Author: Rich Nelson

19 So they took Jesus; ¹⁷ and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. ¹⁹ Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹ Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” ²² Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” ²³ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴ So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,
“They divided my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
²⁵ And that is what the soldiers did.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

²⁸ After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹ Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. ³² Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. ³⁵ (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) ³⁶ These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” ³⁷ And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”

³⁸ After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. ³⁹ Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰ They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴² And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.  NRSV

Get into the Word

1. What happened just prior to the soldiers taking Jesus? Why would Pilate choose such a title for Jesus? How did the Jews react? Why would they be upset? What is Pilate’s response? 

3. What are the soldiers doing during the crucifixion? Why would they divide up Jesus’ clothing? How do you suppose they felt about these events [check Luke 24:47]?

4. Who else was present at this time? Why would they be at the crucifixion? How does Jesus respond to their presence? What do you think they were feeling as they watched?

5. Why does Jesus say he is thirsty? What do the soldiers do in response? What did Jesus mean when he said “It is finished?”

7. What happens after Jesus dies? Why did the soldier pierce Jesus’ side? Why does John make such a point of the Old Testament verses?

8. Who assists in burying Jesus? Why do you think they weren’t present at the cross? What makes them get involved at this point? 

Get Personal

What is the strongest image for you when you think about the crucifixion? How does God help you understand the meaning of Jesus’ death in your own life? How do you share this with other people?

Golgotha — the Aramaic word for “skull” as the place Jesus was crucified, (the Latin word for skull is “calvaria” which led to “Calvary”).
19:17. Carrying the cross — the Romans required the person to carry the cross bar to his own execution; there would have been a number of upright posts (probably about 10 feet high) dug in at the site. The victim was attached to the bar with nails through the wrists, then hoisted up onto the post.
19:18. Two others — the other Gospel writers identify these two as “criminals,” (which fulfills Isaiah 53:12).
19:19. Inscription — Romans often required the condemned person to carry a placard indicating why he was being crucified.
19:21. Priests said — the priests still refuse to recognize who Jesus is and seek to diminish the “title;” but Pilate is through giving in to them.
19:23. Crucified — it was neither a pretty nor a speedy method of execution, some records indicate the person could remain alive for nine days. Usually the person died of asphyxiation when he could no longer hold his head up and keep his airway open to breath.

19:26. Here is your son — part of “honoring your father and mother” was to care for them in their old age. Jesus’ mother was probably a widow at this time and he gives his disciple the burden of her care (even though she had other sons).
19:29. Hyssop — the plant is referred to in several passages from the Law regarding sacrifice and cleansing: Exodus 12:22, Leviticus 14:4-7, and Numbers 19:14-18, as well as Psalm 51:7: Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 
19:30. It is finished! — the Greek word can also mean “it is accomplished” or “it is paid.”
Gave up his spirit — Jesus is in charge even of his death.
19:38. Joseph . . . Nicodemus — both members of the Sanhedrin and secret followers of Jesus. Though they did not support him openly during his life, they went to considerable expense and risk to give him a proper burial.
19:40. Custom of the Jews — wrapping the body with cloth soaked in spices and a temporary burial on the same day. After a year the bones would be placed in a ceremonial box in a family tomb.

^{18         28} Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. ²⁹ So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” ³⁰ They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” ³¹ Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” ³² (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)

³³ Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” ³⁷ Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” ³⁸ Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. ³⁹ But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ² And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. ³ They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. ⁴ Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” ⁵ So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” ⁶ When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” ⁷ The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”

⁸ Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. ⁹ He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” ¹¹ Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” ¹² From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.”

¹³ When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” ¹⁵ They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” ¹⁶ Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.  NRSV

Get into the Word

1. Where did the Jews take Jesus after he was questioned by the high priest? Why did they take him there? What do you suppose John and Peter were doing at this point?

2. What is Pilate’s initial reaction to the situation? How do the Jews respond? How does Jesus respond? What do you think Pilate was feeling?

