Hello everyone,
Our Bible study here in my building are still going through John and we are taking our time. I was able to lead it in the 12th chapter of John. I wanted to share something but not go verse by verse as that is a long letter and I encourage you to read it and see what new things The Lord shows you!
In John 12 Jesus is having supper in Bethany, the house of Mary, Martha an Lazarus.
It is 6 days before the Passover, this is the week of Christ’s death.
Lazarus is mentioned 5 times in this chapter but he doesn’t speak or get spoken to here in John.
It is almost like he doesn’t matter except what Jesus did with/for him.
In the last chapter so much was focused on Lazarus. It is like the chapter of our lives, It isn’t about us, but giving God the glory!
The first few verses show the risen eat! That will be nice. Christ also ate fish after the resurrection.
Also at the last supper He says He won’t drink wine until the kingdom comes, Luke 22:18.
Martha was serving, culturally and respectfully she was doing what she thought right.
What was wrong or right here? We discussed this in our study.
Traditions often hold us and bind us so we cannot see outside of it. Martha was doing right according to her traditions and what brings honor to the women of that time. It looks like she was doing it for the Lord as it was for Him to eat.
Whether you serve food, wash dishes, clean floors or bathrooms, you are just as important in the kingdom of God as the best preachers and missionaries.
That being said you can do great things in the world but if it is for yourself and not for the Lord it falls short.
Mary did the opposite of what her culture approved women to do. She came into the dinner party, let her hair down in front of men. She came very close to Jesus and bowed at His feet. She anointed Him with expensive oil.
Even if everyone in the room or the world sees you as doing wrong, as long as it is for the Lord, according to His will, you have the right to do it and should do it, No matter the persecution that may come.
In Matthew 15 and Mark 7 it talks about the Pharisees asking Jesus why aren’t His disciples following the traditions of the elders, by first washing hands then eating. Jesus says they make the laws of God void or ignore them for the traditions of men.
In Colossians 2:8 it says
“beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ”
When Judas asks why would Mary waste the oil when they could sell it and give it to the poor. We know in his heart he was saying that so he could steal it. But what if he had good intentions? Would that change the circumstance. Only God knows the heart.
The fact people came to see Lazarus because Jesus rose him from the dead caused the Pharisees to want to kill Jesus. In the Old testament when God rose someone from the dead there was praise and glory to God! Now God comes and walks among us, reviving the dead and the people want to kill Him!
It makes me think in Jeremiah and Zachariah that God said He was making a new thing, People broke their side of the covenant so God is making something new! Here He is making it new and they want to kill Him for it!
People ignore things in the Bible they do not like, like the Pharisees with the tanak.
In 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 It speaks of a falling away, people need to be believers before they can fall away from the faith!
Also in mark 13:22 The very elect will be deceived. Stay in the Word to not be fooled and lead astray!
In the next few verses we are still at the Passover feast. It lasts often more than a few days. Normally ending on the Sabbath. Is it fair to say that God set up the feasts in the old testament to have people get together so He would do things then? And how He set it up for Jesus to come in and use these high holy days to bring Himself glory to give to God?
Think on that, it was interesting to me.
Then Jesus rides in on an ass. Old testament prophecy in Zachariah talks about the King coming riding on an ass, a colt of an ass. Maybe a year old and never ridden before. We spoke in the Bible study how God appoints all things for His will and even this donkey, over 500 years ago, was prophesied just to carry Jesus into Jerusalem. Probably the most important Donkey ever!
But why a donkey? I have heard or read that when a king is coming to a town, He either comes for war on a horse or for peace on a donkey. I found some old testament verses regarding a few of these.
Jeremiah 8:6. “As the horse runs into battle”
Proverbs 21:31. “The horse prepared for battle”
Numbers 22:21. the story of balam and his talking ass. Even the ass sits down when it sees the angel about to attack.
1st Samuel. Abigail comes to David in peace on a donkey.
2nd Kings 4:24. The Shunamite woman going to Elisha on a donkey humbly to ask Elisha about her son.
That is only 14 verses in John 12. As to not make this too long I will end here and write another newsletter later on continuing to discus what this chapter spoke to me. Please look for the newsletter!
God bless you and thank you for all your support and prayers.
A son of God almighty through the Grace and Righteousness of Jesus Christ!
Jordan