The Priority of Jesus

John 12

If you knew that you only had 6 days to live, what would you do and what would you prioritize?
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Jesus took time to invest in relationships and visit His dearest friends to have fellowship with them. We see Jesus returning to Bethany throughout His ministry, specifically in the first 18 months, to foster relationships, to experience connection, and to now in these final days for companionship and to give of self.

Over an over we see Mary’s adoration, not only revealing her love and hospitality, but in her worship. Here in John 12, we see that love and worship brought joy to His heart, exposed Judas’s sin, and gave the church an example to follow.

“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.” 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.” John 12:1–11 (ESV)

“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” 2 Corinthians 2:15–16 (ESV)

Warren Wiersbe states in his Word commentary, “Jesus took advantage of the large Passover crowd to present Himself as King. He was forcing the Jewish leaders to act, for it was the Father’s will that Jesus die on Passover. The crowd did not stay with Him. It is easier to shout in a parade than stand at a cross.”

“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.” 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.” John 12:12–20 (ESV)

“Hosanna” is Hebrew for “save us”—it’s a cry of deliverance. By applying Psalm 118:25–26 to Jesus and identifying him as their King, they were hailing Jesus as the Messiah who would deliver them from Roman domination.

“Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord. Psalm 118:25–26 (ESV)

Jesus fulfilled Scripture and entered Jerusalem in exactly the manner foretold in Zechariah 9:9.

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9 (ESV)
Fulfilled prophecies like this one testify to the divine inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture. The many Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah were written hundreds of years before His birth, yet they were fulfilled in His life accurately and in detail. This should encourage all believers to trust that the Bible is indeed the authoritative Word of God.

“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. 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.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” John 12:20–36 (ESV)

Jesus looked upon His death as an opportunity to glorify God. Do you take that attitude when you face a time of difficulty or trial? He saw Himself as a seed that would die and produce fruit and as a conqueror who would defeat Satan. The Cross would open the way of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles.

“flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Colossians 2:13–14 (ESV)

In verses 32-33, we see that when Jesus spoke of being lifted up, he was speaking about the kind of death he was about to die—crucifixion. The message of the cross draws people to the Savior. That’s why we are to share the gospel with everyone in the world. Jesus himself is the light. If you reject him, your life will consist of darkness. This, in fact, is why we live in such a dark and sin-scarred world.

“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.” John 12:36–43 (ESV)

May this never be said of us. For we know that God is looking for servants, not celebrities.

“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.” John 12:44–50 (ESV)

Warren Wirsbe writes, “In His words and works, Jesus showed Israel the light, but they chose to walk in darkness. The praise of men meant more to them than the praise of God. Be careful what you do with His words because you will hear them again when you see the Savior.”

To reject Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is to reject the Father who sent Him. And the opposite is also true: The one who believes in Him believes in the one who sent Him. Salvation is a package deal. You cannot say you believe in God while simultaneously rejecting Jesus. We only truly come to God through the Son.

Are the places where you go filled with Christ’s fragrance because of you? Are you living a life of worship? Are you walking in the light? Have you surrendered your life to Jesus Christ? Are you following Him and His preserved Word?
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Today, know why Jesus came into the world. He did not come to judge the world but to save it.

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