ALPHA AND OMEGA

JOHN 11:45-12:11

LAST WEEK: JOHN 11:28-44

• Jesus heads to the tomb of Lazarus and meets his sisters on the way.
• The Jews display a lack of faith with their hopeless wailing which causes Jesus to weep.
• He tells them to roll away the stone, and Martha shows even more doubt in Jesus.
• Rolling away the stone represent telling others about Jesus.
• Earlier Martha called Jesus “the Teacher” and now Jesus ends up praying to the Father out loud for the benefit of others - teaching them who He is and what He is capable of. (paper on table)
• Jesus tells Lazarus to come out of the tomb.
• Representing new birth or being born again.
• Lazarus comes out bound hands and feet in linen strips. Jesus tells them to unbind him.
• Representing discipleship so new believers can be set free from habits of the old creation.

JOHN 11:45-57

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our 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 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

JOHN 11:45-48

• Some of the Jews around the tomb saw the miraculous miracle and believed in Jesus.
• Faith comes from hearing not by sight. Though signs can catalyze belief, trust must eventually be added to the equation in order to live/walk by faith. (Romans 1:20; Romans 10:17; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Matthew 13:18-23)
• But other Jews saw this incredible miracle and remarkably still blindly placed their faith in religion. (John 10:25)
• Those adhering to false religion worship the “ism.”
• Religious snitches ratted out Jesus to the Pharisees. The Pharisees were willing to work with the Sadducees to bring Jesus’ ministry to an end. At the close of the age, apostate churches will do the same to the true Church. (Matt 24:10)
• The religious leaders can no longer deny Jesus was sent by God.
• But the council’s concern was that Pilate’s heavy-handed way of governing and dealing with perceived domestic threats would:
• Remove them of their power positions in the temple first.
• Abolish the existence of a united Jewish people second.
• They feared the Romans and loss of status more than they feared fighting against the God they claimed to be serving.
• The root of their problem is that they didn’t believe in God or His promises written down by Moses. And so the fruit of the problem became their unbelief in Jesus as Messiah whom God had sent to liberate them. (John 5:45-47)

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

JOHN 11:49-52

• Caiaphas follows logic, albeit in a rude way (as Sadducees were known for), and tells these religious leaders that it’s better that one man be sacrificed than an entire nation to perish. Although it was not the morally correct choice to reject their own Messiah and seek the death of the innocent.
• But unbeknownst to Caiaphas, God was using the High Priest’s hardened heart to prophesy a deeper meaning even he did not understand.
• Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus would die not just for God’s people of Israel, and not just for diasporic Jews, but for the world. To wash the sins of all who believe in Him (God’s children - the sheep of another fold) with His blood. (John 3:16)
• Even in the OT God kept total understanding from His prophets. (Amos 3:7; 1 Peter 1:10-12)
• It is not unusual for God to use evil people or things to accomplish His good will. (Romans 8:28). Every prophet God used was not without sin. Some did blatantly evil things: Balaam, king Saul, the “old prophet” in 1 Kings 13. (Matthew 7:22-23)

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

JOHN 11:53-54

• Disregarding the law of Moses, establishing that people must be granted a trial (Deuteronomy 19:15-20), the Sanhedrin conspires to put an innocent Man on death row. In turn breaking the Mosaic law themselves - premeditated murder. (Exodus 21:14)
• Again, “if you can’t beat em, silence em” is a tactic of Satan - murderer from the beginning.
• So Jesus flees and goes into hiding in the northern wilderness of Judea bordering southern Samaria.
• Whenever possible - that is, when a way is provided - Christians too should flee when persecuted for His name’s sake. (Matt 10:23; Acts 9:25; 1 Cor 11:1; Prov 22:3)
• Jesus gives the same advice to those who are around Judea when the Antichrist sets up the abomination of desolation in the temple halfway through the Tribulation. (Matthew 24:15-22)
• But as the return of Christ draws near, many will be called to suffer persecution. (Rev 2:10)
• Regardless, Christians should also always pray for those who persecute them. (Romans 12:14)

So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.

