Jesus is anointed for burial by Mary but then prepares the disciples for ministry by washing their feet. It is important to recognise the seasons where we need to be ministered to and where we need to minister to others.
John 12: Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.
3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,
5 "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"
6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.
8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."
The Plot to Kill Lazarus
9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well,
11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
The Triumphal Entry
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"
14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15 "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!"
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.
17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness.
18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him."
Some Greeks Seek Jesus
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.
21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up
27 "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."
29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."
30 Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine.
31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."
33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
34 So the crowd answered him, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"
35 So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
The Unbelief of the People
37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,
38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,
40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them."
41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.
42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;
43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
Jesus Came to Save the World
44 And Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.
45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.
46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment---what to say and what to speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me."
John 13: Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,
4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?"
7 Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand."
8 Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me."
9 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"
10 Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you."
11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean."
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you?
13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'
19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."
One of You Will Betray Me
21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.
23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus,
24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.
25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, "Lord, who is it?"
26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."
28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.
29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor.
30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
A New Commandment
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.'
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial
36 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward."
37 Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
38 Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
Things to think about…
1. We see in John 12:1-8 the character of people coming out to meet Jesus. Mary still wants to sit at Jesus’ feet, this time to worship Him. Martha is still serving, and the disciples, not just Judas, are criticising the actions of others. Jesus exalts the extravagant worship of Mary as she prepares Him for burial. What are you doing for the Lord that is just for Him and no-one else?
2. How hard does the heart have to be to consider this as an option, Jn 12:11 “So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well”? A mighty miracle was done. Never since the time of Elijah and the character of Jezebel do we see someone have murder in their hearts as a result of an undeniable miracle of the Lord.
3. Look at these people in Jn 12:12-19, they are laying down palm branches and shouting out praises to the Lord. Surely these same ones could never yell out ‘Crucify, crucify’. Alas, we know the truth. We need to ask ourselves if there are any areas where we are being hypocritical in our worship of the Lord. Jesus says His commandments are not burdensome and that His yoke is easy and His burden light.
4. In Jn 12:27-36 people hear a voice from heaven, they see and hear the supernatural and yet in Jn 12:37-43 there is still rank unbelief among the masses. How is this so? What more proof is needed? The answer is none! The issue is with the heart. The human race is so blind, we cannot see our own hypocrisy. Unbelief is expected in the world, how tragic it is when we see it in the church, the body of Christ. The remedy for getting rid of unbelief in the church is of course lifting up truth and Christ’s witness in the world?
5. Jesus in John 12:44-50 is emphasizing right at the end of His earthly ministry what He said to Nicodemus back in John 3. Jesus has come into the world not to condemn the world but to save it, vs 47. This ministry must be the focus of Christ’s followers as well. The Judge is the Father. Our role is to preach life. Yes there is a judgement to come, but a faithful presentation of God’s love, grace and forgiveness must be the primary focus in any faithful gospel ministry.
6. In John Jn 13:1-20 we read the famous foot washing passage. Here is true servant leadership. The Son of Man came to serve. I praise God for the many who serve at CBC every week and show the example of Christ as servant leaders. Jesus prepares the disciples for the events that will follow. Judas is about to betray Jesus and so He tells the disciples beforehand so they are able to recall His words and be comforted Jesus knows all things, John 13:19.
7. Here we see in Jn 13:21-30 that Judas after taking the piece of bread, then he goes out and betrays Christ. He would later betray Jesus with a kiss of betrayal. It’s a disgrace when Christian brothers and sisters show a hatred for one another with their words or their actions. Gossip and slander cause division in Christ’s body. Jesus calls us to deal with any disagreements quickly, Matt 5:24-26. We all have a commission from the Lord to promote unity, peace and truth within the body.
8. The whole point of the passage is found in Jn 13:34, 35. Love is the key. Love is never divorced from truth, but truth must be given with grace. Truth with a hardness of heart makes a Pharisee. Truth with grace makes a follower of Christ.
9. Words can be very cheap – John 13:36-38. Meditate on what you have promised in the past but have never fulfilled. Simply let your ‘yes be yes, anything else is of the devil’. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” (C.S. Lewis).
10. Jesus said Judas would betray Him, but that Peter would deny Him, John 13:38. Judas hangs himself, but Peter after weeping is restored. We are all sinners, but it is a true Christian grace to be able to repent and be restored back to Jesus. May we all have restorable, teachable spirits.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Title was “Who would want to be an elder” – Reading Ezekiel 14:1-11
1. Judgement had come upon Jerusalem. The year was 592BC. But further judgement was about to happen in 587/6BC. This was due to corrupt leadership. What was the problem that Ezekiel’s vision (the Lord) is addressing?
2. What idols do we see in the religious and secular world today? What idols do we have personally?
3. God gives life. The people of God rise up from death to life, similar to the vision Ezekiel had of Israel and the valley of the dry bones in Ezek 37. Israel would be restored. We are also restored even after rebellion and idol worship. Discuss how this has happened for Israel, but also for the church in the west.
4. Pray for each other and the outreach of the gospel
Prayer Points
1. Pray for the people who have been affected by hurricane Ian in Florida. It is believed hundreds may have lost their lives.
2. Pray for the people of Iran. There is horrible oppression of women who are being beaten and killed by a corrupt government, simply for refusing to wear a head covering.
3. Pray for safety as people go on holidays and return.
4. The right choice for a full time Youth and Young Adults Pastor to start Jan 2023 and the finances to support them.
5. More young families and youth into the church.
6. Ministry leaders within the church.
7. Our One for Israel ministry.
8. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
9. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Doug’s message and the gospel faithfully given on Sunday.
2. Some returning back to church after a while away.
3. Worship on Sunday – thankyou Paul, Suzy, Zac. Dan on Words and Tim on sound. Thankyou. Fiona and Maddison in café always do a stellar job. Thankyou for those who welcomed at the door.
4. All those who faithfully serve in ministries, Worship, Sound/Technical/Kids Church/ Cell Groups/Admin - Bulletins/Finances/Property/Welcoming/Spiritual Leadership/Cafe
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Remember to check your duty rosters.
2. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
3. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism question for September...
Q. 8. What will happen to the righteous in the day of judgment? A. They shall live with Jesus Christ forever, in a new heaven and a new earth.
