LESSON 50 JESUS SPEAKS ABOUT HIS SUFFERING

Text: John 12:1-50

Jesus raised Lazarus from death in our last study. This made many people believe in Him. However, the religious leaders were not happy about this. Therefore, they planned to arrest and crucify Him. They were unhappy because Jesus was doing good among the people. They also had a wrong idea of what Jesus had come into the world to do. They thought He had come to fight for worldly position. All their plans failed because it was not yet time for Jesus to die. He would willingly lay down His life because nobody could take it from Him.

In this chapter, Jesus Himself spoke of His suffering and eventual death on the cross. There are different events leading to His sufferings which include:
(i) Anointing with a very costly oil at Bethany.
(ii) The triumphal entry to the city of Jerusalem.
(iii) Participation at the feast.
(iv) Confirmation by the Father through a voice from heaven.

Following His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and His encounter with the Jews and Greeks, Jesus proceeded to talk of His imminent sufferings and passion. As He spoke, some believed and others doubted. In spite of the rejection from those who did not believe, Jesus went on to talk about His life, the effect of faith in His sacrifice, and the portion of those who reject Him. You must accept Him as your personal Saviour and Lord so as to escape the punishment for those who reject Him.

1. JESUS VISITS HIS FRIENDS: John 12:1-11; Matthew 26:6-13.

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were friends of Jesus. They loved Him so much and often invited Him into their home. They cared for Jesus, loved His word, and believed in Him. This was not the first time that Jesus was visiting the home of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38).

You must open your heart to Jesus to come in and dwell. Be an influence to bring members of your family to Jesus.

Family, you will have a happy home. These friends of Jesus welcomed Him to their home, served Him food, and fellowshipped with Him. During His fellowship time, Mary, the sister of Martha, performed a significant act relating to the death and burial of Christ. She took a bottle of very expensive oil and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. It was the culture in those days to wash the feet of visitors and anoint them with oil. In this case, Mary wiped the feet of Christ with her hair and anointed them with very costly oil. Her use of expensive oil shows that she acknowledged Jesus to be the King of kings. It was a great honor to the Lord. This action of Mary illustrates the kind of wholehearted service friends of Jesus should be willing to render. Jesus Christ praised her for the sacrifice.

If you are still a sinner like Judas Iscariot and the religious leaders who did not see anything good in all that Christ did, you must repent now. Jesus is standing at the door of your heart. Open it to Him, and He will come in to fellowship with you, reign, and rule over your life.

2. JESUS’ TRIUMPHAL ENTRY: John 12:12-22; Zechariah 9:7; Matthew 21:1-11

Leaving the house of His friends, Jesus made His way to Jerusalem, riding on a young ass. An ass is an animal symbolizing peace because it is meek. It is said that in the olden days, a king would ride on an ass when going to make peace with his people. How wonderful that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, meekly rode on an ass when He was going to the cross to make peace between the holy God and His creatures.

The triumphal entry of Jesus showed that He is truly the King of the whole world. This event took place at the beginning of the week of Jesus’ sufferings and death on the cross for the whole world. He rode triumphantly because His purpose of coming into the world was about to be fulfilled. The people gladly received Jesus as they sang His praises, saying:

“Hosanna: Blessed is the king of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

They also honored Him by spreading their clothes and branches of palm trees on the way.

There are two important lessons we can note in the happy reception given to Christ by the people:

1. The expression of love and care for the Saviour. This teaches us that we must wholeheartedly receive Christ, respond to His message with joy, and give Him the honor due to Him.
2. True worship of God demands the giving of our substance, talents, and resources, as the multitudes did not count their clothes too precious to spread in the way for Jesus to walk on (Matthew 21:8). Jesus had triumphed over death, principalities, powers, and Satan. If you surrender your life to Him, you will also triumph and enjoy all the benefits that His death provides.

3. JESUS SPEAKS OF HIS SUFFERING AND DEATH:

John 12:23-50; Psalm 69:20,21; Isaiah 50:5,6; 53:3-5; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22

Jesus speaks about His being glorified, and that when He is lifted up He will draw men (sinners) unto Himself. This path to glory for Jesus was filled with sufferings and agony beyond human description. He compares His death to a grain of corn which remains alone except it is buried in the soil. Then it brings forth fruits abundantly. The life of an individual will count but little except he dies to sin and self. It is when we yield our lives to Jesus that we become productive and profitable.

Jesus was now feeling the heavy weight and pain that awaited Him, but He knew it was the will of His Father. He therefore surrendered Himself to His will and prayed for divine strength. He chose to go through the pains as long as God was glorified. God’s glory should be our concern in everything that we do.

Why did Jesus die? It was for sinners to be saved and to escape God’s judgment.

Are you saved? If not, this is the time to repent and become a friend of Jesus. Then, as a saved child, you must go out and show sinners the way to the Light. Jesus is the Light of the world, and He also calls His friends the light of the world. By this, believers are to lighten their environments with their lifestyles and preaching of the gospel. As you obey, God’s blessings will be multiplied in your life.

QUESTIONS:

1. Mention four events that preceded Christ’s sufferings and crucifixion according to our study.
2. Name His friends that Jesus visited at Bethany.
3. How did the multitude receive Jesus as He rode on an ass into Jerusalem?
4. Jesus willingly surrendered Himself to suffer and be crucified because of __________?
5. What should a sinful child do to enjoy the benefits of Christ’s suffering?

MEMORY VERSE:

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die” (John 12:32,33).

LESSON: Jesus suffered and died to set us free.

THOUGHT: I accept Jesus as my personal Saviour and Lord.

ACTIVITY: Prayer and altar call.

CONGREGATIONAL SONG: GHS 223 – I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE

CHORUSES:

1. Jesus died on the cross
2. On the way to Calvary
3. As He was going to Calvary

HOMEWORK: Share the love of Jesus with your classmates.

 BIBLE WORD SEARCH: Find the meanings of these words. You can use your dictionary.

1. Suffering
2. Crucifixion
3. Triumphant
4. Glorified
5. Respond