CHRISTIAN PRIORITIES 1. John 12-14

James Hervey was one of the original ‘Holy Club’ members in Oxford in the eighteenth century. John and Charles Wesley, who were subsequently to have such a radical effect reviving Christianity in England, were its leaders. James was ordained but was plagued with tuberculosis, which restricted his ministry. When only 44years old he started to have violent, colicky abdominal spasms and a hacking cough. He rapidly lost weight. It was obvious that was dying. A local minister talked with him about their Saviour, to which James replied,

“Oh, how much has Christ done for me and how little I have done for so loving a Saviour. I have not taken every opportunity of speaking for Christ.”

Doctor Stonehouse, his local doctor, visited and told James that he had only 3 to 4 days to live. The doctor was a Christian and spoke of the many “consolations through Christ that a true Christian enjoys”. To this James replied,

“True, doctor, true the only valuable treasures are in heaven. What would it avail me now to be the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is godliness not grandeur that avails a man.”

What does God want to say to his people today? What priorities does he want to see in us? We could not do better than look at the teaching Jesus gave just before his execution. It reveals the deep concern of Jesus and is highly relevant to western Christianity today. For this study we will be looking at John’s record of the gospel, majoring in chapter 15 – 17, but it is essential that we first put it in its context. As has been so wisely said,

“If you take a text out of context you are left with a con.”

How many errors many groups have fallen into by not taking note of this rule. This chapter will therefore look at the underlying emphasis of John 12-14.

The Major Theme of John 12

As this was being written, I received a phone call from the husband of a patient. He gave the bad news that his wife had just died of advanced cancer. He went on to describe the discussions they had during that last week.

“We shared everything we wanted to share before she died.”

It was surely this longing to share what was on his heart that was behind all that Jesus said during those last days. There is a common theme behind everything he says in these chapters 12 to 17.

In chapter 12, Jesus has been publicly recognised as the ‘King of Israel’, the Messiah ‘who comes in the name of the Lord’. Yet this earthly glory of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey was soon over. As he anticipates his coming execution, he spends the next four days preparing his disciples for all that lay ahead. He prepares them both for death and resurrection but also for their subsequent mission. He wants them to continue spreading the message that he is the only Son of God, the Saviour of the world and that only his followers are acceptable to God. He teaches that all people must believe in him.

When people have a discussion, what people say at the beginning can be indistinct whereas, towards the end, the meaning is usually much clearer. This is why some people who read an Agatha Christie crime novel begin by reading the last chapter first. Knowing the answer helps them understand the relevant clues in the earlier story. With this in mind, let us first look at a section towards the end of the chapter.

When reading John 12 verses 37 to 46, one idea keeps recurring. The repetitive use of a word is one way early writers would stress a point. There are no prizes for what that word is

​37Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
   "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them."

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;

43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

44 Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.

45 When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. 46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. John 12:31-46

It will become increasingly clear, as we study what Jesus taught at this time, that his greatest concern was that all people should believe in him. It matters that much to him because he loves them.

​Belief in Jesus is a Universal Need

Recently some leaders in an English church complained to their minister,

“Why is there so much emphasis on evangelism in our church?”

The minister replied,

“Because that was the emphasis of Jesus.”

If we now look back at the rest of this chapter, it is apparent that this theme underlies all that John is writing. He wants all kinds of people to learn about him.

​Ordinary People

After the story of Palm Sunday we are told that the crowd who had witnessed the raising of Lazarus from the tomb understood the significance of what had happened. They,

“. . . continued to spread the word.” John 12:17

It was because people talked about Jesus that others came to meet him.

“Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.” John 12:18

​Religious People

Religious people can find it the hardest to trust in Christ. The Pharisees were deeply upset and complained when others believed in Jesus,

“Look how the whole world has gone after him.” John 12:19

It is clear that ordinary people were beginning to believe in Jesus. Rejection of God by religious people is a major theme of the whole Bible, both Old and New Testaments.

​Foreign People

God wants to establish his kingdom of followers from all nations. The next verse again makes this clear. Some Greeks had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast who had clearly heard about Jesus. They came up to Philip, the disciple, and said,

“Sir, we would see Jesus.” John 12:21

This is clearly the main thrust of the teaching of Jesus over these four days. Jesus wants all people to believe in him and so to follow him.

​A Costly Role

To follow Jesus means to be involved in his work, to share the good news about salvation. In the next paragraph Jesus explains that his death will glorify God and produce many followers just as a seed’s death results in further plants.

“I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds.” John 12:23

This work of evangelism is costly, both for Jesus and his followers. But the cost we pay pales into insignificance in comparison to the cost Jesus paid. Our mission is to glorify God by the way we live and what we say. As if this were not enough, John comes back to the same theme by emphasising what Jesus’ ambition was,

“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” John12:32

The phrase, ‘lifted up’ refers to his crucifixion. He died to win people.

