“Lead Me The Cross”
Text: John 12
Subject: How does John prepare us to believe in Jesus of Nazareth?
Complement: he moves us to the centrality of the cross
Big idea: “Belief in Jesus follows the way of the cross”
In the Gospel of John, we encounter a first-person, eye-witness account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. A number of powerful scenes are described by John, the beloved disciple, to build his case for the uniqueness and divinity of Jesus of Nazareth and ask each of you to also believe in Jesus.
John the disciple has spent most of his adult life trying to live up to his weighty calling.
It all started beside the Sea of Galilee. John, and his brother James, were going about their day and minding their own business. The business of fish – catching and selling; repairing nets and staying one step ahead of the unruly weather, the reckless Romans and the condemnation of the fanatical but phoney Pharisees.
One day, Jesus walked along the Galilean seashore, slowed down as he approached their boat, and said in a direct and straight forward manner to John and James, “follow me.” I’m fishing for people and I could use your help. John, I need a good strong first mate.”
And that was it. John, and his brother James, left their nets and their Dad behind, and took up a second career. Life was never quite the same after that.
John is now an old man; not too old that he can’t remember but old enough that he’s had time to reflect. Jesus has risen from the grave and triumphantly ascended to heaven. John’s decided – with the Spirit’s prompting, that it's high time he wrote some things down; an account of his grand adventure with Jesus of Nazareth. Scholars like to refer to him as John, the evangelist. And rightly so – his gospel has an evangelistic purpose.
And what John cannot shake off is that most compelling of questions; ... some people believe what Jesus says and some don’t. For John, it's hard to imagine anyone not believing in Jesus, given the facts.
You see, John is interested in giving people a reason to believe. Not a reason to disbelieve, but a reason to believe. The kind of belief that grips your inner soul and your whole heart. A life-changing belief. The kind of life changing belief that John himself has.
And so his writes this gospel – a kind of pamphlet you might say. It's not a complete biography. It's not even a well-rounded synopsis of Jesus ministry. Matthew, Mark and Luke have done a beautiful job of that.
John’s approach is to give a heavy dose of the most important scenes and the most important claims in the life of Jesus. And almost half of John’s essay will focus on the last week of Jesus life. That’s where the narrative slows way down. Because that, he recognizes, is the crux of the issue for belief. What happens to Jesus at the end of his life – is he a failure and a fraud; or is he bigger than death itself. That’s the question.
Death, the great enemy of humanity, has never lost a round. His batting average (anyone missing baseball?) is 1,000. Or more simply stated 100% of us will die.
With this being Palm Sunday, our text is John 12 ,and it's several overtures of what is to come.
John’s narrative is intended to strengthen belief.
In the midst of the global pandemic, billions of people suddenly need to re-examine that question.
What can we believe in?
Where do I find hope?
What’s going to happen... economically, politically, socially?
So John writes with this singular focus. “these things are written that YOU may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31).
...Where are you today in the matter of belief in Jesus?
Chapter 12 follows the raising of Lazarus in Chapter 11- an event that foreshadows Jesus own raising from the tomb... the narrative is moving toward the climax at Calvary.
The opening scene occurs in Bethany. The time is noted – it's now 6 days till Passover. Jesus will be crucified on Passover because he is the Passover lamb. The one who makes atonement for our sins. We are in the final week of Jesus life. We now call it holy week.
A celebration dinner has been organized to thank Jesus for raising Lazarus. Martha, being Martha, serves the food; she clearly has the gift or hospitality and she’s a type A personality. (anybody recognize the profile?) Lazarus, we are told, is simply reclining at the table; sounds rather ordinary doesn’t it – for a man who spent 4 days in grave clothes!
But Mary, who loves to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen, is having none of this calm and measured celebration. The party is too tame for her. This momentous occasion demands some extravagance. And so she reaches for what is possibly her most treasured possession, pure nard perfume, a whole bottle of it – and she pours it out on Jesus feet and, as the other gospels describe it – from head to toe.
it's value is equal to an entire year’s income!
Now I know perfume can be expensive – but a years wages?
Would you spend $50,000 on a bottle of Chanel No.5?
Then, she wipes Jesus feet with her hair. It's very moving. Of course, if you have read ahead, you realize that soon those same feet will be pierced with nails. Blood will flow as those feet are nailed to an old rugged cross. The pain will be indescribable. But here, we have a tender and heart-felt expression of love and worship. John writes; “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume – or ... was it the aroma of worship?
This touching worship moment begs for a prayer or perhaps a sermon from Jesus; or a word of testimony from Lazarus.
But instead, it's Judas who speaks.
“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?
John can’t resist calling out Judas... he not only calls him a thief but also the one who will soon enough betray Jesus.
What a contrast... Mary, an extravagant expression of worship; Judas, an extravagant expression of hypocrisy. Indeed, by one of Jesus’ own disciples. That must have hurt.
Quickly, Jesus comes to Mary’s defence.
“Leave her alone. It was intended that she would save this perfume for the day of my burial.”
Did you catch the awareness of Jesus.
It's Jesus who points out the symbolism. “it's for my burial.”
He’s aware of his pending death. It's why he came in the first place and it's why John’s gospel spends so much time in this final week of his life.
We may have thought this pouring of perfume was in appreciation for raising Lazarus from the grave – but Jesus says, it's a pre-death anointing.
