Study in John’s Gospel

Study in John’s Gospel Presentation 46

Triumphal Entry Chap 12v9-19 Presentation 46

Introduction In contemporary society there is no novelty at all in the idea of people trying to destroy evidence. The Watergate tapes with their famous "eighteen minute gap" have become a benchmark for measuring the destruction of such evidence. Clearly, if one is innocent, there is no need to destroy evidence. If one is guilty, this is at least one way of trying to avoid conviction and maintain a façade of innocence. This approach to ‘evidence’ is not limited to governments. We do it ourselves when we try to cover over facts that present us in a less-than-favourable light. Presentation 46

Introduction Here we are faced with a biblical example of an attempt to destroy the facts. “Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him” 12v9–11. As a result of Jesus' miracle - raising Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus had become an important piece of evidence demonstrating that Jesus’ teaching was true and that the rulers of the people were wrong. The Sadducees, therefore, were determined to destroy the evidence by killing Lazarus. Presentation 46

One Must Die In ch.11 Caiaphas had argued, "It is expedient that one man should die for the people." But clearly Jesus’ death was not going to be enough. Lazarus is added to their list. In time so would the names of Stephen, James, Peter and many other martyrs. Try covering up one piece of evidence to a truth and another and another pops up. The evidence for the truth of Christ's teaching and of his power to change lives is indestructible and therefore inescapable. If you are a Christian are you living evidence of Christ's claims? If so, then do not be surprised if as in the case of Lazarus, others want to supress the evidence in some way. Presentation 46

An Irresistible Attraction Lazarus had become an irresistible attraction. Jesus had raised him from the dead and now people were coming to Bethany, not just to see Jesus but also to see Lazarus and hear his story cf. v9. Are we also irresistible evidence of the truth of Christ's teaching? Are we attractive adverts for Jesus? Are we strong arguments for the gospel? Have our lives been made into attractive and delicious bait by Jesus so that others cannot resist biting and thereby finding their way into the hands of the greatest of all fishermen - Jesus? Presentation 46

An Irresistible Attraction You may think you are not irresistibly attractive and are genuinely concerned by that. If so note the two things that made Lazarus attractive : First, Lazarus had been brought to life by Jesus. He had been dead. He had no hope of making any physical recovery. Others had no hope of reviving him. But Jesus came and raised him from the dead. Granted, none of us may be able to say that we’ve been brought back to physical life by Jesus. But we share this experience with the rest of mankind, were once dead spiritually and without hope of recovery, just as Lazarus was! Presentation 46

An Irresistible Attraction It is Jesus’ powerful and irresistible call that bestows newness of life. The thing that marks out the Christian is not simply that they have heard but they have responded to that call! Have you risen up and followed him? If so you have been made spiritually alive by Jesus and others will be attracted to him through you. Of course ultimately it is not we who are attractive but Jesus within us. Jesus must be in us if he is to attract others to himself through us. Is Jesus in you? Have you experienced his converting power? Presentation 46

An Irresistible Attraction Secondly, notice that Lazarus was by this stage spending time with Jesus v2. So that those who came to see Jesus saw Lazarus and those who came to see Lazarus inevitably saw Jesus. Can anything be plainer? We will help others to see Jesus to the degree that we spend time with him. It is easy to see why this is so; for those who spend time with Jesus become like Jesus, and it is the Jesus shining through who then becomes the true attraction. Presentation 46

An Irresistible Attraction “Nothing in the life of the Christian is more attacked than his times alone with his God. Yet nothing is more essential if he is to go forward in the spiritual life. Frequent interviews with his Master are the secret of abiding in him. All the saints of the past have been men who have made time to see their King's face. General Gordon of Khartoum used to tie a white handkerchief outside his tent door during his Quiet Time and no one was allowed to disturb him… The essential point is determination and sincerity of purpose rather than length of time. The closed door and the quiet spirit are what the Father requires of his children when they would meet with him.” H. E. Hopkins Presentation 46

An Irresistible Attraction Now such a person becomes a threat to unbelievers, in this case Lazarus was a threat to the chief priests. They “consulted how they might put Lazarus also to death”. There were two ways in which Lazarus was a threat. First, they were threatened politically. If the ‘Jesus Movement’ got out of hand, then the Roman army would crack down and remove from authority those who had been responsible for keeping the peace - the Sadducees! Jesus’ people, when shining for him, have always been a challenge to an established, selfish, political authority. Presentation 46