Jesus next gets into a discussion with the crowd, the very people he wants to win. They had understood from the Biblical prophets that the Messiah would rule forever, so how could Jesus be teaching that God’s Messiah must die? We do not know, in this summary of the conversation, if Jesus reminded them of the many prophecies in the Old Testament that teach that the Messiah will be a ‘suffering servant’. He may well have done. However he does give a demonstration to his followers of the sort of thing they should be saying to interested people,

“Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” John 12:36

Jesus was certainly not averse to making an evangelistic appeal. What better summary could there be of the Church’s message. Yet,

“ . . they still would not believe in him.” John 12:37

Real Faith

The sort of belief that God wants is a real belief where his followers put his reputation above their own.

​False Faith

In spite of this rejection there were still some who responded to his message but imperfectly,

“. . . many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue.” John 12:42

Openly acknowledging our commitment to Jesus to others is an essential feature of a faith that will save us. Paul states this very clearly in his letter to the Romans.

“If you confess with you mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

True Faith

When Jesus has explained that the cost for him to glorify God will be the loss of his life, he goes on to state that true saving faith will involve people being dead to their own selfish ambitions but committed to those of God instead. This means being a servant of Christ who does what he wants - this saving faith. Such a person is acceptable to the Father because the Son has taken responsibility for their sin on the cross.

“The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.” John 12:25-26

​What is Salvation?

It is clear that Jesus wants people to follow him and then join others in publicly confessing him. This message that people must believe in Jesus keeps being shouted out,

“Then Jesus cried out, ‘When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me..” John 12:44

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no-one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:46

Jesus’ primary purpose in life was to be the gospel and to bring the gospel, the message of salvation, to the world.

“I did not come to judge the world but to save it.” John 12:47

Today many church people think of salvation in terms of social care and political benefits. Jesus defines salvation in terms of the judgement that will occur on the last day. He taught that the basis for that judgement will be what he has taught, which he says are the words of God.

“I know that his (the Father’s) command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” John 12:50

There is now a steady drift away from this teaching of Jesus. Christian leaders seldom teach and demonstrate the necessity of evangelism. As a consequence the majority of those people still involved with our churches are not living with this priority. Significantly this was also a major problem in the first century when the New Testament was being written. The writer of ‘Hebrews’ keeps emphasising the importance of Christians remaining true to the apostolic teaching. Without Christ people will be eternally lost. To prevent this drift everyone needs to both hear the truth and live by it.

“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Hebrews 2:1

The apostles were clear that God required the gospel to be taught to all people and that it was the responsibility of all Christians to be involved in this ministry, even if in a support role.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Dear friend you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. . . . You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.” 3 John 4-5

The stories that John has selected in his record of the gospel clearly demonstrate Jesus’ great concern that effective mission will continue after his departure.

​The Major Theme of John 13

​Why Feet?

John 13 begins with the story about Jesus washing his disciples feet. Why is this emphasised? When I was younger I was taught that this is to emphasise the primary importance of humility that Christian leaders need. It was a tradition in those times to give visitors to your house some water to wash their feet when they first arrived from the dusty roads outside. In more affluent homes a slave would be delegated to wash the feet. This was considered a menial task and consequently Jewish slaves were not permitted to do this. But is it just teaching the importance of humility?

In John 12, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with approximately a pint of pure nard, a heavily perfumed ointment. In the records of Matthew (26:6-13) and Mark (14:3-9) it is stated that she poured the ointment on his head though a subsequent verse says it was poured on his body. There is no disharmony here as it would be impossible to pour a pint of ointment onto someone’s head without it dripping over the whole body. The question is, “Why does John emphasise the feet?”

In the story of Jesus washing his disciple’s feet two other points need noting. Firstly this ceremony does not occur when they first arrived with dirty feet.

“The evening meal was being served . . . so he got up from the meal.” John 13:2,4

Secondly Jesus teaches that there is a hidden meaning in this that they do not understand at that time.

“You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” John 13:7

What is or are these hidden meanings? It is clear that Jesus acted in this way because he understood his own authority.

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal . . . “ John 13:3-4

Then it says that Jesus “took off his outer clothing” (John 13:4). After washing the disciples feet John specifically says,

“. . . he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand . . ?” John 13:12

This must be a picture of the work of Jesus, leaving heaven, taking off his glory to serve us, prior to returning to be with his Father in heaven. Paul takes up with same picture when he describes Jesus,

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness . . .” Philippians 2:6-7

The disciples clearly did understand the anachronism of Jesus, their leader, washing their feet. Could it also be that John also has a hidden emphasis on the word ‘feet’? Clearly Jesus is not concerned about head or hands, it is just the feet that need attention. If you look again at the story the word feet keeps being repeated – 8 times in all.

In verse 12 Jesus asks,

“Do you understand . . . ?”

The next phrase is interesting.

“You call me “Teacher” and “Lord”, and rightly so, for that is what I am. . . . you also should wash one another’s feet” John 13:13,14

Jesus is stressing that the disciple’s must serve one another and verse 16 clears up what the context of this service is to be.

“I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”

It seems to be all coming together – ‘feet’ are the key. In the Old Testament, the prophet Nahum certainly understands ‘feet’ in this way.

“Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace.” Nahum 1:15

Paul, in his letter to the Romans quotes Isaiah 52:7

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” Romans 10:15

Feet are the symbol for going out to tell and live for the gospel. This work is tough and Christians need all the encouragement and support possible.