There’s more going on here than meets the eye.
As long as people like Judas are running the show, “You will always have the poor among you; but you will not always have me.” Says Jesus.
Jesus knows what awaits him. John’s point here is to prepare us for Jesus death – but not in an “O No!” kind of way – but in a planned and sacrificial kind of way.
Jesus is never portrayed in the gospel as a victim or as someone who made a fatal error in judgement. Jesus walked toward the cross with his eyes and his heart wide open.
Meanwhile word has gotten out in the village of Bethany that Jesus is in town and also Lazarus.
A crowd gathers.
Many are starting to believe that Jesus is indeed the long-awaited messiah.
And, They want to hear from and see, Lazarus. This “dead man walking!”
All of which angers the chief priests even more and heightens their determination to kill both Jesus and Lazarus.
The plot is closing in on Jesus.
The next day is Sunday in Jerusalem; (what we now call “Palm Sunday”) ... so we are now just 5 days from Passover. 5 days from the cross.
The pilgrims from all over Israel are beginning to arrive in Jerusalem. The population of the city swells from 50,000 to 100,000 plus... people are sleeping on the hillsides around Jerusalem. There was no Air BnB in ancient Jerusalem... just air!
Waving their branches is their way of honoring kings.
Palm branches had become a symbol of Jewish patriotism.
“Triumphant entries” were common in the ancient world. When a triumphant King returns from battle, he is met in the streets with shouts of adoration...
When the crowd encounters Jesus, -- many of them for the first time (!) they take palm branches and go out to meet him. They’ve heard stories of miracles and they’re hoping he’s the promised messiah. Who could blame them for wanting to get out from under the foot of the Romans.
Hosanna! ... they shout... this means “save us, now!” ... of course, they mean politically and militarily.
It echoes Psalm 118:26 ...”Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
And then these words; “Blessed is the King of Israel!”
Here we have another great messianic moment!
But also notice Jesus is entering the city on a donkey (NOT a stallion) – an unusual beast for a conquering king.
*Here’s another hint that Jesus kingdom will be different and his victory will be characterized by humility.
Jesus is pressing the crowd for a reinterpretation of messiahship, but most of them will fail to catch it.
... This also is a fulfillment of an ancient prophecy – this one from the prophet Zechariah... and which tells us Jesus is now publicly taking on himself the fullness of messianic expectation...but rather than the death of the Romans – it will be Jesus who will die.
His victory will be spiritual... his kingdom is not of this world.
Our freedom from sin and death will soon be achieved.
The crowd begins to spread the word about Jesus.
Momentum is building.
The plotters of Jesus arrest and crucifixion are becoming angrier.
Now we come to Jesus final sermon... about his own impending Death: vv. 20-36
v.23 ... “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified - not in a military uprising -- but a sacrificing death on a Roman cross – where it will seem, they have won...
24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
**even today, all these centuries later, we still stumble over these words... “hate my life?” how is that possible?
Jesus speaks to those who DO believe... to those who walk in the way of discipleship; just as Jesus will give his life, he’s asking us to do the same.
Many times it seems we serve God for the fringe benefits. But when we read the gospels carefully, we see how demanding discipleship really is.
The language is strong... “are you willing to lose your life? Are you willing to lay down your life for the sake of the gospel?
We find ourselves in a “love yourself...believe in yourself, culture”.
And while these attitudes appear healthy, they can become a form of self-salvation and just another form of religion - in the disguise of freedom.
We need to hear the paradox Jesus teaches – we find meaning in life not by the pursuit of happiness and self-fulfillment -- but by service for others...spending our lives for Christ and his kingdom. This doesn’t mean everyone must become a missionary to a far-away land. It means being Christ’s servant where you live.
To serve Jesus is to follow him in the way of obedience and the way of sacrifice.
We struggle to figure this out in middle class western culture... perhaps this global pandemic will cause us to re-think our priorities.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?
No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it sounded like thunder! {“had thundered”}; ... others said an angel had spoken to him.
and then Jesus takes us behind the scenes... to the deeper reality: 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. (death on a cross...)
And now John inserts this Lament... 37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.
Conclusion:
So on this Palm Sunday 2020 as we all watch and wait online... we could all use some help.
Our govt is helping
Our health care workers are helping
Neighbours are helping neighbours.
But the real need and the real help is found in Jesus – this is the Easter message; this is the message we dare not miss.
Mary anointed Jesus for his death, as an act of worship.
Judas conspires in the plot to kill Jesus – in an act of rejection & betrayal.
Now, you must choose.
If not today; someday.
But you will have to choose.
What will you do with Jesus of Nazareth?
Worship him... Or crucify him?
And so while you decide, Jesus, knowing what lies ahead, willingly goes to Calvary to bear your sins and mine.
His resurrection from the dead is his great victory -- and ours.
It is the first fruits of our future inheritance.
It means there’s more to come, when the world and its government will be put right at his coming.
His second coming will Not be on a donkey...not as a crucified messiah... but as a conquering king... the prince of this world is defeated and driven out at Calvary... then destroyed and cast out at Christ’s coming in glory.
Application/challenge; So, what about you?
What do you think of Jesus? Do you believe in him?
Do you believe with all your heart?
Do you understand what he has done for you?
Do you call him Lord? Will you follow him in the way of the cross?
Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
