Wednesday, August 2, 2017

John 12:1-19 - The Key to the Crucifixion



12 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

GJ - The raising of Lazarus is well known, but the drama does not end with his emergence from the tomb, which foreshadowed Jesus' resurrection. Jesus was buried in a rich man's grave, carved from stone, so we know Lazarus was a prominent man, a man of means. 

Lazarus had a lengthy funeral, where friends and family gathered for days. Nearby in Jerusalem, people knew he died and the mourners spread the news.

Jesus raised two others from the dead, but Lazarus was a significant person and tensions were very high when this happened. The disciples had resisted going toward Jerusalem when they headed toward Bethany and Thomas allowed they could all die together there. 

Lazarus' illness and death was a topic debated among the believers and the opponents. His friend Jesus had opened the eyes of the blind. Why could he not heal His close friend? Thus a miracle became a weapon against Jesus.

In a few overlooked verses below, the Evangelist shows how people came to see Jesus and Lazarus. Moreover, the Jewish opponents, who had already decided to kill Jesus, planned to murder Lazarus, who was a prominent and irrefutable proof of Jesus' divinity, His role as Messiah - the anointed King, a threat to Rome and to the religious leaders: 

John 11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.


The entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday meant the funeral crowd was following, rejoicing, from Bethany. And the people who knew or heard of the raising of Lazarus came out of Jerusalem (verse 18) to see the celebrity and hail Jesus as the Son of David.

Before that momentous event, Mary anointed the feet of Jesus (Christ means - anointed with oil in Greek; Messiah - anointed with oil, Hebrew). She wiped his feet with her hair, and the room was filled with the fragrance of a pound of very expensive aromatic oil. This offended the unbelieving Judas, who pretended to care about the poor, but he was just a peculator, like the Church Growthers of the W/ELS and LCMS.

The anointing shows the devotion of Mary and the imminent death of Jesus. Thus the extreme emotion of Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus is even clearer. Jesus was seeing His own horrible torture and death in the future, and feeling compassion for what had happened in the death of His friend, the sorrow of Lazarus' family included.

In this chapter, as we have seen so often in this Doctrinal Gospel, the message is faith in Jesus, the absolutely essential character of this faith, and the dangers from blind and hard-hearted unbelief.

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.
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
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.
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
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.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.


12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
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.
14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
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.
17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

Much more could be said about this brief passage, but verse 17 reminds us once again that the raising of Lazarus, the crucifixion of Jesus, and the rising of the Savior are themes woven together, commanded by the Father, obeyed by the Son, witnessed to us by the Holy Spirit.

How could people turn the Fourth Gospel into a textbook on universal salvation founded on unbelief? The second part of this chapter explains - those who walk in darkness do not know what they are doing.

John 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?39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,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.41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.


