Scofield Reference Bible Notes
John 12

Jhn 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

Bethany

Jhn 11:1.

Jhn 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

Martha served

Luk 10:40-41; cf. Mat 11:29-30.

sat at the table

Mar 5:43; Luk 15:23-24.

Jhn 12:3 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.

Mary

As Martha stands for service, and Lazarus for communion, so Mary shows us the worship of a grateful heart. Others before her had come to his feet to have their need met; she came to give Him His due. Though all the evangelists record her act, John alone gives her name.

Then took…a pound of ointment

Luk 7:37-38; Jhn 11:2.

spikenard

Sng 4:16.

anointed the feet of Jesus

See note on Scofield Matthew 26:7.

Jhn 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

Judas Iscariot

Mat 26:8.

Jhn 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

because he was a thief, and had the bag

Jhn 6:70-71; 13:29.

Jhn 12:8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

me ye have not always

Jhn 12:35; Mar 14:7.

Jhn 12:9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

Much people of the Jews therefore knew

Jhn 12:12; Mar 12:37.

Jhn 12:10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

they might put Lazarus also to death

Jhn 9:34; 15:20.

Jhn 12:11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

many of the Jews went away

Jhn 11:45.

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

when they heard that Jesus was coming

See Scofield Matthew 21:4, note.

Jhn 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh

Psa 118:25-26

Lord

Jehovah. Psa 118:26.

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

Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon

Mat 21:7.

it is written

Zec 9:9; Mat 21:1-7.

Jhn 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

These things understood not his disciples

Luk 18:34; Jhn 2:22; 13:7; 14:26.

Jhn 12:17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

bare record

Jhn 12:11; Luk 19:37.

Jhn 12:19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

world [See also Jhn 12:46-47.]

kosmos (Mat 4:8) = mankind.

is gone after him

Jhn 11:47-48.

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

Greeks among them that came up to worship

Psa 72:9-11; Mar 7:26; Jhn 10:16; Act 10:34-35.

Jhn 12:21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

Philip, which was of Bethsaida

Jhn 1:43-44; Jhn 14:1-31.

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

Jesus answered

He does not receive these Gentiles. A Christ in the flesh, King of the Jews, could be no proper object of faith to the Gentiles, though the Jews should have believed on Him as such. For Gentiles the corn of wheat must fall into the ground and die; Christ must be lifted up on the cross and believed in as a sacrifice for sin, as Seed of Abraham, not David (Jhn 12:24, 32; Gal 3:7-14; Eph 2:11-13).

The hour is come

Jhn 13:32; 17:1.

Son of man

Scofield Matthew 8:20, note.

Jhn 12:24 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.

Except a corn of wheat fall

Chapters 12-17 are a progression according to the order of approach to God in the tabernacle types: Chapter 12, in which Christ speaks of His death, answers to the brazen altar of burnt-offering, type of the cross. Passing from the altar toward the holy of holies, the laver is next reached (Exo 30:17-21), answering to Chapter 13. With His associate priests, now purified, the High Priest approaches and enters the holy place, in the high communion of Chapters 14-16. Entering alone the holy of holies (Jhn 17:1), the High Priest intercedes. (Cf. Heb 7:24-28.) That intercession is not for the salvation, but the keeping and blessing of those for whom He prays. His death (assumed as accomplished, Jhn 17:4) has saved them.

if it die

Sacrifice (of Christ). Jhn 19:34. (Gen 4:4; Heb 10:18.)

much fruit

Gen 3:3.

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

He that loveth his life shall lose it

Mat 10:39; 16:25; Luk 9:24; Luk 17:33.

world [See also Jhn 12:31.]

kosmos = world-system. John 14:17, 19, 22, 27, 30. (Jhn 7:7; Rev 13:3).

Jhn 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

follow me

Mat 16:24; Jhn 13:36-38.

where I am, there shall also my servant be

Jhn 14:3; 17:24.

will my Father honour

Jhn 14:21, 23; 16:27; 2Ti 4:7-8.

Jhn 12:27 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.

Bible prayers (N.T.). John 17. (Mat 6:9; Rev 22:20.)

for this cause came I unto this hour

Luk 22:53; Jhn 18:37.

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

glorify thy name

Luk 22:42; Jhn 5:30.

voice from heaven

Mat 3:17.

Jhn 12:29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

angel

Scofield Hebrews 1:4, note.

Jhn 12:30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

not because of me, but for your sakes

Jhn 11:42.

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

judgment

The Seven Judgments. (1) Of Jesus Christ as bearing the believer's sins. The sins of believers have been judged in the person of Jesus Christ "lifted up" on the cross. The result was death for Christ, and justification for the believer, who can never again be put in jeopardy. (Jhn 5:24; Rom 5:9; 8:1; 2Co 5:21; Gal 3:13; Heb 9:26-28; 10:10, 14-17; 1Pe 2:24; 3:18). See other judgments, Scofield 1 Corinthians 11:31, note; 2 Corinthians 5:10, note; Matthew 25:32, note; Ezekiel 20:37, note; Jude 1:6, note; Revelation 20:12, note.

prince of this world

Mat 12:29; Luk 10:18; Jhn 14:30; Heb 2:14.

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

lifted up…will draw all men

Jhn 3:14; 8:28; Rom 5:8.

Jhn 12:34 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?

Christ abideth for ever

Psa 72:17; 102:23-27; Isa 9:7.

Jhn 12:35 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.

a little while is the light with you

Jhn 7:33.

he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth

Jhn 11:10; 1Jo 2:11.

Jhn 12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

the children of light

Luk 16:8.

did hide himself from them

Jhn 8:59; 11:54.

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

though he had done so many miracles before them

Jhn 11:47-53.

Jhn 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Lord

Jehovah. Isa 53:1.

who hath believed our report?

Isa 53:1; Rom 10:16.

Jhn 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

Esaias said

Isa 6:10.

Jhn 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

not see with their eyes, nor understand

Psa 69:23.

be converted

i.e. should turn.

Jhn 12:41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

These things said Esaias

Isa 6:1.

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

believeth not on me, but on him that sent me

Mar 9:37; Jhn 5:24.

Jhn 12:45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

he that seeth me seeth him

Jhn 14:9.

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

I am come a light

Jhn 12:35-36; Jhn 1:4-5; 8:12.

Jhn 12:47 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.

I judge him not

Jhn 5:45; 8:15, 26.

I came not to judge the world

Jhn 3:17.

Jhn 12:48 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.

the word that I have spoken

Inspiration. Jhn 13:18. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

Jhn 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

I have not spoken of myself

Jhn 8:38; 14:10, 31.

Jhn 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

life everlasting

Life (eternal). Jhn 12:25, 50; 14:6. (Mat 7:14; Rev 22:19.)