3. How does Pilate begin his questioning of Jesus? Why do you think he started as he did? How does Jesus respond to Pilate’s questions? How does this dialogue compare to other conversations Jesus had with the Jews?

4. What is Pilate’s conclusion about Jesus? How does Pilate try to end the confrontation? Why is he not successful? What does Pilate do after the Jews reject his suggestion? Why do you think he humiliated Jesus at this point? Why does Pilate try to get rid of the situation and free Jesus?

5. What claim do the Jewish leaders make against Jesus? How does Pilate react to this new situation? How does Jesus deal with the turn of events?

What kind of power is Pilate talking about? What kind of power is Jesus referring to? Do you think Pilate understands the difference?

7. What is ironic about the Jews final statements about Jesus and Caesar?

Get Personal

If you had a chance to interview Jesus what questions would you ask? How would such an interview help you in your walk with Christ?

18:28. Early in the morning — Jewish law prohibited night trials.
18:29. Accusation — Rome did not have prosecutors as we do; charges were brought by a person against another person.
18:31. We are not permitted — Rome did not grant the Jews the right to execute anyone, so the Jews had to appeal to Pilate to carry out their action against Jesus. |
18:32. Fulfill — Rome used crucifixion to execute criminals, and several prophecies speak of the Messiah’s death [check out Zech 12:10 and Deut 21:23]. 
18:33. Summoned Jesus — even though Pilate had the absolute right to decide a case, he decides to investigate the situation. The Jews charged treason: Jesus’ claim to be “king” usurped Caesar’s position.,
18:36-37. Kingdom — Jesus is talking about the spiritual kingdom, but Pilate can only think about kingdoms of this world.
18:39. Custom that I release — Pilate is clearly looking for a way out

of this situation when he offers to release Jesus. But the Jews saved an actual revolutionary rather than a savior.
19:1. Flogged — a number of Old Testament verses look ahead to Jesus’ agony: Isaiah 50:6 is a well-known example.
19:4. No case — Pilate tries one last time.
19:7. Law — the Jews were referring to Leviticus 24:16: Anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death. 
19:10. Refuse to speak — Pilate’s must consider the political consequences in Rome. (In fact, Pilate’s political supporter fell from Tiberius’ favor in the fall of 31 C.E., which Pilate may have known.)
19:13. Stone Pavement — probably similar to the raised platform speakers and judges use today. 19:14. Day of Preparation for Passover — more irony because one of the tasks for Preparation Day was to slaughter the sacrificial lamb for the Passover – a symbol of Christ as our sacrifice.
19:15. No king — the Jews hated Rome.

18:1. Kidron Valley — the Greek word means “dark” or “gloomy.” 
Olive grove — this is the “garden” of Gethsemane referred to in the other Gospels. Interestingly John neither names the place, nor does he relate Jesus’ agony as he faced the certainty of his death and sacrifice [check Matt 26:36-46, Mark 14:14-42, Luke 22:39-46].
18:3. Roman soldiers and Temple guards — obviously the Jewish leaders have already talked with the Romans about Jesus; and the Romans wanted to keep things under control, just as the Jews have Temple guards to secure their role.
18:8. I AM he — Jesus uses the same Hebrew word as he has before [8:58] – the same name that God gave when Moses asked [Exodus 3:14].
18:10. Slashed — Peter starts well, defending Jesus, but Jesus tells him to refrain. (Luke records that Jesus healed the slave’s ear [Luke 22:50-51].)
18:11. Cup of suffering — the only reference to such a cup in John’s Gospel. The Old Testament used the cup as a symbol of God’s “wrath” [check Ps 75:8; Isa 51:17; Jer 25:15; Ezek 23:31-34].
18:13. Annas . . . Caiaphas — Annas had been the high priest, but when he was removed from the position by the Roman governor, his sons and son-in-law succeeded him. When Jesus was arrested, Caiaphas was the actual high priest. The fact that the Jewish soldiers

