BIBLE: John Chapter 12 – Headline “Ominous Predictions of Death”

Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

John 12

What should I learn from this chapter:

The calendar of events that occurred preceding and following Jesus’ death up to His resurrection
Your curiosity should be peaked to see how each event parallels other events in scripture to match these events prophetically.
Learn how to date First Fruits and why it is important
Definition of a High Sabbath
What the term “Gaslighting” means
Getting to know the disciple Philip
Getting to know the disciple Andrew
How Moses was a type of Jesus
Learning the depravity of the leaders of the Jews
Learning about the character of Judas
What was the character of Mary?
What was the role of Martha?
How does the crucifixion compare to creation and the millennium?
Seeds and a Harvest

Note: Calendar of Jesus’ Crucifixion Week: Each Jewish Feast was fulfilled by Jesus.

The Anointing at Bethany

John 12:1Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.

A true resurrection is someone who is raised from the dead never to die again which is why Jesus is the first fruit of those who are raised from the dead.

Lev. 23:9-14 First fruits is always the first day of the week (Sunday) after the Saturday Sabbath.
UNLIKE OTHER FEAST DAYS, FIRST FRUITS DID NOT DEPEND ON THE DAY OF THE MONTH BUT RATHER ON THE DAY OF THE WEEK; oNLY IN 31 AD DID THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS FILL THE REQUIREMENT OF THEY DAYS IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH AND JONAH’S TIME IN THE BELLY OF THE LEVIATHAN. SEE CHART ABOVE.

A “Sabbath” is not limited to the day of the week. “Sabbaths” also occurred during Feast Days.
A SABBATH DURING A FEAST WAS CALLED A HIGH SABBATH

John 19:31
Jesus’ Side Is Pierced
Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. SEE CHART ABOVE.

John 12:2There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.

John 12:3Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

John 12:4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,

John 12:5“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for (About one year’s wages for a worker) three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

John 12:6This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

John 12:7But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.

NOTE: It is believed Mary Magdalene was a prostitute before she encountered Jesus, because she was forgiven of many sins.

NOTE: Jesus is once again foretelling his death. It appears Mary was the only one who understood what He was saying. She wept as she washed his feet.

Instances recorded where He foretold His death:
See Topic: Jesus foretold His death

^{John 12:7}	^{“Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.}	^{His burial is when the Passover lamb was slaughtered.}
^{John 12:23}	^{But (the flipside is) Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified (raised from the dead).}	^{On First Fruits.}
^{John 12:24}	^{Most assuredly, (speaking of Himself) I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain (literally, fruit).}	^{Jesus’ resurrection becomes the gospel and covers the globe.}
^{John 2:19 John 2:21}	^{Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” … He was speaking of the temple of His body.}	^{Jesus rose on First Fruits.}
^{Matthew 26:2}	^{“You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”}	^{Predicting how He will die.}
Luke 9:23	^{Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.}	^{Predicting how He will die.}
^{Matthew 17:9}	^{Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”}	^{Jesus predicts his resurrection.}
^{Matthew 17:12}	^{But I say to you that Elijah has come already (through John the Baptist), and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.”}	^{Jesus Predicts His beatings.}
^{Matthew 20:28}	^{just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”}	^{His death would be a gift.}
^{Mark 9:30-32}	^{Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection 30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. 31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.” 32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.}	^{Jesus predicted his resurrection.}
^{Matthew 16:21}	^{Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection: From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.}	^{Jesus predicted his resurrection.}
^{Matthew 27:62}	^{Pilate Sets a Guard 62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”}	^{Jesus predicted his resurrection.}
^{John 3:14}	^{And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up}	^{Jesus is telling Nicodemus about His death and the type of death He will suffer; crucifixion.}
^{Mark 12:5-8}	^{Mark 12:5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. Mark 12:7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.’ Mark 12:8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.}	^PARABLES
^{John 1:29}	^{The Lamb of God The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!}	^{The Passover lamb is slaughtered to atone for sins.}
^{Mark 9:31}	^{For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.}	^{Jesus predicted his death and resurrection.}
^{Mark 10:34}	^{And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.}	^{Jesus gives uncanny details prior to the event.}
^{Matthew 27:63}	^{Saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’}	^{Even his enemies remembered his predictions}
^{John 10:18}	^{No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”}	^{Jesus raised Himself from the Dead}

John 12:8For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

Jesus understood His own Value and it was not 30 pieces of silver.

The Plot to Kill Lazarus

John 12:9Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

John 12:10But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also,

Sinful men would rather change reality than accept Truth. This is the term and meaning of “gaslighting”.

John 12:11because on account of him (Lazarus) many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

Lazarus was of service to God by dying and because of him many believed. It is interesting to see how God uses each believer in their service to Him.

