John 11-12
Read these Chapters
John 11: The
Resurrection of Lazarus
John 11 introduces us
to a dramatic moment in Jesus' ministry, focusing on His close friend Lazarus
who falls critically ill and dies. Despite hearing about Lazarus' condition,
Jesus intentionally delays His arrival to Bethany for two more days. By the time
He arrives, Lazarus has been entombed for four days, and his sisters, Martha
and Mary, are grieving along with a crowd of Jews. Martha confronts Jesus,
expressing that Lazarus would still be alive if He had been there earlier.
Jesus assures her that Lazarus will rise again and proclaims Himself as the
"Resurrection and the Life." Then, in an extraordinary demonstration
of His power, Jesus commands Lazarus to come out of the tomb, and Lazarus does
so, still wrapped in his burial cloths. This miracle significantly impacts the
crowd, leading many to believe in Jesus, but it also intensifies the Pharisees'
resolve to kill Him.
John 12: The
Anointing and Triumphal Entry
In John 12, the
narrative shifts to six days before the Passover. Jesus returns to Bethany,
where a dinner is held in His honor. Mary, Lazarus' sister, anoints Jesus' feet
with costly perfume and wipes them with her hair, signifying preparation for
His impending death. Judas Iscariot, who will later betray Jesus, criticizes
the act as wasteful, but Jesus defends it. The chapter also recounts Jesus'
triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, fulfilling a prophetic
vision. The crowd greets Him with palm branches, shouting, "Hosanna,"
a plea for salvation and acknowledgment of Jesus' messianic status.
The chapter concludes
with some Greeks wanting to see Jesus, which leads Him to talk about His
upcoming death and glorification. He uses the metaphor of a grain of wheat
falling to the ground and dying to produce much fruit to describe the necessity
of His sacrifice. Despite His miracles, including raising Lazarus from the
dead, many still do not believe in Him. This unbelief fulfills the prophecies
of Isaiah, rounding out the chapter with a reminder of the hardened hearts that
Jesus came to save but also judge.