took Jesus to Annas first demonstrates that he continued to have great influence.
18:14. Better that one man should die — Caiaphas said this in a meeting of Jewish leaders [11:49-52] – evidently without realizing the irony of his words.
18:15. Another disciple — probably John, which explains how the disciples (and we) know about the “trial” that took place inside the house.
18:17. I am not — this is the first of Peter’s denials that Jesus predicted [13:37]. The irony is that in all three instances Peter was really not in any danger because the questioners were not really in a position to harm him. 
18:20. I have spoken openly — Jesus echoes several psalms and prophets with his declaration to Annas: I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. [Ps 40:10]; and I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, “Seek me in chaos.” I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right, [Isa 45:19].
18:21. Why are you asking me? — Jesus reminds Annas that this procedure is contrary to Jewish law, which required at least two witnesses to declare that a charge was accurate or true. The Jews are asking Jesus to testify against himself.

17 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ² since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴ I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.
⁵ So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

⁶ “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; ⁸ for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹ I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. ¹⁰ All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹ And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.
¹³ But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.  ¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. ¹⁵ I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

²⁰ “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, ²³ I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴ Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

²⁵ “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”  NRSV

Get into the word

1. How does Jesus begin his prayer? Why do you think he starts with this request? How do you feel about starting prayer with a request?

2. What type of “glory” was Jesus talking about in this first part of his prayer? Why would Jesus be interested in glory? Why would God?

3. What subject does Jesus bring up next in his prayer? How does he describe the disciples? What does he ask God to do for the disciples? How do you react to this request? How do you think the disciples reacted when Jesus talked about them?

4. Why is “protection” important for the disciples now? How does Jesus want God to protect the disciples? 

5. Who is next on Jesus’s prayer list? Why would he include these people? What does he ask the Father to do with or for future believers? How is God supposed to accomplish Jesus’s request?

6. How does Jesus conclude his prayer? Who or what is he talking about here? Why would he end on this topic?

Get Personal

Jesus’s prayer is all about our relationship with God the Father. How does prayer affect your relationship with God the Father? How might your prayer tap deeper into your relationship with God?

17:1. Hour has come — several times Jesus (or the writer) has said, “My hour has not yet come,” [2:4; 7:6, 8, 30; 8:20]. Now Jesus acknowledges the time has come.
17:2. Have given him authority — we get a glimpse of the relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son: continuous and reciprocal giving and receiving (but not taking) of glory, authority and responsibility from one to the other.
17.3. Eternal life – to know you — Jesus equates a relationship with God to eternal life; we cannot “know” another person unless we are in a relationship with that person. With God, knowing him changes the fundamental nature of our lives from that point forward.
17:4. The work that you gave me to do — Jesus knows the cross is still ahead of him [check John 12:23-26], but he also knows he will go there so the Father can bring him “into the glory.”
17:6. Made your name known — Jesus confirms that his ministry is complete: the disciples believe Jesus is the Messiah and understand (though still imperfectly) his work on Earth.

17:9. Those whom you gave me — Jesus now prays for the disciples because they are “staying in this world.” 
17:14. The world has hated them — the Old Testament portrays Israel as set apart from and hated by the world: For I am the Lord your God; sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming creature that moves on the earth. ⁴⁵ For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt, to be your God; you shall be holy, for I am holy, [Lev 11:44-45]. Jesus extends that hatred to the disciples because they are now apart from the world, just as Jesus was apart.
17:15. I am not asking you to take them out — the disciples – and all believers [v. 20] – must stay in this world so they – and we – can tell the world about Jesus [vv. 17-19].
17:20. Those who will believe — that’s us!
17:21. All be one — Jesus expects us to enjoy the unity with each other and with him that he shares with the Father – with goal that others see our love for each other and for God and believe as we do: that Jesus is the savior. Verses 22-26 echo Jesus’ expectation of unity.

