John 12:12–15; 13:21, 26–27; 19:16b–19, 33–37

Bible Studies for Life
Director, Extension Division, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

Jesus Died For Us
John 12:12–15; 13:21, 26–27;  19:16b–19, 33–37
John tells us that many of the Jewish mourners who witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead put their faith in Him. Others, however, informed the Pharisees where He was and what He had been doing. The Sanhedrin then met and decided to put Him to death. Knowing this, Jesus and His disciples relocated to Ephraim for a while.

A Triumphant Entry (12:12–15)
It was Passover week and Jerusalem was abuzz with worshipers. At the same time, the chief priests and Pharisees had their spies on the look out for Jesus as they readied to arrest Him. And it was into this setting of contrasts that He chose to enter the city once again. John tells us that as soon as the crowd saw Jesus coming, they ran out cheering and acknowledging that He was the One prophesied — He was the King of Israel.

A Shocking Betrayal (13:21, 26–27)
Having been royally welcomed, Jesus began teaching about the necessity of His upcoming death. He then gathered with His disciples to celebrate the Passover meal. Before dinner, Jesus demonstrated servanthood and commanded the same of the men — that they serve others in the same manner He had served them. As they prepared to eat, He explained that not all of them would obey — that one of them would betray Him that night.

An Unmistakable Death (19:16b–19, 33–37)
Judas did, indeed, turn Jesus over to the religious leaders. Jesus was arrested, taken to some mock trials, beaten and then led away to be crucified. Once Jesus gave up His life, a soldier opened His side with a spear to be certain that He was dead. And consistent with prophecy, blood and water flowed out. God’s Son, who had proclaimed that He had come to save men and women from their sins, had unselfishly sacrificed Himself.

Temple business was big at that time because people understood their need to be clean before God. For an individual’s sin to be cleansed, the law required that blood be spilled on his or her behalf. That’s why animals were bought and brought to the priests as sacrifices. But, try as they might, they couldn’t do it often enough to stay in good stead with God. And so the God of creation cared enough to come up with a new and complete solution to mankind’s problem.

But why did Jesus have to die? Couldn’t salvation come to men in a cleaner, easier, less painful way? Aren’t these questions still asked today? It doesn’t make sense. The Son of God comes to earth as a man so that He can become the sacrifice to make other men and women “clean” before and “right” with God — men and women who would never do the same thing for complete strangers. That’s why we ask the questions. We cannot fathom anyone doing such a thing for us because we cannot imagine that we would do this.

That’s why when people encounter Christ, the responses are different and numerous. Like some in the city and at Calvary, there are those who are immediately moved and accept the sacrifice. Others, perhaps like so many witnesses in Jerusalem, question whom He is and what He’s about and want more information. Others still, like the leaders and Judas, cannot accept and ultimately refuse what Jesus offers. They turn away with no hope of ever being reconciled with God.

In order to fulfill the law, Jesus did the incomprehensible. He poured out His own blood to make the one perfect sacrifice for all time, for all men and women forever — so that any of us might be able to step before the God of the universe and be found pleasing and faultless in His eyes.

We’ve heard and read this story so many times that if we’re not careful, we can become rather casual in how we handle it. But we should never forget that many still need what we, who are believers, know — the Savior, who stands ready to deliver them from the pain they toil in each day as they try to live life in their own strength, power and wisdom. They need — we need — “victory in Jesus, our Savior forever.”