A USED Jesus. What a concept. Yet, when you look at the world we live in, it is a familiar concept. Not a “used” Jesus figurine, but a Savior that is used for people’s own purposes. John 12 shares this very important challenge.
Key Principle: Jesus gets worshiped a little and used a lot. We want to have what Jesus brings, but don’t understand His intrinsic worth.
The setting (12:1-3):
Mary wanted to express Jesus’ value to her – so she offered the most precious thing she had. This is the essence of worship – telling God He is worthy of praise, of sacrifice, of service.
* Mary wanted to express thanksgiving by remembering that Jesus conquered death in Lazarus.
* She wanted to express honor by offering something of great value for His own pleasure.
* She wanted to express humility by wiping Jesus feet with her hair.
John 12:1 “Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. 3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
It seems the setting is one of holiness and wonder. It must have been a sight to behold. What a precious smell, that of a thankful, humble and honoring heart. Yet sadly, the worship of one is contrasted by the reaction of all the others in the story. Where one wanted to WORSHIP and HONOR, six others wanted to USE JESUS – and none of them really understood His value and worth!
The problem (12:4-21):
Everyone else wanted to use Jesus to address needs they wanted cared for. Each one had a list of things they valued – but the VALUE OF JESUS was not recognized by any of them. They cloaked selfishness and used God talk, but in the end they worshipped their own desires and comforts and not His person.
Judas wanted to get money from being associated with Jesus, and saw Jesus as a CASH MACHINE. (12:4-8)
4 But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” 6 Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. 7 Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. 8 “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”
This is not a hard one to discern. Some people go to church to get business. Some people go into the “religion business” as hucksters to get big salaries and little accountability. For some, the Pastorate is just another entrepreneurial opportunity to fleece the trusting. Their names and faces need no description – for all of us know someone who was burned by their promises. It isn’t always their MESSAGE that betrays their motive – but it is most often their LIFESTYLE that gives them away!
In 1992 and 93 two movies were released with Whoopi Goldberg, both titled “Sister Act”. In the first movie a Vegas night club entertainer is hidden from the mob after she witnessed a crime. I recall almost none of the movie, but one particular scene in which a series of choirs are competing for an award. On the stage paraded one choir after another. In a display that would bring tears to your eyes, several choirs were highlighted and shared their incredibly talented singers who were ostensibly singing worshipful arias to the God of the Ages. At one point I remember stopping the movie and thinking, “Wow! This LOOKS like worship. Yet it is no more authentic than the Ark of the Covenant rescued by Indiana Jones. It is FAKE WORSHIP, well displayed and wonderfully played. At the end of the day, it was fake because the Hollywoood actors and singers did not value the One they were singing about. How do I know? Look at the “lives off the set” and that says it all. It can look like WORSHIP, but just be a way to use natural talents to make a buck for some people.
The evening crowd wanted to see the results of the power of Jesus, and saw Jesus as a CURIOSITY. (12:9)
9 The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead.
The next group was highlighted because they showed up in front of Jesus because of SOME WORK HE PERFORMED. These were the sign seekers that dot the landscape of every religious movement. In my lifetime they have even developed a theology to justify their seeking by making people believe that God is in the business of making us all healthy, wealthy and wise. Sadly, their emphasis on the flesh is so thinly veiled that even unbelievers pick out the fleshly nature of their words. “Give as a seed that God may bless you back ten fold!” doesn’t sound to my lost neighbor like being moved to obey God – it seems like poorly covered self interest – and I agree.
The people came to Jesus, but were more awed by what JESUS COULD DO than WHO JESUS IS. They were in the audience to receive THEIR HEALING to get THEIR MIRACLE. There was little thought about the intrinsic worth of the Mighty God that stood before them. There was no desire to hear HIS PLAN for their lives if it did not include their pre-planned miracle or healing. They wanted what Jesus could do for them. They had TOYOTA LOVE: “I LOVE WHAT YOU DO FOR ME!” Sadly, even today, some people think that is real honor, real love, real worship. It simply isn’t Jesus must be valued for Who HE is, not simply for what H
e can do in my life. I must outgrow the immaturity of that kind of thinking – because it is essentially about ME – a self worship.