An Irresistible Attraction Lazarus was also a threat to their belief system. Remember the Sadducees did not believe in life after death! But suddenly they are confronted with a man to whom a death certificate had been issued, whose funeral service some of their acquaintances had attended and now he was up and about back from the dead! And so, unless they could take decisive action then the influence of their teaching would also soon be slipping away from them. Lazarus would have to go! Presentation 46

An Irresistible Attraction Have you become a threat to anyone because of your Christian conduct? Does your life challenge anyone through its Christ-like character? Then prepare to be defamed and persecuted. Does your Christian testimony with its clear logic and unimpeachable experience strike home to the hearts of those who hear you? Then he prepared to be called a fool for Christ’s sake and have all sorts of pressure placed upon you to change your testimony. Think of the experience of Maryam and Marzieh, Iranian believers who along with many other Iranians have suffered for Christ’s sake. Presentation 46

The Final Evidence Jesus had given his critics the evidence of transformed lives and miracles of grace of which Lazarus was but one. Now he offers up one last spectacular piece of evidence on the day we know as Palm Sunday. And this evidence hangs upon his choice of timing to enter Jerusalem for the last time. In the gospel we come across the phrase, “his time had not yet come”. In John 7:30 we read, “At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come” and in John 8:20, “He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come”. Presentation 46

The Final Evidence When then was Jesus’ time? Jesus carefully timed his entry into Jerusalem to coincide with one of the most significant events on the Jewish calendar- the Passover celebration. During this feast the Jews remembered their deliverance from Egyptian bondage, when they had sheltered under a blood of sacrifice while the angel of death visited judgement on the land. When the angel of death saw the blood of a sacrificial substitute - a lamb, applied to the doorpost and lintels of their homes then he passed over them. Presentation 46

The Final Evidence And every year for almost 1500 years, Jews had commemorated that event, each family sacrificing a Passover lamb. These lambs had to be taken up to Jerusalem four days before the Passover sacrifice. And significantly, the very day they entered Jerusalem coincided with the day that Jesus chose to enter it. Josephus, the Jewish historian, tells us that one year a census was taken of the number of lambs brought to Jerusalem for this purpose - the figure was 256,500. It would have taken all day to get that many lambs into the city. And among those lambs rode The Lamb of God. Presentation 46

The Final Evidence Jesus entered the city surrounded by flocks of sacrificial lambs. Can you think of a more graphic illustration to point out and underline Jesus’ mission as ‘The Lamb of God’. He did not enter the city hoping that its inhabitants would make him king [that was the great fear of the Sadducees]. He came as God’s Passover lamb, the one who was to be the great terminus of all O.T. sacrifices. He was the ultimate Passover lamb, who came to provide an ultimate place of safety from the judgement of God. Presentation 46

The Final Evidence He came to shed his blood in order to ensure that the angel of spiritual death would pass over all who placed their trust in him. On that day thousands of lambs had no idea of what lay ahead of them but God’s Lamb knew exactly what lay ahead. Yet he rode on into the city. The cross came as no surprise to Jesus. And by this symbolical entry he was saying, “I know that I am God’s Passover lamb. Do you recognise that this is part of my identity as the suffering Messiah?” The greatest evidence of that identity would be his death and resurrection! Presentation 46

Conclusion What do we do with the evidence? Many suppress it. Some have tried to destroy and ridicule it. Some fear the implications of commitment thinking that the only thing worth living for is this life! But there are others who are grateful that they are able to say with Isaiah: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed… the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all”. Isa. 53v5ff. Presentation 46

Conclusion If you are a Christian then God intends you to be part of the on-going evidence that he holds up before the world. Jesus says that you are ‘a city set on a hill that cannot be hid’, Matt.5v14. Spend time in Jesus’ company; trust him to help you live effectively for him! Are you discouraged by how few show an interest in Jesus as a result of your witness? Then remind yourself of whom it is that lives within your heart. The hymn says, “Think what Spirit dwells within you”. Jesus truly is irrepressible. He cannot be hid! As long as we for our part are eager to shine for him! Presentation 46

Study in John’s Gospel