GOSPEL OF JOHN CHAPTER 12
SCRIPTURE JOHN 12:1-8
the anointing at Bethany
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one [of] his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
REFLECTION
Jesus knew the heart of Judas, a man not so interested in caring for others but what he could gather for himself. Are we selfish in any ways similar? Do we have to force ourselves to share with others? Are our motives for apparent charitable acts always pure or do we sometimes look to call attention to ourselves?
Is Jesus putting himself above the poor? Is he asserting special privilege because he somehow believes He is more important? I think not. Jesus knows his hour is near and accepts the love and anointing of Mary that previews his death and burial. His time on this earth is limited and He is not going to get in the way of his disciples returning His love and blessings upon Him.
SCRIPTURE JOHN 12:12-15
the entry into jerusalem.
On the next day, when the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: “Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel.” Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written: “Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass’s colt.”
REFLECTION
Jesus makes triumphant entrance into Jerusalem fulfilling the prophecy of Zecariah (9:9) “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion; cry out, daughter of Jerusalem! Look! Your king is coming to you. He is righteous, and he is able to save. He is humble, and is riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
This fanfare and enthusiasm for the Messiah did not last even a week before many would be shouting with crowd mentality, Crucify him, Crucify him! Do we lose our enthusiasm for Jesus and His Church?
How are we trying to rekindle that original spark when we first discovered Jesus? I am reminded of the parable of the Sower who planted seeds along a path where birds of the air snatched them away, some among rocky soil that had no roots, and then again some fell among thorns that choked the seeds. What thorns do we have that strangle our faith in Jesus?
SCRIPTURE JOHN 12:23-33; 44-50
the coming of jesus’ hour.
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat but if it dies, hit produces much fruit.
Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life, loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.”
The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world* will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.
Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life.
REFLECTION
The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified Once again Jesus blows us away. God’s ways are not our ways. Who back then or now for that matter thinks death by crucifixion is a moment to celebrate? It is at our own peril to second guess God.
Jesus defines clearly what a disciple of his must be. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. Can we drink the cup Jesus must drink? Is a servant greater than His master?
Even Jesus in his humanity had trouble accepting His Father’s will, Father, save me from this hour. Just like us Jesus doesn’t enjoy suffering but suffering may be necessary to fulfill the Father’s will. Again trust God. God knows the full picture and if God can bring glory out of the greatest suffering, the passion and death of His only begotten Son, what is the good God will bring out of our suffering a little on this earth.
I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Jesus did not come to condemn but save! The words Jesus spoke will condemn us if we fail to observe his teachings. We ourselves choose Heaven or Hell. We are free to embrace Jesus or not, again at our own peril!
when I am lifted up from the earth,
I will draw everyone to myself.