The religious leaders were concerned about their power, and saw Jesus as a THREAT. (12:10-11,19)
10 But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus…. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”
For some people religion is about power. It is about CONTROLLING other people’s choices. It is about judging people and being nosey about their lives. It is about complaining about the choices that are made by people we feel are weaker than us, or at least not as vigilant about the RIGHT WAY. Once we are in control, we are more concerned with OUR REPUTATION as part of the group than with the worthiness of our Savior to receive praise and honor in our lives. We are threatened by anything that undermines our control of things. Once again, this response is not recognizing the value of Jesus, but about ME. It too is selfish.
The jubilant crowd wanted to be delivered by Jesus – and saw Him as a POLITICAL FIX. (12:12-15)
12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.” 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.”
How many times have I been with believers who have lost the wonder of Jesus and replaced it with an indignation that He should fix our world. They look at the news and are shaken by God’s incredible patience with evil, while they complain when He doesn’t usher in THEIR CANDIDATE and their agenda. The fact is that the crowd that day wanted Jesus to use His power to DELIVER THEM FROM ROME. Even what looked like the praise of Palm Sunday was nothing more than veiled self interest. When we truly value Jesus, we accept His plan for our world, and are not embittered by the path He leads us to. It is easy when the path is a miracle. It is hard when the path includes illness, pain and loss. Yet, mature believers get past WHAT THEY WANT and move on to seeing HIS WAY as the BEST WAY.
The disciples wanted to celebrate the popularity of Jesus – and saw Him as a STAR. (12:16-18)
16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. 17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. 18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
At the moment of the crowds of Palm Sunday, the disciples were swept up in the popularity of Jesus. They were joyful that He was being so well received, in no small part because it made their lives easier and their reputations were bolstered. They knew it was because of the raising of Lazarus that the crowds were formed. Yet, they got caught up on the bandwagon. Jesus was a star!
The Greeks wanted to gain stature by gaining an audience with Jesus – they saw Jesus as a ENDORSER. (12:20-21)
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
The Greeks were second class citizens in the Temple and Jesus was the latest hot hit. If they could get a photo op with the master, t would add credibility to their standing. They wanted STREET CRED. They needed his foreword on their new book. They needed his endorsement – but it wasn’t because they were truly appreciating Who He is. It too was selfish.
The Challenge (12:22-50):
Jesus addressed the people. I have three things I want you to know:
“First, you might not understand my best work!”
* The world would mistake the Cross as a SHAME – but Jesus saw His physical death as the moment of His glory.
22 Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
* The world would mistake the Cross as an END – but Jesus saw His physical death as the act that would bring a harvest.
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
* The world would mistake the Cross as LOSS – but Jesus saw His physical death as gain.
25 “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.
* The world would see the Cross as something to AVOID – but Jesus saw His physical death as an example.
26 “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
* The world would mistake the Cross as a WASTE – but Jesus saw it as His purpose.
27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 “Father, glorify Your name.”
“Second, you can examine the evidence!”
* Though God spoke aloud from Heaven – yet they could not hear.
Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. 31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” 33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.
* Though the Light made things clear before them – yet they could not see.
34 The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light
, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”
* Though the Word testified of Him – yet they could not believe.
These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. 37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 “HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED AND I HEAL THEM.” 41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.
“Finally, you have a choice to make!”
* Some people stay back because they are EMBARRASSED. You can be held back in pride – and that will win the hearts of men, but not God.
42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
* Some people stay back because they won’t TRUST. You can believe Me – and that is to believe My Father.
44 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me.
* Some people stay back because they won’t CHANGE (they prefer living in he moral shadows). You can truly see Me – and that is to leave the darkness and stand in the Light.
45 “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.
* Some people stay back hoping they can PROCRASTINATE, and deal with Him later… and they aren’t wrong. If they ignore Him now, they WILL deal with Him later! You can ignore Me – and that is to set judgment for your end.
47 “If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. 49 “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. 50 “I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”
Jesus gets worshipped a little and used a lot. We want to have what Jesus brings, but don’t understand His intrinsic worth. That will not always be so. In a day not far away we will be swept to the throne room. We will see the unfolding of history and know first hand that there is no one more worthy than HE to open the pages of the future. Jesus will hear the crowd shout “Worthy is the Lamb! Worthy is the Lamb!” He will be USED no more – but He will be worshiped EVERMORE!