Greek Lesson - John 12:20ff - Jesus Teaches Faith - Not OJ




Parser Link


20 ησαν δε τινες ελληνες εκ των αναβαινοντων ινα προσκυνησωσιν εν τη εορτη
21 ουτοι ουν προσηλθον φιλιππω τω απο βηθσαιδα της γαλιλαιας - και ηρωτων αυτον λεγοντες 0 - κυριε θελομεν τον ιησουν ιδειν
22 ερχεται φιλιππος και λεγει τω ανδρεα - και παλιν ανδρεας και φιλιππος λεγουσιν τω ιησου
23 ο δε ιησους απεκρινατο αυτοις λεγων "εληλυθεν η ωρα ινα δοξασθη ο υιος του ανθρωπου
24 αμην αμην λεγω υμιν - εαν μη ο κοκκος του σιτου πεσων εις την γην αποθανη, - αυτος μονος μενει - εαν δε αποθανη πολυν καρπον φερει"
See John 15 for bearing fruit. Polycarp - Church Father. Polycarp Leyser crushed Huber's UOJ like a bug.
25 ο φιλων την ψυχην αυτου απολεσει αυτην, και ο μισων την ψυχην αυτου εν τω κοσμω τουτω εις ζωην αιωνιον φυλαξει αυτην
Misogynist. Note the irony with guarding one's life/soul.
26 εαν εμοι διακονη τις,  εμοι ακολουθειτω; και οπου ειμι εγω, εκει και ο διακονος  ο εμος εσται - και εαν τις εμοι διακονη τιμησει αυτον ο πατηρ
OT word play - deacon noun, also a verb. me used twice, a familiar pattern in John, using short repetitive phrases, easy to remember. Deacon is not just a title or a name, but an action being with Christ and honored by the Father.
27 νυν η ψυχη μου τεταρακται - και τι ειπω? πατερ σωσον με εκ της ωρας ταυτης ? αλλα δια τουτο ηλθον εις την ωραν ταυτην
What else was troubled? αγγελος γαρ κατα καιρον κατεβαινεν εν τη κολυμβηθρα και εταρασσεν το υδωρ ο ουν πρωτος εμβας μετα την ταραχην του υδατος υγιης εγινετο ω δηποτε κατειχετο νοσηματι John 5:4
John 11:33 33 ιησους ουν ως ειδεν αυτην κλαιουσαν και τους συνελθοντας αυτη ιουδαιους κλαιοντας ενεβριμησατο τω πνευματι και εταραξεν εαυτον
28 πατερ δοξασον σου το ονομα. ηλθεν ουν φωνη εκ του ουρανου και εδοξασα και παλιν δοξασω
29 ο ουν οχλος ο εστως και ακουσας ελεγεν βροντην γεγονεναι; αλλοι ελεγον αγγελος αυτω λελαληκεν
30 απεκριθη ο ιησους και ειπεν  - ου δι εμε αυτη η φωνη γεγονεν αλλα δι υμας
31 νυν κρισις εστιν του κοσμου τουτου; νυν ο αρχων του κοσμου τουτου εκβληθησεται εξω
 εκβληθησεται long word - really short - ek ballo theta sigma - future passive - and exo for fun
32 καγω εαν υψωθω εκ της γης,  παντας ελκυσω προς εμαυτον
33 τουτο δε ελεγεν σημαινων ποιω θανατω ημελλεν αποθνησκειν
34 απεκριθη αυτω ο οχλος ημεις ηκουσαμεν εκ του νομου οτι ο χριστος μενει εις τον αιωνα και πως συ λεγεις οτι δει υψωθηναι τον υιον του ανθρωπου? τις εστιν ουτος ο υιος του ανθρωπου
35 ειπεν ουν αυτοις ο ιησους ετι μικρον χρονον το φως μεθ υμων εστιν. περιπατειτε εως το φως εχετε ινα μη σκοτια υμας καταλαβη - και ο περιπατων εν τη σκοτια ουκ οιδεν που υπαγει
36 εως το φως εχετε πιστευετε εις το φως ινα υιοι φωτος γενησθε; ταυτα ελαλησεν ο ιησους και απελθων  - εκρυβη απ αυτων
37 τοσαυτα δε αυτου σημεια πεποιηκοτος εμπροσθεν αυτων, ουκ επιστευον εις αυτον
38 ινα ο λογος ησαιου του προφητου πληρωθη, ον ειπεν κυριε τις επιστευσεν τη ακοη ημων  - και ο βραχιων κυριου τινι απεκαλυφθη apocalypse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachial_plexus
Isaiah 53 - the OT Gospel - also essential for Romans 10, Means of Grace

39 δια τουτο ουκ ηδυναντο πιστευειν οτι παλιν ειπεν ησαιας
40 τετυφλωκεν αυτων τους οφθαλμους και πεπωρωκεν αυτων την καρδιαν ινα μη ιδωσιν τοις οφθαλμοις και νοησωσιν τη καρδια και επιστραφωσιν και ιασωμαι αυτους
41 ταυτα ειπεν ησαιας οτε ειδεν την δοξαν αυτου και ελαλησεν περι αυτου
42 ομως μεντοι και εκ των αρχοντων πολλοι επιστευσαν εις αυτον αλλα δια τους φαρισαιους ουχ ωμολογουν ινα μη αποσυναγωγοι γενωνται
43 ηγαπησαν γαρ την δοξαν των ανθρωπων μαλλον ηπερ την δοξαν του θεου
44 ιησους δε εκραξεν και ειπεν ο πιστευων εις εμε ου πιστευει εις εμε αλλ εις τον πεμψαντα με
45 και ο θεωρων εμε θεωρει τον πεμψαντα με
46 εγω φως εις τον κοσμον εληλυθα ινα πας ο πιστευων εις εμε εν τη σκοτια μη μεινη
47 και εαν τις μου ακουση των ρηματων και μη πιστευση - εγω ου κρινω αυτον; ου γαρ ηλθον ινα κρινω τον κοσμον αλλ ινα σωσω τον κοσμον
48 ο αθετων εμε και μη λαμβανων τα ρηματα μου εχει τον κρινοντα αυτον. ο λογος ον ελαλησα, εκεινος κρινει αυτον εν τη εσχατη ημερα
The Word - that judges him

49 οτι εγω εξ εμαυτου ουκ ελαλησα,  αλλ ο πεμψας με πατηρ, αυτος μοι εντολην εδωκεν - τι ειπω, και τι λαλησω
50 και οιδα οτι η εντολη αυτου ζωη αιωνιος εστιν α ουν λαλω; εγω καθως ειρηκεν μοι ο πατηρ - ουτως λαλω

Lito Cruz, PhD - On the Bizarre Argumentation of Andy One Note Preus

 I study Robert Preus' book Justification and Rome 
because his family clearly does not.

