Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

(Internet issues force late publication)

JOHN 12

Chapter CONTEXT from MHCC: It was a melancholy account which we had in the close of the foregoing chapter of the dishonour done to our Lord Jesus, when the scribes and Pharisees proclaimed him a traitor to their church, and put upon him all the marks of ignominy they could: but the story of this chapter balances that, by giving us an account of the honour done to the Redeemer, notwithstanding all that reproach thrown upon him. Thus the one was set over against the other. Let us see what honours were heaped on the head of the Lord Jesus, even in the depths of his humiliation. I. Mary did him honour, by anointing his feet at the supper in Bethany (v. 1-11). II. The common people did him honour, with their acclamations of joy, when he rode in triumph into Jerusalem (v. 12-19). III. The Greeks did him honour, by enquiring after him with a longing desire to see him (v. 20-26). IV. God the Father did him honour, by a voice from heaven, bearing testimony to him (v. 27-36). V. He had honour done him by the Old Testament prophets, who foretold the infidelity of those that heard the report of him (v. 37-41). VI. He had honour done him by some of the chief rulers, whose consciences witnessed for him, though they had not courage to own it (v. 42, 43. VII. He claimed honour to himself, by asserting his divine mission, and the account he gave of his errand into the world (v. 44-50).

Have you ever heard someone say I hate my life? Ever wonder if they are basing it upon our text for today and is that basis biblically sound? My answer to those questions is rarely if ever (for the non-believer) and emphatically no, (for the true-believer) never!

As I have said repeatedly context is everything and here again it is such. Here we need to look at v.20-26 as a whole to get the best picture. we have a group of Greeks (non-Jews) come seeking an audience with Jesus, and Jesus responds that His time is almost up on earth and those who choose to follow Him must be willing to be steadfast. Our text is a contrast between this world and all its “corrupt riches” compared to Eternal Life and all its righteous glory.

12:25 loves his life loses it If people decide that their lives are more important than God’s will, then they will forfeit the type of life God wants to give them—a life of relationship with Him now and in eternity.

hates his life in this world Jesus asks people to forfeit their usual wants and desires for the sake of God’s will.

eternal life Those who choose to believe in Jesus will receive life forever, in communion with God the Father, because of their relationship with Jesus. See note on 1:4.^[1]

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^[1] John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Jn 12:25.

And confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.—Heb. 11:13.

MY soul! hast thou also witnessed this confession before many witnesses? See whether thou hast the same evidences they had. In the first place, they were led to see that here they had no continuing city. Sin, sorrow, sickness, death, inhabited this region. Every thing said to them in that sweet voice of God, Arise ye, and depart, for this is not your rest, because it is polluted. What sayest thou, my soul, to this first view of the subject? Look at it under another. Hast thou learnt, and so learnt as to prize it, the blessedness of that promise, There is a rest that remaineth for the people of God? What sayest thou to this also, my soul? Dost thou see that Jesus is that rest; and he is the object of thy desire in rest? For the prophet saith, He is the rest wherewith he will cause the weary to rest, and he is their refreshing. Isa. 28:12. Hast thou heard, and welcomed his invitation, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest?” Go one step further in the inquiry. Under these convictions of soul, art thou travelling the heavenly road, asking the way to Zion with thy face thitherward, as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth? Go further yet. Art thou guided as Israel was in the way, by the pillar of cloud by day, and guarded by the pillar of fire by night? Art thou coming up out of the wilderness of this world, leaning upon Jesus? Advance yet further in the inquiry. While the Holy Ghost as the pillar of cloud is going before thee, and thou art resting upon Jesus as thy staff and stay, knowest thou God for thy father, his word thy guide, his promises thy treasure, his ordinances thine inns, not to dwell in, but like the way-faring man to tarry but for the night? And dost thou draw water with joy out of those wells of salvation Pause, my soul, as thou seekest answers to these questions. Knowest thou the difficulties of a wilderness dispensation; and the sweets of those streams from that river which make glad the city of God? Art thou like other travellers, sometimes enjoying fine weather, when Jesus’ face, his love, his mercy, are all in view; and sometimes walking in darkness, when storms of sin and Satan throw clouds over the gracious prospect? More especially, art thou the scorn and derision of the carnal? Do they make thee their subject of laughter, and art thou the drunkard’s song? And lastly, to mention no more, knowest thou, my soul, what it is sometimes to be discouraged by reason of the way, while Satan would prompt thee to go back; but sweetly constrained by Jesus’s love, thou art still the patient follower of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises? Hast thou, my soul, these precious marks of the stranger and pilgrim upon earth? Oh! then, remember what is said of them to whom the Holy Ghost bears testimony, and by thy covenant interest in Jesus behold thy vast privilege in the same blessed promise, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city

Robert Hawker, The Poor Man’s Morning Portion (New York; Pittsburg: Robert Carter, 1845), 163–164.

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SERMON

Saints and Sinners, in This World and the Next

Thomas Boston, 1676–1732

Several practical sermons preached at Ettrick, at the end of the year 1728, and beginning of 1729