CHRIST AS THE MESSIAH: John 12:1-50

We will study and discuss John 12:1-50 for our lesson on Sunday, October 9, 2016.

As we study this chapter, we will observe that there are four main sections:
1. The anointing of Jesus (vss. 1-11)
2.  The Triumphal Entry (vss. 12-19)
3. The Greeks seek Christ (vss, 20-36)
4. The Jews reject Christ (vss. 37-50)

As we look at the time frame of the life of Jesus, the events in this chapter take place six days before the Jewish Passover. So we are now looking at the closing days of Jesus' earthly ministry. We see at the beginning of these days Jesus has gained popularity with the crowd that was gathering in Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Passover. It was every Jews desire to attend at least one Passover feast in his live time. Jews came from all over the world.

As William Barclay records: "On one occasion census was taken of the lambs slain at the Passover Feast. The number was given as 256,500.  There had to be a minimum of ten people per lamb: and if that estimate is correct it means that there must have been as many as 2,700,000 people at the Passover Feast."

At this time, many people had heard about this man Jesus who had raised Lazarus from the dead. They believed that he is the one that will be their King and Israel will be a nation in power of all nations.  Jesus does ride into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. The people welcome him as their King. To us the donkey is a lowly and despised animal; but it was not so in the East. Some Kings did ride into their kingdom on a horse. The difference would show that a King riding on a horse would declare that he had been victorious in war. When a King was riding on a donkey, he was coming in peace. Although most of the crowd did not understand that Jesus was not the warrior figure men dreamed of but that he was the Prince of Peace.

In verses 23-26, Jesus uses the title, "Son of Man". Please read the following references to understand the origin of this term.  Daniel 7:13; 7:1-8. How does Daniel describe the world powers? How does he describe a world power that is different from these? Would the Jews understand this title; "Son of Man".  Read the following passages that gives more information about the Kingdom of the "Son of Man". Daniel 7:14; Ezekiel 37:25; Isaiah 9:7; Psalm 89:4

Please read Shepherd's Notes; pages 59-63 and answer the questions on page 62-63.

As we finish chapter 12, we learn that Jesus has finished his public ministry. Now the gospel writer records in John 13 - 17 the most precious times that Jesus spends with his disciples. He not only gives instruction to his 12 disciples but also to his future disciples.

See you Sunday.