Hello friends, bloggers and fellow readers,

For all of you who have been following my series on the Gospel of John, thank you! It is my hope that you enjoy them. I’m finally finding the time to sit and write my thoughts on John chapter 12 and find such a rich abundance that makes it hard to pick just one focus.

Going for a different approach, I wanted to share with you these little nuggets in the form they come as I first write them – unpolished and waiting for expansion or polish – some in the form of prayers and some just plain scribbles. I’d then like to invite you all to share with me your thoughts on chapter 12. Perhaps together we can lend towards a lovely collective.

A prayer of transition from John 11 to John 12…

Lord Jesus, I am amused by the irony between John 11:56-57 and John 12:12-13:

So they were seeking for Jesus, and were saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think; that He will not come to the feast at all?” Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might seize Him. John 11:56-57

On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” 
John 12:12-13

The Pharisees believed you would quietly sneak into Jerusalem and likely hide during the festival, so they set traps and waited. But instead, you make a grand and triumphant entry surrounded by shouts of praise – so bold and in-your-face hilarious! And yet sad, too, for the religious leaders who completely missed the point because they were too concerned with losing “their” place (11:48). Lord, teach me to see beyond this natural, material world you have created so that I may step into eternity here, now, where it really matters! I don’t want to miss you the way they did because of an unwillingness to see from your perspective.

On to chapter 12, another prayer…

Lord Jesus, John 12 opens with Mary anointing your feet. And if we were to dig, we discover that the foot-anointing Mary of John 12 is not the same as the foot anointing woman from Luke 7. One was a sinner and is thought to be possibly Mary Magdalene, at a Pharisee’s house; and the other was Mary, Martha’s sister, at Lazarus’ house. Quite different circumstances. I love both passages because it is my heart to love you with this much worship and adoration as well, and the passage in Luke is where I get my moniker, Alabastersky.

Later in this chapter, we see you coming in, riding on a colt, just as Zachariah had prophesied. But what about the rest of Zachariah’s prophecy? I wish to understand. As I read verses 37-38 I can’t help but wonder, if the Jews had fully accepted you as Messiah, would there have been a need for a second coming?

Later thoughts…

John 12:24-26 – Think BAPTISM! Knowing that, for some (like those not raised in church or in a culture like ours), baptism can be more of a “splash” than a stand of solidarity and death of our old life. In some cultures I’ve heard it’s considered an offense worthy of capital punishment! But even above all of that is what it means to the heart of Father God and how much it moves Him to see one who is willing, by faith, to boldly go the distance by setting aside all that is temporary and reaching out for all that is eternal. His heart gushes over the choice to identify with Jesus so much that He honors those who are willing.

John 12:42-43 – about the rulers, it’s interesting how the passage notes that it was love of the approval of man drove their fear. Of course it is a fear of what others think but I believe it also touches upon the fear of what they thought of themselves as well. Perhaps they had ministries they thought were too important to walk away from? Perhaps they felt irreplaceable (who would take their place if they were ex-communicated)?

Okay, your turn! I hope this sparks interest and would love to hear your thoughts.