16  “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. ⁵ But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. ⁷ Never-theless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin, because they do not believe in me;
¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer;
¹¹ about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

¹² “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
¹⁴ He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

¹⁶ “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.” ¹⁷ Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying to us, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸ They said, “What does he mean by this ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” ¹⁹ Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? ²⁰ Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. ²¹ When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. ²² So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. ²³ On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.^{b  24} Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

²⁵ “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. ²⁶ On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; ²⁷ for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.^{a  28} I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.”

²⁹ His disciples said, “Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! ³⁰ Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.” ³¹ Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? ³² The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. ³³ I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”  NRSV

Get into the Word

1. What is Jesus describing at the beginning? How do the disciples respond? Who does Jesus promise to help the disciples? What will this person do for them? Why does the world need to understand these things about sin and righteousness and judgment?

2. What is the relationship of the Holy Spirit to Jesus? To God the Father? How will the disciples know the Holy Spirit?

3. What does Jesus turn to next? How does he describe this situation? How do the disciples react to this? What does Jesus do in response? What image does he use to help them understand? 

4. Why do you think Jesus shifts the way he talks with the disciples [v. 25]? What makes “straight” talk appropriate now when it wasn’t before? How do the disciples respond to these new statements?

5. What does Jesus tell them about their new situation? What hope does he offer the disciples? How do you suppose they felt now?

Get Personal

How does God let you know what to expect in your life? How does he give you confidence and hope for your future? How do you respond to God’s assurance?

16.6. Sorrow — the disciples still do not understand the “big picture” of salvation; they remain focused on the loss of their friend and leader.
16.7. Advocate — Jesus uses the same term as in 14:16, but shows a different role for the Spirit: that of God’s advocate against the world.
16:8. Prove — the Greek word means to make the subject so clear there is no possibility of misunderstanding. The Holy Spirit will expose humanity’s guilt in rejecting God (sin), Christ’s death and resurrection (righteousness) and condemnation of evil (judgment). 
16:13-15. Jesus underscores that the Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity, he “speaks” what he hears from God the Father, and he “receives” the truth from Jesus and makes it known.
16:16. You will no longer see me . . . you will see me — though it is literally true, Jesus’ statement is more poetic than clear – so he explains his immanent  death and resurrection in verses 19-22, using the pain and joy of childbirth. 
16:20. Pain will turn to joy – Psalm 30 says: You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.

16:23. Ask anything of the Father — Jesus reminds the disciples that they will be his direct representatives and that God the Father will respond to their prayers as he has responded to Jesus.
16:25. Figures of speech — Jesus had used metaphors and parables to explain the kingdom of Heaven and his mission on Earth, but now he shifts to straightforward statements, especially verse 28.
16:31. Now believe — Jesus isn’t really asking a question, he is confirming the disciples’ belief.
16:32. Scattered— Jesus then warns the disciples about the effect of his arrest and death, and also describes their future lives as his Apostles. In Matthew’s Gospel [26:31] Jesus links this to Zechariah: God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered, [13:7].
16:33. Persecution — the Greek word actually means pressure, in this case from the world. Jesus was constantly pressured to conform to the world and the disciples are about to feel that same pressure. In the next verse Jesus assures them that he has conquered (literally, “subdued”) that pressure and they will, too.

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. ² He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.
³ You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. ¹⁶ You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. ¹⁷ I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you.
²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. ²¹ But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father also. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ It was to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’

²⁶ “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. ²⁷ You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

16    “I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. ² They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is  coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. ³ And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. ⁴ But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. What image does Jesus use next in describing the disciples? Why do you think he chose this image [see Notes]? Who else is involved in this image? What does Jesus say about the image?

2. How does Jesus describe the relationship between the disciples and himself? What does he tell the disciples to do? What will happen to those who do as Jesus says? To those who do not?