JOHN 11:55-57

• A few months have passed since verse 54. And Jesus is still living rent-free in the minds of the Sadducees and Pharisees.
• Passover is a pilgrim feast. One in which people had to partake in purification rituals before it could be celebrated.
• This is the Passover of Passovers. The time has come for the Unblemished Lamb to be sacrificed and fulfill the meaning of the holiday.
• Jesus fulfilled the Spring feasts in His first coming (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Weeks) and will fulfill the Fall feasts at His second (Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles).
• The questions are phrased to show that they didn’t expect Jesus to show. (Passover had a mandatory attendance with limited exceptions…threat of death was one of them)
• The Chief priests were mostly Sadducees. Under normal circumstances the two sects disliked each other. But here they are working as a team united under darkness to oppose God.

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

JOHN 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” 9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

JOHN 12:1-2

• Passover is closing in. The last week of Jesus’ ministry takes up nearly half of John’s Gospel.
• The Laz family hosts a dinner for Jesus and friends at Simon the Leper’s house. (Mark 14:3-9)
• This dinner would be an appropriate response of showing gratitude to the LORD after He greatly blesses you (by raising you from the dead). The LORD accepts such praise and thanksgiving.
• Jesus & those He resurrects always eat after. Proving they aren’t/weren’t ghosts and that the resurrection is literal and physical. After our resurrection at the Rapture there will also be a feast in heaven - the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
• As Jesus and His disciples will do at the Last Supper, the men are reclining on cushions at a low table. Only free men reclined.
• Martha is once again playing waitress. Serving is clearly her gift. If common customs were followed, the men of the village enjoyed the dinner while the women served.
• Regardless of her reasons for serving, this Martha has grown in Jesus since her last hosting gig. She’s not troubled that Mary isn’t helping her.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.

JOHN 12:3

• Roman Pound (litra) = 11.5 ounces
• Spikenard (muskroot) - Spikenard, also called nard, nardin, and muskroot, is a class of aromatic amber-colored essential oil derived from Nardostachys jatamansi, a flowering plant in the honeysuckle family which grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India. The oil has been used over centuries as a perfume, a traditional medicine, or in religious ceremonies across a wide territory from India to Europe. Historically, the name nard has also referred to essential oils derived from other species including the closely related valerian genus, as well as Spanish lavender; these cheaper, more common plants have been used in perfume-making, and sometimes to adulterate true spikenard. (wikipedia)

Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

JOHN 12:3 (CONTINUED)

• This is the second time Mary sits at the feet of Jesus. Showing her humility to learn from Jesus first and now showing her love for Jesus.
• With this correct attitude and perspective, she rightly considered being with Jesus more important than working for Him. (Luke 10:42 and see verse 8)
• Placing the LORD of the work before the work of the LORD.
• And now letting down her hair to “use the most honored part of her body to clean the lowliest and dirtiest part of His.” (Jeremiah)
• There was a third time Mary went to the feet of Jesus that occurred previous to this…when she surrendered at His feet near the tombs.
• Humility (willingness) - Surrender (faith) - Love (devotion)
• The scent wasn’t wasted on John’s nostrils either. He still remembered the smell.

Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

JOHN 12:4-6

• Denarius = a single day’s income. So the nard used was worth ~82% of a year’s salary.
• Again, Judas Iscariot (man of the burbs) is the only other person besides the Beast to be called the son of perdition. Which means he’s the most prevalent type of the Antichrist. (John 17:12)
• Judas successfully hid the darkness of his heart from everyone. John figured Judas’ motives out after the fact. Jesus was the only exception. Yet He allowed Judas to be treasurer. (Romans 11:33-34)
• Judas was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Who pretended to be a righteous follower of Christ for the sake of his own pursuits. A traitor to God. And an accuser of those who worship Him.
• Judas was a thief and what we would call a virtue signaler. (2 Timothy 3:5)
• Judas viewed [Mary’s] worship of the LORD as impractical - a waste of time and money.
• Because He didn’t trust in the LORD. He trusted in mammon and himself. (Matthew 26:14-16)
• Judas’ argument was logical, practical and convincing. (Matthew 26:8-9; Revelation 13:1-10)
• And there are many antichrists like Judas in the church today. (1 John 2:18-20)

