John 12

Anointed for burial

Messiah — the Anointed One

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. John 12:3–8

Mary anoints the Anointed One. Jesus says the ointment is for His burial, foretelling His death within the week.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Matthew 26:12 — "She did it for my burial."
• a parallel account in Mark 14:8 — "She is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying."
• fulfilled by John 19:39-40 — His body is wound with spices for burial.

King of Israel

King of Israel — the promised Son of David who rules God's people; Hosanna means "save now, we pray"

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, John 12:12–13

The crowd greets Jesus with the words of Psalm 118 and calls Him the King of Israel. Their cry "Hosanna" is a plea for Him to save them, which He does in a way they do not yet understand.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• quotes Psalm 118:25-26 — "Save now... Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD."
• a parallel account in Matthew 21:9 — Triumphal entry.
• a parallel account in Mark 11:9-10 — Triumphal entry.
• a parallel account in Luke 19:38 — Triumphal entry.

The Lamb chosen before Passover

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, John 12:12

Six days before Passover (verse 1) and then "the next day" places His entry about the tenth day of the month, the day Israel chose its Passover lamb. Jesus comes into the city as the true Lamb to be offered at the feast.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• typified by Exodus 12:3 — On the tenth day each household takes a lamb.
• interpreted by 1 Corinthians 5:7 — "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."

The lowly King on a colt

And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, John 12:14–16

Jesus rides a young donkey, fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy of a humble King. After His Resurrection the disciples realized the scriptures had been written about Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Zechariah 9:9 — "Thy King cometh unto thee... riding upon an ass, and upon a colt."
• a parallel account in Matthew 21:4-5 — Matthew cites the same prophecy.
• fulfils John 14:26 — The Comforter would bring His words to their remembrance.

Jesus sought by the Gentiles

And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: John 12:20–22

Greeks — Gentiles — ask to see Jesus. Their coming signals that His hour has arrived and that He will draw all nations to Himself.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• fulfils Isaiah 11:10 — "To it shall the Gentiles seek."

Son of Man

Son of Man — Son of Man of Holiness, the Son of the exalted Father (Moses 6:57)

And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. John 12:23

Jesus announces His "hour" — His death, Resurrection, and return to glory. Throughout John the hour was "not yet"; now it has come.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Moses 6:57 — "Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man."
• the same title in John 13:31 — "Now is the Son of man glorified."

The grain of wheat that dies

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24

Jesus compares Himself to a seed. His death looks like loss, but it brings a great harvest of saved souls through His Atonement and Resurrection.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alluded to by 1 Corinthians 15:36 — "That which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die."

Follow Me

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. John 12:25–26

Jesus invites His servants to follow Him — even through sacrifice — and promises they will be where He is and be honored by the Father.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

The troubled soul who chooses His hour

Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. John 12:27

Jesus feels the weight of what is coming, yet He chooses it, because this hour is the reason He came to earth.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Matthew 26:39 — The same submission in Gethsemane: "not as I will, but as thou wilt."

The Father's voice witnesses of the Son

Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. John 12:28–30

The Father answers His Son out loud from heaven. Jesus says the voice came so the people would know the Father's approval of Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

Victory over the prince of this world

Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. John 12:31

Through His coming death and Resurrection, Jesus defeats Satan, "the prince of this world."

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• fulfils Genesis 3:15 — The Seed of the woman bruises the serpent's head.
• alluded to by John 16:11 — "The prince of this world is judged."

Lifted up on the cross

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32–33

Jesus foretells His crucifixion. Like the brazen serpent lifted up on a pole, He will be lifted on the cross, and all who look to Him can be healed.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to John 3:14 — "As Moses lifted up the serpent... even so must the Son of man be lifted up."
• typified by Numbers 21:8-9 — The brazen serpent on a pole.
• alluded to by 3 Nephi 27:14 — "That I might be lifted up upon the cross... that I might draw all men unto me."
• fulfilled by John 18:32 — Handed to Rome, so His saying about the manner of His death is fulfilled.

Christ who abides forever / Son of Man

Christ — the Anointed One; Son of Man — Son of Man of Holiness

The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? John 12:34

The crowd knows the Messiah is to reign forever and cannot fit that with a Messiah who dies. Both are true: He dies and rises to reign forever.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Isaiah 9:7 — "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end."
• alludes to Daniel 7:13-14 — One like the Son of man given an everlasting dominion.

Light of the World

Light of the World — the One who shows the way out of spiritual darkness

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. John 12:35–36

Jesus is the Light, and He will be with them only a little longer. Believing in Him makes people children of light.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in John 8:12 — "I am the light of the world."
• the same title in John 12:46 — "I am come a light into the world."

Arm of the Lord

Arm of the Lord — God's saving power made visible, revealed in Jesus

But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: John 12:37–38

John quotes Isaiah 53, the chapter of the suffering Servant. Jesus is "the arm of the Lord" — God's power reaching out to save — yet many refused to believe.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes Isaiah 53:1 — Opening of Isaiah's suffering Servant chapter.
• the same title in Isaiah 52:10 — "The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations."

Jesus is the LORD Isaiah saw

Jehovah — the covenant God of Israel, the premortal Christ

Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, John 12:39–41

Isaiah 6 describes Isaiah seeing the LORD on His throne. John says Isaiah saw Jesus' glory — so the LORD (Jehovah) of the Old Testament is Jesus Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interprets Isaiah 6:1-5 — "Mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."
• quotes Isaiah 6:10 — Hardened hearts, lest they be converted and healed.
• interprets 2 Nephi 16:1-5 — Book of Mormon text of Isaiah's vision.
• the same event in 2 Nephi 11:2 — Nephi: Isaiah "verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him."

The Son who shows the Father

Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. John 12:44–45

Jesus perfectly represents His Father. To believe in and see the Son is to know the Father who sent Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alluded to by Hebrews 1:3 — The Son is "the express image of his person."

Light of the World

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. John 12:46

Jesus came as light so that believers need not stay in darkness.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in John 8:12 — "I am the light of the world."
• the same title in 3 Nephi 9:18 — "I am the light and the life of the world."

Savior of the world

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. John 12:47

Jesus' first coming was to save, not condemn.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to John 3:17 — "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

The Prophet like unto Moses

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. John 12:48–50

Moses promised a Prophet who would speak only what God commanded, and whoever would not listen would answer for it. Jesus says exactly this about Himself — He is that Prophet.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Deuteronomy 18:18-19 — "I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."