3. What is the relationship of love and Jesus’ commandments? Why does Jesus stress this point? How does this affect the disciples’ relationship with Jesus? With each other? What is the outcome of this relationship for the disciples?

4. What topic does Jesus move to next? Why do you think he brings up this subject? What does he say about the world? About himself? About the disciples?  What does Jesus promise the disciples?

5. Why does Jesus tell the disciples about their future? Why is this important? How do you suppose they felt about this? 

Get Personal

How do you feel about being Jesus’ friend? How does this affect your daily walk with Jesus? How does this affect your testimony about Jesus?

15:1. Vine — vineyards, grapes and wine are common Old Testament images for Israel, as in Isaiah: The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, [5:7].
15:2. Removes . . . prunes — Jesus uses two different words here – those who bear no fruit (because they do not have Christ’s spirit) are removed; but those who do bear fruit (because they do have his spirit) are pruned so they can continue to be fruitful.
15:3. Cleansed by the word — when we accept the Gospel we are cleansed of our sin and purified for our relationship with God through Christ.
15:4. Abide — or “dwell” is about making Christ part of our life and our life part of Christ’s. God’s original purpose is to be part of the life of his creation: Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them, [Exodus 25:8]; and I will make my home among them. I will be their God and they will be my people, [Ezek 37:27].
15:7. Ask for whatever — Jesus repeats his promise about prayer [check 14:13].
15:9. As the Father has loved me — Jesus’s  love for believers is the same complete and total love that the Father has for the Son.
15:12. Love one another as I have loved you — we are to extend that same love to one another. 

15:11-12. Joy . . . love — are part of the “fruit” that we bear when we abide in Jesus.
15:15. You are my friends — in Jesus’ time a rabbi’s disciples often were treated as slaves. At the same time Greek and Roman culture placed considerable emphasis on friendship, including loyalty, equality and intimacy (which Jesus underscores by saying he told the disciples “everything the Father told me”). John’s readers would have been familiar with the meaning of Jesus’ use of “friends.”
15:25. Hated — Jews had already experienced persecution, but Jesus is talking about all non-believers hating the disciples because of his message.
15:27. You also are to testify — the disciples’ primary charge – and ours – is to testify about what Jesus has done. God does not call us to be experts or theologians or apologists; he calls us to be witnesses.
16:2. Put out from the synagogues — this was already happening [check 9:20-23 and 12:42]. When John was writing his Gospel, many Jewish Christians had been expelled from the synagogue and gentile believers were persecuted because they did not worship the Roman emperor.
Offering worship to God — was Jesus picturing Saul of Tarsus?

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?^{a  3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

⁸ Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
¹⁴ If in my name you ask me^a for anything,I will do it.

¹⁵ “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. ¹⁷ This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

¹⁸ “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. ¹⁹ In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. ²¹ They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” ²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” ²³ Jesus answered him,, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

²⁵ “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. ²⁸ You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. ³⁰ I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; ³¹ but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.  NRSV

Get into the Word

1. Why does Jesus begin the way he does? What do you think of Jesus’ description of his Father’s “home?” [see Notes]. Do you think the disciples understood?

2. How does Jesus respond to Thomas’ concern? To Phillip’s request? What does Jesus promise the disciples about their future? What does he promise about our future? What is the key to achieving this promise?

3. Who does Jesus introduce in this passage? Why would he tell the disciples about another “person” at this point? How do you think the disciples felt about this “Advocate?” 

4. How does Jesus describe the Holy Spirit? What seem to be his important attributes? What links the disciples to Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit? How does Jesus describe the relationship between the disciples and the Trinity?

5. How does Jesus attempt to prepare the disciples for the immediate future? What gift does he leave with the disciples? 

Get Personal

How does knowing “the way, the truth and the life” affect the way you conduct yourself each day? How has the Holy Spirit been your advocate? Your comforter? Your helper? How does he help you deal with an uncertain future?