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

JOHN 12:7-8

• Jesus advocates for Mary against her accuser. He’s still doing that in heaven on our behalf. (Romans 8:34)
• Also translated, “she intended to keep it for the day of my burial.”
• It seems Mary knew and believed Jesus was about to die. Which is why she was anointing His body. She didn’t even use a drop of the expensive anointing perfume on her own brother’s body!
• Yet His close 12 were struggling to comprehend what Mary already knew was going to happen.
• Note that Jesus was anointed for burial before His appointment of dominionship. (Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 61:2)
• We are not greater than our Master. We should expect the same - a crucified life before reigning with Him on the earth. Not the false promises of money preachers. (Matthew 10:24; Rev 5:9-10; 1 Cor 6:2-3)
• Socialists/Communists take note: For the time being the world is fallen and in the power of the wicked one. But when Jesus reigns from Jerusalem as the King of kings the government will be on His shoulder. Only then will poverty become a thing of the past. (1 John 5:19; Isaiah 9:2-7)
• Again, in this life we must be careful not to become so occupied with the work of the LORD that we take our eyes off the LORD of the work.

Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

JOHN 12:9-11

• The Jews refers to people living in Judea under the influence of the Sanhedrin. Not pilgrims for Passover.
• Interestingly, they haven’t yet seen Lazarus despite his residing in Bethany just outside of Jerusalem.
• These Jews weren’t seeking Jesus soley, but were also seeking a sign.
• Only a wicked and adulterous generation seeks a sign. It’s no wonder that by the end of the week most of those who were increasingly believing in Jesus would call for His crucifixion. (Matthew 12:39)
• Lazarus was once dead but now alive in Christ as a believer with a [effective] testimony to share. Therefore, the religious elite (mostly Sadducees) wanted him dead in addition to Jesus.
• It was embarrassing enough for them that Lazarus’ existence disproved their anti-resurrection theology. That’s how blind and evil these people are.
• Jesus’ disciples, as accomplices, also risked their lives by showing up to the dinner. (John 15:18)
• Two questions all born again Christians should routinely ask themselves is, does the world want me to shut up about Jesus? And am I willing to die for Him?
• “When men hate Christ, they also hate those whom he has blessed, and will go to any lengths in seeking to silence their testimony.” (Spurgeon)

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

POST ELECTION DEBRIEF

Because hindsight is 20/20, we now have the ability to say with absolute certainty, that thee sovereign and eternal God spared Trump's life from a sniper on July 13th so He could place him back in the White House. To what ends still remains to be known. And I'll be honest with you, while I prayed for the best concerning Tuesday's election, I was expecting the worst. I was expecting judgment for this nation to have its full effect. Because make no mistake, that's what we deserve as a nation that has forgotten the one true God of the Bible. But God gave us what we didn't deserve. He chose mercy - a reprieve - a second chance. He heard the prayers of His children these past few weeks. Thousands upon thousands of Bible-believing Christians from their own pockets of the country dropped to their knees, fasted, and sought His face. Inspired by Daniel chapter 10, I too for the first time in my life spent the last 3 weeks before the election fasting even from the news, at a time when such things tend to be the most interesting. Not because of the election, God's will be done either way, but to seek a closer walk with Him. I've never done anything remotely like that before. I highly recommend it. And so I believe with all my heart that it was God, hearing the prayers of those who love Him, that blessed this nation with what may likely become another period of rest before the next birth pain. Not just for America, but the world in general, including Israel, if Trump's second term reflects his first.