Lito Cruz, on Facebook:
I just saw the post on Ichabod about Andy One Note's [Andrew Preus'] explanation of OJ/SJ. 

I remember when we were in discussion with the theologian from ELS, that it was the same teaching, we have to believe in OJ - i.e that we are already forgiven, to really be forgiven, for if not, we are not forgiven at all.

This is like Word of Faith, believe you are healed and so you are already, believe you are not and so you are not. Ergo, whatever you believe is what you are. The parameter of truth is *whatever* you believe and not the truth in the object of your belief. Notice too that in that Andy One Note defense that the object of faith is not Christ but the declaration you are already forgiven, saved - subtle universalism says Google Latin.

GJ - 
Yes, that is a good explanation, so OJ is not the Atonement, but some declaration not found in the Bible, Luther, the Book of Concord, or any bumper stickers. SJ is not faith but believing in this unrecorded universal declaration of absolution and salvation.

The Universal Objective Justification Stormtroopers should remember - and perhaps they do - that Preus distinguished their precious Objective Justification from the Atonement in his short essay.

Robert Preus, 1987:
The doctrine of objective justification is a lovely teaching drawn from Scripture which tells us that God who has loved us so much that He gave His only to be our Savior has for the sake of Christ’s substitutionary atonement declared the entire world of sinners for whom Christ died to be righteous (Romans 5:17-19).


Objective justification which is God’s verdict of acquittal over the whole world is not identical with the atonement, it is not another way of expressing the fact that Christ has redeemed the world. Rather it is based upon the substitutionary work of Christ, or better, it is a part of the atonement itself. It is God’s response to all that Christ died to save us, God’s verdict that Christ’s work is finished, that He has been indeed reconciled, propitiated; His anger has been stilled and He is at peace with the world, and therefore He has declared the entire world in Christ to be righteous.

GJ - 

Romans 5:17-19King James Version (KJV)

17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

The genius of UOJ is having people imagine that Objective Justification is the Atonement, when it is not. 
OJ is entirely invented and stems from the toxic influence of Calvinism and Romanism. The rationalistic Pietists were not concerned with the Means of Grace, so I imagine the concept of universal grace (apart from the Means of Grace) was transformed to make the entire world forgiven and saved.
If one has the time and eye-strength, read the earlier materials on predestination, Calvinism, Augustine, and the Jansenites. It is not a big step to move from universal grace to UOJ. However, man has done this against the clear testimony of the Scriptures. Give theologians a few centuries to ruminate and they can cites volumes and libraries of books on the subject of grace.
 Bishop Martin Stephan, STD, taught this to Walther,
and Walther insisted on it throughout his career as pope.
This peculiar dogma comes from Halle University, not the Bible
or Luther or the Book of Concord.

A second move of genius - or perversity - is letting people dream that Subjective Justification is Christian faith, when it is not - but simply faith in the notion of  their universal forgiveness and salvation.
Nothing gives away the falsity of UOJ more than their ferocious need to defend their OJ/SJ categories, borrowed from the Calvinist translator of the Pietist Knapp.
WELS has made a point of saying UNIVERSAL Objective Justification, which is the equivalent of saying someone is "amazing, amazing, just amazing."
 An illiterate, verbose false teacher, a Fuller alumnus,
can become president of the Sausage Factory.

Baby Hummingbird Lands on the Jackson EZ Bird Swing.
Bees Sell Me on Salvia

A baby Hummingbird landed on our bird swing,
but left when I moved to get the camera. Source of photo.

I set up a second bird swing near the kitchen window. The birds are quite used to sitting on the narrow metal bar that rests between two chains that hang from screw hooks. Recently I added an upper storey, because the kitchen area has few roosts for the birds as they jockey for a place on the feeder.

A baby Hummingbird sat on the bar and looked around for a minute or two. My neighbor and I have plenty of flowers that appeal to Hummingbirds, from Bee Balm to flowering Hosta. The little bit of work that I do for the birds was rewarded by that sight. The tiny one was wary. As soon as I moved to get the camera, he was gone.

 Salvia from Bluestone Perennials.

One way to judge the bee-friendliness of plants is to visit them at Walmart's gardening center. I saw a large number of weak Salvia plants in the gardening section and watched as Bumble Bees worked them over. The plants were on clearance and not in the best shape - except for buying. I was sold on them, so I got two. I had to explain to the cashier that I could revive them by soaking them in rainwater. This revival concept was a total mystery to her, how I gathered rain and used it to revive weak plants.

I soaked them in the rain-barrel a few hours and they looked great.

Looking them up - I noticed they belong to the mint family. They should do well in the Hosta Garden in the back.