14:1. Trust in . . . — Jesus again claims equality with the Father.
14:6. The way, the truth, the life — Jesus sums up Christian theology in this threefold description: he is the means (way) by which we have access to God the Father; in himself he reveals all the truth about God the Father; and he has and is the life we have in reunion with God the Father. Early Christians called themselves followers of “the Way.”
14:9-10. All this time — you can sense Jesus’ frustration; and he uses the same appeal he made to the Jews earlier: “believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done,” [10:38]. It is hard to understand how the disciples could not see what Jesus was really talking about – until we remember all the times we were blind or deaf to what Jesus was trying to tell us.
14:12. Greater works — earlier Jesus told the people “this is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent,” [6:29]. As the Gospel has spread around the world and more people from a greater variety of backgrounds and circumstances “believe in the one he has sent,” greater works are being accomplished.

14:13. In my name — this may be the most discussed of all Jesus’ promises. For me the key is “in my name” – we need to be completely “in synch” with Jesus and his ministry and purpose if he is to respond to our requests and “bring glory to the Father.” 
14:16. Advocate — also translated “Counselor,” “Helper,” “Encourager,” and “Comforter.” Advocate is appropriate because the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, just as Jesus does on the cross, in our relationship with God the Father. This verse is also one of the first descriptions of the Trinity: Jesus, the human manifestation of God, says he will ask “the Father,” who will give another Advocate: “the Holy Spirit.” There clearly will be three “persons” involved with the disciples.
14:17. Be in you — an echo of Ezekiel: I will put my Spirit in you so you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations, [36:27].
14:22. Reveal — Jesus’ answer in v. 24 makes it clear that God’s plan for salvation involves our hearts – love – not our heads: “the world.”
14:27. Peace — which comes from trusting in Jesus’ promises about our ultimate future.

13 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour  had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ² The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,
⁴ got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. ⁵ Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. ⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” ⁷ Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” ⁸ Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” ⁹ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

¹² After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. ¹⁷ If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. ¹⁸ I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ ¹⁹ I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he.^{a  20} Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”

²¹ After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” ²² The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. ²³ One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; ²⁴ Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. ²⁵ So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” ²⁶ Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”^a So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.^{b  27} After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” ²⁸ Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. ²⁹ Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. ³⁰ So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

³¹ When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. ³² If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. ³³ Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ ³⁴ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

³⁶ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward.” ³⁷ Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” ³⁸ Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.  NRSV

Get into the Word

1. What is the setting for the incident John describes in this section? What prompts Jesus to do what he did? How do you suppose Jesus felt about the evening and the meal as he prepared to wash the disciples’ feet? What might he have been thinking about?

2. How does Peter react to the situation? What is he missing about the action? How does Jesus interpret his actions for the disciples? What lesson should they take away from this? 

3. Who is Jesus referring to in verse 18? How does he relate it to his mission? Why does he share this information with the disciples now? How do the disciples react? What assurance are they seeking?

7. What is significant about the way Jesus indicates his betrayer? At this point who knows it is Judas? How do the others react to his departure?

8. Where does Jesus take the conversation after Judas leaves? Why do you suppose he starts talking about his own leaving? What does Jesus tell the disciples about the future? 

9. How does Peter take the news of Jesus’ departure? How does Jesus deal with Peter’s vow?

Get Personal

How has Jesus washed your feet recently? Whose feet have you “washed” recently? How have you been blessed by doing these things (v. 17)? How are you demonstrating to others that you are one of
Jesus’ disciples?