But remember that the pains of pestilence, inflation, and war that the world is currently experiencing actually first began with the corona virus during Trump's last year in office. Remember the words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5, "while people are saying peace and safety destruction will come on them suddenly as labor pains on a pregnant woman." Make no mistake, the next contraction will come. Because we are in the last hour as John said. In fact, according to Jesus' own words in Luke 21:20-33, we're in the last minutes…"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. [All of that was fulfilled in 70 AD, but He continues...] They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled [in context this verse refers to all non Jews as Gentiles, and because the temple mount is still for all intents and purposes being trampled underfoot by Islam, this was mostly fulfilled in 1967 after the 6-day war, and so the prophetic clock began powering up. But He continues...] And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves [this has yet to be fulfilled. Per my handout last week prophetically speaking that's what seas represent - the chaos of the nations. They will be perplexed. Why? Because the age of grace is coming to a close and God - the Sun, Christians - the moon who reflect His light, and angels - the stars, all begin behaving differently - showing signs - than what the world is used to seeing. Jesus says in a parallel verse in Matthew 24:29 that 'immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon shall not giver her light (the Bride of Christ - the Church); the stars will fall from heaven [angels], and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.' Now again per what I wrote at the end of last week's paper, these signs will literally happen in our physical realm, but they will be manifestations of what takes place in the spiritual realm. But He continues...], people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place [that is those who are alive when these events begin to happen. Again, we're experiencing the contractions of birth pains, but Jesus said in Matthew the end is not yet. These signs Jesus is speaking of here start when the water breaks - when the full number of Gentiles has come into the Kingdom - and the Tribulation begins]. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." [If you truly believe in Jesus as the Word of God, you will believe these remarkable events will happen, because God, Who cannot lie, says so]

Now, I'm self-aware enough to know that I speak about the end times more than what Baptists are probably used to. But there's more than one reason for it. God has put it in my heart to look forward to the return of His Son with His heavenly Kingdom. As He has with some of you from what I'm hearing. We're all told to be knowledgeable about the return of our King and what to look for so we're not taken by surprise like a thief in the night. Prophecy is not only effective for witnessing, when done correctly, (that is, not giving specific dates for Christ's return), but we're told to do it - to preach the Kingdom of God is at hand! Jesus told John in Revelation 19:10 that it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus. Did you guys know that the second coming of Christ is mentioned 8 times more than His first coming? What does that tell you? It tells us we should all be taking time to learn more eschatology and we should take it seriously, because it informs us of the truth about what's coming. That is if you do in fact believe the Bible to be the trustworthy word of God. Hebrews 10 commands us not to forsake our gathering together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, as we're doing here, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The day after the election I was actually a little choked up, to my own surprise. Not in the way you would think either. And definitely not like the democrats were. It was odd, I was actually feeling concerned about this potential reprieve on the horizon, because it's the hard times when people tend to seek God. It's the comfortable times when people get self reliant. I know this from personal experience too. It was during Trump's first term that I started my own business and brought in a lucrative income. Of course, I lost it under Biden. But during the comfortable times of Trump I became heavily backslidden, partly because of my success. And it was during the dark times of Biden's term, and the drastic increase of Satan-inspired cancel culture, that I called out to God for help. Understand I have people in my life that I love who don't call Jesus their LORD, as I know many of you do as well, and others I love who are backslidden with no assurance of salvation unless they repent. So admittedly after Trump's win I brought my concerns to God - that these loved ones may not seek Him without the apocalyptic hardships a Harris presidency certainly would have produced with her marxist love for price controls and DEI. But because I brought my silly anxieties to Him He gave me His peace and His truth: That just because a period of easier times may lay ahead, that doesn't mean our work as Kingdom ambassadors stops. On the contrary, if anything, He has provided us with more daylight to work. So, carpe diem - seize the day. Because of Tuesday's election, it's reasonable to believe God has likely gifted us with a few more years of daylight to get to work and be His witnesses. His ambassadors for the coming Kingdom. Preparing the way for His inevitable arrival, just as the John the Baptist did. Remember, night is still coming when no man can work. That's the whole point of birth pains coming and going. They're periods of warnings that deliverance is coming, with periods of respite separating them - calmness between storms that motivate us to get moving while we still can - before the water breaks and the seas roar and the baby is c sectioned out of here. The greek word for cut out or cut short used in Matthew 24:22 is koloboo. Jesus says the level of tribulation coming on the world will be unmatched by anything before or after it. So for the sake of God's elect those days will be cut short. Now is the time to be about our Father's business.