s crazy arrogant) When Jesus says it, it just happens to be true.

They call Him on it. They say He needs testimony to prove it. He says that even if it was only His testimony, it’d be right because He knows who He is and what that means. Then He answers them by saying that His Father gives testimony – and the trap is set!

Then He pushes them some more and challenges them with the statement that He spoke to Abraham. This would be crazy if not true. When He rises from the grave, it is proven to be true! We can trust Him and His testimony! So then what does He say about you and I? We are loved. Bought with a price. Meant to walk in the light. Freed by the truth (Him) to live as we were meant. Do you believe this?

Nicodemus shows up again (keep watching).

Also, the feast of booths is not an insignificant detail for us to notice. Sukkot, the feast of booths or tabernacles is celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month. This is around harvest and commemorates the goodness God gives His people. Also, they live in booths to remember the wilderness period before settling the promised land. In the middle of the 7-day Festival, a priest would go down to the pool of Siloam and draw water and bring it to the temple. It was a raucous occasion, with dancing, singing, juggling and readings! It denoted another good year from God and beckoned rain to come (also reminding of the flood and God’s judgment and salvation).

So, when Jesus stands up at the end of the festival and says “If anyone is thirsty, let him drink” and talks of living water, this is no small thing! Jesus is saying that in Him is the fulfillment of all the celebrations and a beckoning to people to really “taste and see.” This high holiday would have been interrupted by the One and would have made for some interesting conversations, which are seen at the end of the chapter. He is saying that He’s the ultimate festival, and the source of living water. Do you believe that?

Did you notice verse 6:66? It’s a dubious number, but a crazy message – many left Him that day!

Sure Jesus taught a very difficult teaching that day. He knows they only came for another feeding. He’s able to read their hearts and push back. They don’t love that and leave Him. How many left? How many did He still have? At least 12, for sure… but was it a 1000 to 100 drop off? Bigger? Smaller? We don’t know and perhaps it doesn’t matter. It makes me wonder if I’d stayed true! It makes me wonder if I’m all in! Are you?

One seemingly little detail occurs at the end of John 5 and elsewhere in the Gospels. The idea is that the prophets had written about Jesus and there was enough evidence to 1) guide people to Jesus and 2) give ideas to live by. He says Moses condemns them and then in His implications is the fact that God is still working – like they missed the point.

If Moses has given them enough, why the confusion? Man-made interpretations of the law leave us wanting for more – as if He has/had a better way. He does! We need to believe that and live accordingly?!

What is a Samaritan and why is that detail mentioned a lot?

Good question.

In 722BC, when Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and destroyed the capital, Samaria, a change was afoot. Some Assyrians married Jewish people and settled in the area once called Israel. The nation of Judah still existed for 140 or so more years, but Israel was never the same. These “half-breed” individuals began to be looked down upon by the “pure-blood” Jews still living in the area, and especially within the nation of Judah. Judah was conquered by Babylon in 586BC and lost its capital, Jerusalem. When Cyrus and other kings allow for the walls and temple to be rebuilt, a belief in the old ways was stirring that they were superior. This led to bad blood.

The “half-breed” people became known as Samaritans. The bad blood led the Samaritans to rob Jewish people and other atrocities. So, Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman is no little detail. His using a Samaritan in a story to make a point is huge. Jesus crossed boundary lines to share His plan with people. Are we?