This also explains the strange injunction to widows,

“. . . well known for her deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.” 1 Timothy 5:10

If washing feet was to largely demonstrate humility, why just the saints’ feet? Surely this contains the same symbolism about Christians’ feet. Their role is to encourage the saints to go out to live for Christ.

At the end of Ephesians Paul reminds the Christians that they must have,

“. . . your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15

Has our understanding of the purpose of God become inadequate? We tend to think in terms of orthodoxy of our faith but overlook both ‘Christ-likeness of our lives’ and ‘Christ-likeness in our purpose’. We want to see full churches that are doctrinally correct, we want people to have experiences of God, but emphasise less our becoming like Jesus in thinking and action. We are not so concerned when we lose our tempers or say hurtful things about others. We make social and economic success our priority rather than having Christ’s priorities. Doctrine is dissociated from lifestyle.

Go into the World

A study of the rest of chapter 13 shows that it has the same underlying emphasis on mission – going out for Jesus. In verse 30 Judas went out in a different direction. Verse 34 says,

“Love one another.”

Why is this so important?

“. . . by this all men will know that you are my disciples.” John 13:35

Here it is again. Jesus’ concern is that the gospel of salvation should get out to all men. That is why close team support is needed, that is why disciples’ feet need to be washed.

Now comes the story of the prediction of Peter’s betrayal of Jesus.

“Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.” John 13:38

The point here is not just to remind Peter of a weakness in his character. He is about to fail in what he and his colleagues were now to do – to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus.

When I was studying for the first part of the FRCS exam, my tutor, Mr Stansfield kept saying,

“The way to learn is constant repetition.”

How true this is. And John seems to keep reminding his readers of the same concern that Jesus had, that his followers should go out and spread the gospel.

The Major Theme of John 14

The disciples are naturally very upset by the approaching departure of Jesus and his teaching that they should continue his work without him. Furthermore he had told them that opposition is certain. Security is the need of most people under pressure. A child who falls over will run to her mother. Words such as, “I’m sure it will be alright” are often said to those in trouble. Jesus offers his followers more security than empty words. Note he doesn’t offer them an easy time, he does offer security. John chapter 14 sees Jesus reassuring his disciples on three grounds.

They have a secure home to look forwards to.

He promises his followers a secure home in heaven. These words are not written as a purple passage to be used at everybody’s’ funeral. They were specifically used by Jesus to reassure those who live for him that they are the ones who have a safe future.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” John 14:1-2

They have God on their side.

To have a strong bodyguard can be helpful to those in fear of enemies. Jesus reminds his followers that they have someone who cannot be beaten on their side. He again reminds them who he is.

“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me?” John 14:10

This is the reason that we can trust the promises of Jesus.

“The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” John 14:10-11

Financial insurance gives limited protection. God gives absolute security to those living for him.

They will receive the Jesus’ Spirit.

Jesus promises that they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit so that his work can continue. His Spirit will motivate, remind and empower them to live for him.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.” John 14:12

What had Jesus been doing? Look back to verse 6 for the answer – he was saying to people,

“I am the way” – the way to the Father. John 14:6

Do you remember the story of Zacchaeus, the little tax collector who wanted to see Jesus and climbed a sycamore tree to do so? Jesus told those who witnessed the change in Zacchaeus’ life that this was why he had come to this earth.

“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

This also explains verse 12, which has muddled so many. No one has ever matched the miraculous work of Jesus but that was not primarily what he wants to continue, as the book of Acts shows clearly. He wants his church to ‘seek and save the lost’.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

Verse 15 is even stronger,

“If you love me you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father , and he will give you another Counsellor . . .”

Jesus is saying that the Holy Spirit is similar to himself and his Father who “so loved the world.” That is why the emphasis here is on the world hearing the gospel,

“The world cannot accept him.” John 14:16

“The world will not see me any more.” John 14:19

The Godhead all have the same aims. What a disaster it is when Christians talk of the Spirit supposedly doing things today that Jesus never did and would never do.

His emphasis here is not living with a Christ-like morality but the passing on of God’s teaching. How can people obey God if they have not been told what God demands?

“He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.” John 14: 24

​Don’t be Troubled

No wonder Jesus says,

“Do not let your hearts be troubled – do not be afraid.” John 14:27

What is he referring to? Is it just the prospect of bereavement or is he continuing the underlying theme of these chapters? Surely he is warning his disciples not to be too concerned over the troubles that will come their way as they continue Christ’s work in the power of His Spirit. They are still to go and make disciples of all nations, the world must learn about Jesus.

“The world must learn that I love the Father and I do exactly what the Father has commanded me.” John 14:31

Even the final phrase has a new poignancy with this insight,

“Come let us go”.

Go to Gethsemane or go to tell the world? The Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches call their Eucharist services ‘the Mass’. This title is taken from the phrase used at the end of the Latin liturgy, “Ette missa est” meaning “Be sent out”. The crying need of the church is to be sent out again into the world with the gospel of salvation. Jesus’ message to the crowd had been,

“Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” John 12:36

This message must again become the church’s priority.