The Triumphal Entry

John 12:12The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

John 12:13took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:

In the ancient world a conqueror would be welcomed by the inhabitants of a city showing him honor by throwing greenery in his path as he entered the city.

Nov 9, 539 BC: Cyrus rode through the Ishtar Gate while the masses of the city layered a pathway of green twigs welcoming him with their sign of peace and honor, acknowledgment and acceptance that he is king. “In the month of Arahsamna, the third day [29 October], Cyrus entered Babylon, green twigs were spread in front of him – the state of peace was imposed upon the city. Cyrus sent greetings to all Babylon. Gobryas, his governor, installed subgovernors in Babylon.”

—”Babylonian Chronicles on the 17th year of the reign of Nabonidus”. http://www.livius.org/ct-cz/cyrus_I/babylon02.html#17.

“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!”

Hosanna Means “Save, Please!” “Please Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success” ( Psalm 118:25 ). The Hebrew word, “hoshi’a na,” is translated in Greek as “(h)osanna.” In English, we known it as “hosanna.”. The original intent of the scripture is “Save!” It is viewed as a plea for help. Jesus’ name means Salvation/Savior.

Imagine Herod hearing that the Jews are selecting another king instead of him. The leaders of the Jews were incensed!

John 12:14Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

John 12:15“Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

^{Zechariah 9:9 -The Coming King – “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.}

It is said in the ancient Biblical world, a leader rode on a horse if he was coming in war but a donkey to signify peace.

John 12:16His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

John 12:17Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness.

Lazarus was raised from the dead but not “resurrected”.

A true resurrection is one who is raised from the dead never to die again.

A “witness” is a pillar. The Egyptians called their pillars witnesses because they were inscribed with hieroglyphics (pictographs) in order to tell a story meant to be repeated through the ages.

God also carved His story in stone, in an empty tomb.

John 12:18For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign.

John 12:19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

Their positions are threatened greatly!

The Fruitful Grain of Wheat

John 12:20Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast.

It is assumed the Greeks were gentiles.

The feast of Passover.

John 12:21Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Who is Philip: See Topic: Disciples

John 12:22Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

Who is Andrew? See Topic: Disciples

John 12:23But (the flipside is) Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

Jesus had heavier things to deal with than speaking with the Greeks.

Again, Jesus is foretelling his death. This time He is also foretelling his resurrection. After His resurrection He receives a glorified body.

John 12:24Most assuredly, (speaking of Himself) I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain (literally, fruit: a harvest).

► DEATH

Again and again, Jesus is foretelling His death. New life cannot come without death. When a seed dies, new wheat stalks are produced.

►PASSOVER

Passover is exemplified in this verse.

Jesus is speaking of himself as a grain of wheat, the first fruit (head of wheat), predicting his own death. Believers are the produce of his death which is the harvest.

Passover is about death and resurrection and its product is a harvest of believers who are destined for God’s Promised Land, or heaven, just like the Hebrews who left Egypt at Passover for the Promised Land.The Feast of Passover is NOT JUST about the sacrifice of the lamb; it is also about the harvest. Passover is the first day of unleavened bread (unleavened means without the puffing up of pride), a time of harvest. God’s harvest is first Jesus (first fruits), then the saints whose tombs were opened (the wave offering).

The main harvest comes in the future followed by the gleanings after the pattern of the High Holy Days. See chart below.

Chart: High Holy Days

One of the meanings of Passover is conception, or bearing fruit. It suggests a man passing over a woman, or covering a woman. Believers are covered by the blood of Jesus.

► HARVESTING: The Resurrections

When Jesus died, he produced His own harvest of believers, saved by His red blood. Adam (mankind) was made from the red earth. The harvest is the reaping of mankind by Jesus’ red blood. Red is the color of both sin and redemption. The blood (of sin) on Cain’s murderous hands became (brought about) the blood (of redemption) on Jesus’ hands. The blood must be received for man to be redeemed.

^{Hebrew words and meanings:
“Dam” or “Dom” = blood, (red) wine ie grapes.
“Adam” = the first man who was made from the red earth.
“Adamah” = red earth.
“Edom” = a man with red hair who ate red stew.}

Click here to read about the color RED and the story behind the story: Topic: Red

Unless a seed (Jesus, a man, the first Adam), falls into the red earth (Adamah) and dies (sheds its outer shell, the tent, its body, to the grave, pit, sheol), it cannot bear fruit.

(Red grapes and red blood is the Hebrew word dam – of salvation.) The Hebrew word “dam” used for red wine and/or red blood, means fruit, salvation, and life.

Without death, It (the Seed, He) cannot rise up from the earth to bear fruit, even the first fruit of salvation.

The fall of Adam (made from the red earth) is about sin and death while the (red) blood of Jesus is about redemption and resurrection.
~ Barbara Grover

►Jesus had to become a man in order to save men. It took His death to destroy death.