13:2. Devil — John means Satan [v. 27]. The irony is that Judas helps make our salvation possible — he puts Jesus into the Jews’ hands.
13:5. Wash the disciples’ feet — a common gesture of hospitality. Jesus demonstrates how radically different things in God’s kingdom are from things in this world. Jesus is also previewing his ultimate role as the “suffering servant” of Isaiah 53.
13:8. Peter gets high marks for loyalty and assertiveness but he misses the point (which Jesus had just said): he is reacting to the relationships in this world.
13:9. But also — Peter again reacts according to the values of this world: if washing one part is good, wash the whole thing – and Jesus has to explain the spiritual meaning of his actions.
13:12. Do you know — Jesus explains the new and radically different role

of servants and leaders in the kingdom of Heaven – as radically different as what he just did for the disciples. 
13:18. Scripture — Jesus quotes Isaiah 41:9.
13:19. So that . . . you may believe — God predicts things in the future as a demonstration of his power so people will believe him when the prediction comes true.
I AM — Jesus again uses the name God told Moses.
13:21. Troubled — John shows Jesus as having the same emotions and feelings as we do.
13:34. New commandment — well, not exactly new: God told the Israelites to love their neighbor [Lev 19:18]. 
13:38. Die for me — Peter did actually die for Jesus as a martyr in Rome, but many years later.

12 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks.
²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. ²³ Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵ Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” ³⁰ Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. ³¹ Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler 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 indicate the kind of death he was to die. ³⁴ The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” ³⁵ Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. ³⁶ While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”

³⁶ After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them. ³⁷ Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. ³⁸ This was to fulfill the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
“Lord, who has believed our message,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
³⁹ And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said,
⁴⁰ “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and understand with their heart and turn—
and I would heal them.”

⁴¹ Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him.
⁴² Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.

⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. ⁴⁵ And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. ⁴⁷ I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. ⁴⁸ The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, ⁴⁹ for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. ⁵⁰ And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.” NRSV

Get into the Word

1. Why would some Greeks want to meet Jesus? How did the disciples handle the request? How does Jesus respond to the disciples? Do you think they understood the point Jesus was trying to make? How do you think they felt at Jesus’ answer? 

2. What is Jesus really talking about in verses 23-28? Why does he focus on death? How does he resolve his dilemma?

3. How does the crowd respond to the voice from heaven? What does Jesus say about the voice? What is the crowd’s reaction to Jesus’ statement about being “lifted up?” What did he really mean?

4. How does John interpret the Jew’s continuing unbelief? How is the Jew’s thinking similar to people today? How is it different? 

5. How does Jesus describe what happens when a person believes? What does this say about the relationship between Jesus and the Father? 

6. What does Jesus say about judgment and belief? How are the two related? What is Jesus’ role in judgment?  

Consider

How does your belief affect your vision? How does Jesus provide “light” for your walk of faith? Has the light been stronger or dimmer recently? 

12:20. Greeks — probably “God-fearers,” Greeks who believed in the Jewish God.
12:21. Phillip — one of the few disciples with a Greek name, and Bethsaida was near the Greek area of Palestine.
12:23. hour — after several statements that his time had not yet come [e.g. 2:4, 7:6], Jesus announces that the time for his prophesied death had arrived.
12:25. Love their life — Jesus distinguishes between people who cling to this earthly (and perishable) life and those who understand its transience and ultimate worthlessness.
12:27. Troubled — the other gospels [Matt 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46], put this prayer in the garden before Jesus’s arrest.
This reason — Jesus’s entire ministry has been pointed to his sacrifice on the cross for our sin, Isaiah prophesied: he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors, [53:12].
12:28. Voice — this is the third time God speaks about Jesus [check Matt 3:17 and 17:5]. Ironically, the Jews had asked for a “sign” but they misunderstand the sign God gives them.
12:31. Judgment — the Greek word refers to “separating,” which is underscored by Jesus’ statement that the Devil will be “driven out,” [v. 31].

