Welcome to the word of God online October 23, 2009
Scripture readings are from the living Bible which is a paraphrase that was developed in the 70s
We continue our reading of the book of John and today will be reading John chapter 12
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Six days before the Passover ceremonies began, Jesus arrived in Bethany where Lazarus was — the man he had brought back to life. A banquet was prepared and Jesus is honor. Martha served, and Lazarus at the table with him. Then Mary took a jar of costly perfume made from essence of nard and anointed Jesus his feet with it and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance
But Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples — the one who would betray him — said, “that perfume was worth a fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor, but he was in charge of the disciples funds and often dipped into them for his own use.
Jesus replied, “let her alone. She did it in preparation for my burial.
You could always help the poor, but I won’t be with you very long.”
When the ordinary people of Jerusalem heard of his arrival, they flock to see him and also to see Lazarus — the man who had come back to life again. Then the chief priest decided to kill Lazarus too, for it was because of him that many of the Jewish leaders had deserted and believed in Jesus as their Messiah.
The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city, and a huge crowd of Passover visitors to palm branches and went down the road to meet him shouting, the Savior! God bless the King of Israel! Hail to God’s ambassador!”
Jesus rode along on a young donkey, filling the prophecy that said: “don’t be afraid of your King, people of Israel, for he will come to you meekly, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
(His disciples didn’t realize at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy; but after Jesus returned to his glory and heaven, then they noticed how many prophecies of Scripture had come true before their eyes.)
And those in the crowd who had seen Jesus called Lazarus back to life told everyone else about it. That was the main reason why so many went out to meet him — because they heard about this mighty miracle.
Then the Pharisees said to each other, “we’ve lost. Look — the whole world has gone after him!”
Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to attend the Passover paid a visit to Philip, who was from a Sabia, and said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to asked Jesus.
Jesus replied that the time had come for him to return to his glory and heaven — and that “I must fall and die like a grain of wheat falls between the throes of the earth. Unless I die I will be alone — a single seed. But my death will produce many new wheat grains — a plentiful harvest of new lives. If you love your life down here — you will lose it. if you despise your life down here — you will exchange it for eternal glory.
“If the Greeks want to be my disciples, tell them to come and follow me, for my servant must be where I am. And if they follow me, the father will honor them. Now my soul is deeply troubled. Shall I pray, “father, save me from what lies ahead”? But that is the very reason why I came. Father, bring glory and honor to your name
Then a voice from heaven saying, “I have already done this, and I will do it again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some of them thought was thunder while others declared an Angel had spoken to him.
Then Jesus told them, “the voice was for your benefit, not mine.
The time of judgment for world has come — and the time when Satan, the prince of this world, shall be cast out. And when I am lifted up on the cross, I will draw everyone to me.” He said this to indicate how he was going to die.
“Why?” Asked the crowd. “We understood that the Messiah would live forever and never die. Why are you saying he will die? What Messiah are you talking about?”
Jesus replied, “my light will shine out for you just a little while longer. Walk in it while you can, and go where you want to go before the darkness Falls, for then it will be too late for you to find your way.
Make use of the light while there is still time; and you will become light bearers.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.
But despite all the miracles he had done, most of the people would not believe he was the Messiah.
This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: “Lord, who will believe us? Who will accept God’s mighty miracles as proof?”
But they couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said: “God has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts so that they could neither see nor understand what turned to me to heal them.” Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he made this prediction, for he had seen a vision of the Messiah’s glory.
However, even many of the Jewish leaders believed him to be the Messiah but wouldn’t it to anyone because of their fear that the Pharisees would excommunicate them from the synagogue; but they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Jesus shouted to the crowds, if you trust me, you are really trusting God. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come is the light to shine in this dark world, so that all who would put their trust in me will no longer wander in the darkness. If anyone hears me and doesn’t obey me, I am not his judge — for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. For all who reject me and my message will be judged at the day of judgment by the truths I have spoken. For these are not my own ideas, but I have told you what the father told me to tell you. And I know his instructions lead to eternal life; so whatever he tells me to say, I say.”
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