The Gospel of John Lesson 45 (08-25-2013) John 12:20-3, Mark 11:8-11

The Gospel of John Lesson 45 (08-25-2013)

Lesson 45 – John 12:20-3, Mark 11:8-11

In our last lesson we saw Jesus fulfill prophesy riding into Jerusalem on a colt. They welcomed Him as the coming King, but did not understand nor recognize the purpose of His coming on a beast that would convey a message of peace instead of coming on a steed as conquering king. He enters the city late in the day, but upon arrival He went up into the Temple and Mark’s Gospel says that upon entering He looked around. What was He looking at? Or, maybe a better question would be what was He looking for? Was He just looking at the Temple and its activities and its spiritually deficient condition ready to critique or judge it? Or, was He looking for something? Was He possibly looking for Hope … a reason to not eventually judge this nation that He loved so much?

He had come to them in peace, riding on a donkey conveying an offering of peace. But, although many of them had accepted Him as the One that was to come to be Israel’s conquering King, the One that would reestablish David’s Kingdom, they had also rejected His purpose in coming to them at this time. He had come with an offer of peace. From His perspective at this time they were at enmity with Him…as was all mankind.

Rightfully, the nation of Israel had gotten His offer of peace first, and as a nation, although they recognized who He was, they did not receive His offer and its terms. As the angles send by God to inspect the on the ground condition of Sodom (Gen. 18:20-1), God Himself had arrived to see if things were truly as hopeless as it appeared. As He stood in the Temple that afternoon He looked around to see if there was anything worthy of receiving His offer of peace, and seeing none He left that night seeing judgment as their only option.

He had been to the Temple before. This was not the first time He had been there for Passover. But, His work here on earth at this time was almost complete and Israel as a nation was no closer to receiving His offer than when He first began His ministry. He had taught them enough and prepared them for this moment. In reality He could have come a thousand more times to a thousand more Passovers and the response and condition that He found on that day would have been the same…rejection of His offer of forgiveness and peace. If anything, He found the leadership of Israel on that day even more stubborn and resistant than ever. To receive God’s Kingdom they would need to receive His forgiveness.

On that day as He stood there looking around at the activities of the Temple I wonder if He was looking for something that might indeed of God, someone or something worthy of representing the nation of Israel that would receive His offer of peace and forgiveness. Some bible scholars believe that if Israel had accepted His offer of peace and forgiveness for their offences toward their God on that day that Jesus would have had to establish the Davidic Kingdom right then which we know did not happen.

But, if Israel would have responded favorably to Him there would have been a big problem. Jesus knew that even though He had honestly offered them the Kingdom that they would not receive it. (John 12:38-41) It was their choice. But…if they had received His offer then we would have to face a very important question. If they had received His offer would Christ have gone to the Cross?? And, if He had not gone to the Cross, then all men would stand guilty before Him and all would be lost, not one would be saved.

But, God knew that He would be rejected on that day just as He knew that one of His own company would indeed betray Him. His plan included the surety of these events. Even though He knew what their choice would be it was still their choice. They could have chosen otherwise. But, they didn’t. It is also interesting that there was no ‘what if’ plan. Even though His offer to Israel was a valid one He foreknew that He would be rejected on that Day as if it had already happened. God’s plan and our redemption was already secure. The Bible says that God knew what would happen… even before the world was founded. I Peter 1:19-20 and Rev. 13:8 Behold the mystery of God.

Much happens when Jesus returns to Jerusalem. The order of events chronologically is not easily ascertained. Each Gospel writer records details of events as they are moved by the Holy Spirit as seen through their eyes. Not all record the same details. To have a more complete view of what happened we need to take into account the other Gospels also.

In vs. 20 and following in John’s Gospel, we see an interesting request and an even more interesting reply. There were certain Greeks that were at the Passover that saw what was happening and requested a meeting with Jesus. The exact details concerning who these Greeks are are somewhat of a mystery. Most believe that they are not just Greek speaking Jews, not being of Jewish decent at all, but are in all probability Gentile proselytes or non Jews who had become interested in Judaism or had even heard of Jesus and had come to see for themselves the claims that they had heard.

They’re not being Jews may be why Jesus did not meet with them at this time, for at that time the Jews still had opportunity to respond to Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and peace and receive Him as their King. However, they do show an interest in what Jesus was doing and desire to inquire further. It appears that Jesus does not grant their request at this time, however sincere they may be, but instead gives a response to Phillip and Andrew and the others that to some may not fit the request. Or, does it?

These Greeks had come to the Passover joining in the celebration and ceremonies of the Passover. V. 20 tells us that they had come up to the Passover to worship indicating that they had come not just to have a good time. By their request to actually see and meet with Jesus in v. 21 one would assume that they really were serious about this meeting with Him wanting to know more about what He was about and what He had to say.

But, even though their request may have been valid it was not their time. Even thought it was doubtful that the Jews would turn and receive Jesus as Savior, they had not fully rejected Him as yet. The Jews full answer of rejection would be the Cross. Even though the event of the Cross was close it had not happened as yet. Once fully rejected, the offer of peace through the Gospel would be turned toward the Gentiles and Gentile nations.