12:34. the Messiah — the first use of “Anointed One” as a title for the expected king is actually in Daniel [9:25]. Most Jews expected the Messiah to establish an earthly, political kingdom, that would last forever. Jesus’ approaching death confused them even more [check 2 Sam 7:16, Psalm 72:17, Ezek 37:26-28].
12:42. Put out of the synagogue — the Jews feared excommunication, which usually involved a thirty-day sentence excluding the person from the synagogue, the congregation and prohibiting bathing or shaving or allowing any approach closer than “four cubits.” If the person did not repent of the charged blasphemy the sentence would be extended in thirty-day intervals and could be made permanent.
12:43. Human glory — earlier Jesus told the Jews: How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? [John 5:44].
12:44. Whoever believes — John often describes the past, present and future aspects of salvation. Here Jesus is referring to the present: a believer “sees” now the one who sent Christ and does not have to wait until some future time for such vision. At the same time John knows that our “vision” will become clearer as we grow in faith and that there will be a future time [v. 48] when everything will be totally clear.

11 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. ⁴⁶ But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. ⁴⁷ So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. ⁴⁸ If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” ⁴⁹ But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰ You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” ⁵¹ He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, ⁵² and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. ⁵³ So from that day on they planned to put him to death.

⁵⁴ Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews, but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness; and he remained there with the disciples.

⁵⁵ Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. ⁵⁶ They were looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?” ⁵⁷ Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

12 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home  of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ² There they  gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.
³ Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ⁴ But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ⁵ “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
⁶ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) ⁷ Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. ⁸ You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

⁹ When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ¹⁰ So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, ¹¹ since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

¹² The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. ¹³ So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!”

¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:
¹⁵ “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

¹⁶ His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. ¹⁷ So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify.^{a  18} It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. ¹⁹ The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”  NRSV

Get into the Word

1. How do the people in the crowd respond to Lazarus’ resurrection? Which part of the crowd would you have been in?

2. Why would the chief priests and Pharisees be so upset at this miracle? What makes it different from the other miracles Jesus had performed? 

3. How does Caiaphas analyze the situation? What is his suggestion? How does it make sense for the Jewish leaders?

How does John characterize Caiaphas’ statement? What makes it prophecy? What makes it ironic?

4. Where does Jesus go after this? What is going on when he returns to Bethany? Who are the principle people involved and what is their relationship to Jesus?

5. What is significant about Mary’s actions? Do you think Jesus was at all embarrassed by the attention? How does he respond to the objection?

6. What is the reaction to Jesus’ presence in town? What is the reaction of the leaders? Why would they include Lazarus in their plans?

7. Why was the crowd waving palm branches for Jesus’ entry [see notes]? Why did Jesus ride into town on a donkey colt? Why didn’t the disciples understand these symbols?

Get Personal

How does God help you understand what he is doing in your life? How does he help you “see” the evidence of his presence and his actions? How often do you realize he was active after the incident?

11:47. Council — the Jewish governing body under the Romans. Its 71 members were split between priests (“Sadducees”) and teachers of the law (“Pharisees”) and was led by the high priest.
11:48. Roman army — Jewish leaders’ goal was to keep the peace so the Romans would not destroy their power and position.
11:49. Caiaphas — followed his father, Annas, as high priest (Annas presides at Jesus’ “trial” for blasphemy, [18:12-13]).
11:50. It’s better . . . — Caiaphas’ statement is politically accurate – silencing Jesus should keep Rome from destroying Jerusalem; but the high priest is really describing God’s salvation plan for the entire world. John makes sure his readers get the point in verse 51.
12:3. Nard — very expensive perfume from India.
12:7. Leave her alone — Jesus undoubtedly knows 

about Judas’ thievery but he focuses on the symbolic meaning of Mary’s gift and action. Jesus then echoes Moses: There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need, [Deut 15:11].
12:13. Palm branches — victorious returning military commanders were often greeted by people waving palm branches – the Jews had the wrong perspective on Jesus’ “triumph.”
12:14. Donkey . . . prophecy — John is referring to Zechariah 9:9: Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey –riding on a donkey’s colt.
12:16. Didn’t understand — the disciples continue to miss the spiritual point, until the Holy Spirit shows them the ultimate meaning after the resurrection, [also 14:26, and Luke 24:25-35].