Jesus had to become a man in order to be a legal Jewish Kinsman Redeemer.

The kinsman-redeemer is a male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need. The Hebrew term (go el) for kinsman-redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues (Genesis 48:16; Exodus 6:6) or redeems property or person (Leviticus 27:9–25, 25:47–55). The kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative is illustrated most clearly in the book of Ruth, where the kinsman-redeemer is Boaz. https://www.gotquestions.org/kinsman-redeemer.html

The Hebrew word for kinsman-redeemer is “goel”. He is the “true brother’s keeper” whereas Cain refused this position in attitude killing Abel.

John 12:25He who loves his life will lose it (condemnation of worldliness) and he who hates his life (rejects the ways and sins) in this world will keep it for eternal life.

John 12:26If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Jesus Predicts His Death on the Cross

John 12:27“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

John 12:28Father, glorify Your name.”

Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

John 12:29Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”

John 12:30Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.

John 12:31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

Satan is cast out of being ruler of this world, his power has been shattered. However, Satan will not be cast out of heaven until the middle of the seven year tribulation.

^{2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV Whose unbelieving minds the god of this world hath blinded, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.}

John 12:32And I, if I am lifted up (crucified on the cross) from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

See: Topic: Jesus’ Predictions of His Own Death

The bronze serpent in the wilderness was lifted up and it healed the people. The bronze serpent was the wreath (crown of thorns) which was coiled on Jesus’ head. The coiled wreath is also the definition of the word Leviathan, the monster who lives in the sea of people.

VERSES concerning the Leviathan

^{Job 3:8 May those curse it who curse the day, Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan.}
^{Job 41:1 “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?}
^{Psa 74:14 You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, and gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.}
^{Psa 104:26 There the ships sail about; There is that Leviathan which You have made to play there.}
^{Isa 27:1 In that day the LORD with His severe sword, great and strong, will punish Leviathan the fleeing (piercing) serpe}^{nt, Leviathan that twisted (coiled) serpent; and He (Jesus) will slay the reptile that is in the sea (of people).}

h3882 livyathan meanings:

leviathan, sea monster, dragon
wreathed, twisted in folds.
Brazen (brassy, insolent, indecent)

From לָוָה H3867
lâvâh
law-vaw’
A primitive root; properly to twine, that is, (by implication) to unite, to remain; also to borrow (as a form of obligation) or (causatively) to lend

The Brazen (insolent,indecent) Serpent:

^{Numbers 21:9 So Moses made a bronze (brazen) serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.}

Symbolically: Satan, the twisted serpent, coiled himself around Jesus’ head as a crown of thorns, and buried his poisonous fangs into Jesus’ head.

See: Biblical Materials, the symbolic meaning of Brass: Brazen

John 12:33This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

Jesus predicted the type of death He would die.

John 12:34The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

Jesus could have replied: The Son of Man is your Kinsmen Redeemer. Jesus had to become a man in order to qualify (according to the law) to redeem those He is related to, His own mankind.

John 12:35Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.

There is either “Light” or there is “Darkness”. Where the light is there is no darkness. Where the darkness is there is no light. There is either life or there is death. Life is in the Light. Death is in the Darkness. Men who walk in darkness are spiritually dead…they are the “walking dead”.

The man who wanted to bury his father before following Jesus must have been shocked when Jesus said “Let the dead bury the dead…follow Me.”

Jesus is inviting him to open the door from a room of darkness, where men are spiritually dead and allow the Light to overtake the darkness. Jesus encouraged him to let the spiritually dead men bury his father who is physically dead. When light is let into the darkness, then all that is left are the powerless shadows whose only choice is to hide behind objects of substance.

John 12:36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

When Jesus departed they were left in darkness, where the truth could not be found. Darkness is the place where God hides his treasures from men’s eyes.

Who Has Believed Our Report?

John 12:37But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him,

John 12:38that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:

“Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

John 12:39Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

John 12:40“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”

John 12:41These things Isaiah said when (because) he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

Walk in the Light

John 12:42Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;

John 12:43for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

John 12:44Then Jesus cried out (shouted out to the crowd) and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me.

John 12:45And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.

John 12:46I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

John 12:47And if anyone hears My words and does not believe (keep them), I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

John 12:48He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

John 12:49For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

John 12:50And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

Below: Chart comparing the similarities between Creation, the Crucifixion, and the Millennium.

Subject	Verse	Declaration	Timing	Work	Result	Rest
Creation	Gen 2:1	It is finished	Six Days	Creation	Man and earth created	Sabbath 7^th day
Crucifixion	John 19:30	It is finished	Six Hours	Cross	Man recreated	Sleep (Death)
Christ Rules	Rev 10:7	It is finished	Six Thousand Years by 6^th Angel	Reverse the Curse	Man and earth reinstated: The mystery of God	Millennium 7^th thousandth year