Here is a link to last week’s series, Upside-down
During the week of Passover before the crucifixion, several unique events occurred.
- A woman broke the religious and social rules of the day to express her belief.
- A disciple pretended to care about poor people and disdained Mary’s act of sacrifice to Jesus.
- Gentiles sought Christ? “I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also,.. John 10:16 (WEB)
- A Voice from Heaven thundered. But only believers heard it. (John 12:28)
- Voices that would praise Jesus as a victorious king during this week would only days later demand His crucifixion. (Luke 23:21)
- The actions of the wicked Pharisees would ironically lead to the growth of the Gospel.
- People who believed in secret were too ashamed or afraid to profess faith out loud.
Alone, these events may not seem extraordinary, but John 12 shows how upside down they actually are, especially given their close proximity in time. Of course, God knows every heart. Every moment is known to Him.
Mary of Bethany
“Who Was Mary of Bethany” is a great article that can be found at gotquestions.org1
Mary took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
John 12:3 (WEB)
Judas
Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.
John 12:4 (WEB)
The Jews
A large crowd of the Jews learned that he was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
John 12:9-11 (WEB)
The Pharisees
“Even they which go about to oppress Christ, are made instruments of his glory.” 2
The Pharisees said among themselves, “See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.”
John 12:19 (WEB)
The Greeks (This is a representation of the Gentiles, you and me, Jesus came to save everyone. Not just Israel).
Now there were certain Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast. Therefore, these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
John 12:20 (WEB)
The People
But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him,
John 20:37 (WEB)
And others
Nevertheless, even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue, for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.
John 12:42-43 (WEB)
By the way, we saw the word believe used 9 times in the verses linked below. That brings our total in twelve chapters to seventy-three uses of the word believe. What is this great thought doing for you as a BELIEVER?
John 12: 11, 36, 37, 38, 39, 42(2 x’s), 44, 46
Share the Gospel in your world!
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring the Gospel of peace!
Our God Reigns!
Isaiah 52:8
- “Who Was Mary of Bethany?” https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Mary-Bethany.html ↩︎
- Geneva Bible Commentary
CA 1599 ↩︎
World English Bible (WEB)
by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 
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