YOUTH STS LESSON 154 CHRIST FORETELLS HIS PASSION

TEXT: John 12:1-50    

MEMORY VERSE: “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified” (John 12:23).

The raising of Lazarus in the last chapter stirred a strong expectation in the mind of people such that many welcomed Him. In today’s lesson, we are considering the fulfilment of Zechariah’s prophecy (Zechariah 9:9). This is what is referred to as the triumphant entry. After His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and His encounter with the Jews who had heard of His fame and had come to hear Him, Christ proceeded to talk of His imminent suffering. He told them the hour of His glorification was at hand when He would be lifted up so that the purpose of His coming might be fulfilled. The Lord spoke about His person, the effect of faith in His sacrifice, and the portion of those who reject Him. In this, we learn that people’s attitude to the word should not stop us from delivering God’s message to them. We are to be faithful messengers of the heavenly message and in times of suffering, our focus should be on the gain and not the pain (Hebrews 12:2).

1.CHRIST HONOURED AT BETHANY (John 12:1-11; Matthew 26:6-8; Mark 14:5; Luke 10:38-42; 1 Peter 3:15-17)

“Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him” (verses 1,2). They made Jesus a supper as a token of their respect, gratitude and for friendship. Christ promised those that open the door of their hearts to Him that He will come in and sup with them (Revelation 3:20).

Question 1: How can a youth become a friend of Jesus?

To be a friend of Jesus, a youth must endeavour to open the door of his heart as Christ knocks. When youths listen to the gospel message, they should let Christ in by genuine repentance, forsaking their sinful ways so that Christ can be their Lord and Saviour. It is noteworthy that Lazarus was one of those that sat with Him at the table. This serves as a testimony of the miracle Christ had wrought. Those youths whom Christ has raised spiritually are made to sit together with Him and are expected to allow their lives to attract people to Him (Ephesians 2:5,6). Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with a costly ointment and wiped it with her hair. Mary’s act of loving devotion stands out as sweet smell, her simple and unconventional action demonstrates self-humiliation, self-abandonment, adoration and sincere love.

Question 2: What factors prompted Mary to take that unusual action of anointing Jesus’ feet?

Mary had many reasons to express a sincere gratitude to the Lord. She had the opportunity to have sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to wonderful words of life and her brother, Lazarus had been raised back to life. She was excited to see her brother sit on the same table with the One who brought him to life and turned her mourning into joy. Mary took the ointment, the most precious thing she possessed, and poured it on Jesus’ feet at the banquet. She did not want to offer unto the Lord that which cost her nothing. Even Judas stated that the ointment was worth three hundred pence. In those days, a penny was the amount an ordinary worker would receive for a day’s work. Thus, according to Judas’ estimation, the ointment was worth about one year’s wages.

His statement did not come from a position of charity but from that of covetousness. The Lord silenced Judas saying: “Let her alone”. This revealed to us that the Lord had no problem with what Mary had done. He saw beyond Judas’ hypocrisy and commended Mary. Do you feel irritated by the success or miracle experienced by others? Sometimes, some youths spend time to condemn the guiltless, disapproving what God has approved and attempting to pull down those who God has raised up. They, often, try to spiritualise their arguments like Judas, by so doing making themselves tools in the hands of the devil to hinder the progress of God’s work.

2.CHRIST’S TRIUMPHAL ENTRY TO JERUSALEM (John 12:12-22; Luke 19:28-38; Mark 11:7-10; Matthew 21:7-11; Zechariah 9:9)

Jesus sent His disciples to fetch Him an ass, giving them the exact details as to its location and condition. He said, “Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose Him? Thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him” (Luke 19:30,31). Jesus is all-knowing, and He is Lord of all (Psalm 139:1-3; Acts 10:36) The owner willingly released the ass for Jesus to ride upon. At different periods, Christ may demand the heart and life of a Christian youth for His purpose (Proverbs 23:26)

Question 3: What did the multitude do to honour Christ while entering into Jerusalem?

Many people who had also come to the Feast of the Passover made themselves ready and made haste to meet Jesus as He made His entry into Jerusalem. They did not come empty- handed. They came with palms. Some pulled off their garments and spread them on the ground for Jesus to pass on (Matthew 21:7-8, Mark 11:8; Luke 19:36). Those who could not get leaves from the palm trees also got branches from the trees (Mark 11:8; Matthew 21:8). All these were meant to give honour to Christ as the Messiah. They shouted “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (verse 13).

Question 4: What is the benefit of Christlike living among unbelievers?

As the Holy Ghost bore record of Christ to His disciples so the people who had seen the works of Jesus, bore record of Him. This same people were there watching when Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave. They influenced other people to meet Christ. “For this cause the people also met him, for that they had heard that he had done this miracle” (John 12:18). A youth has a lot to learn here. Whatever you do, whether in public or in private, there is someone watching you. A youth should strive, at all times, to live righteously in the school, neighbourhood, Church, and wherever he finds himself so as to influence others to see Christ. A genuinely saved youth should “bare record”, that is, testify of Christ’s great salvation and deliverance to the unbelieving youths at all times. We have examples like Andrew and Simon Peter (John 1:40-45). Although the will of God will always be opposed by Satan, God’s will always prevail at the end. The miraculous deeds of Christ and the triumphant welcome given Him as He entered Jerusalem did not go down well with the Pharisees. After raising Lazarus from the dead, “…the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus” (John 12: 10, 11). Besides, the Pharisees were sad among themselves “Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? Behold, the world is gone after him” (John 12:19b). In other words, despite the Pharisees’ attempt to hinder the progress of Christ’s ministry, He still gained the attention of many people. The believing youth should pick a challenge from this and learn that God is mightier than the whole of the human race and that His will must definitely come to pass.

Today, the same “gates of hell shall not prevail against” the church (Matthew 16:18). There is the need for believing youths to trust the Lord in the matter of academics, career choice, persecution, discouragement, oppositions, so that they will come out triumphantly. As the world persecuted our Lord, so would they persecute the believing youths, today (2 Timothy 3:12; Philippians 1:29).

3.CHRIST PREDICTS HIS SUFFERING AND GLORIFICATION (John 12:23-50; Luke 9:51; Romans 5:1- 11; John 10:10; Isaiah 53:3-7,10,11)

“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:23,24). Christ spoke of His glorification and likened His humiliation, death and resurrection to the process of germination of a corn of wheat. The seed buried in the soil will first die before it comes up again green, flourishing with a great increase. Christ’s time to go to the cross was at hand. All the various events that had taken place before now did not distract Him from this divine course. He lost His life that we might gain eternal life. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through this illustration, we learnt that:

(i) the death of Christ was a necessity for the salvation of the world;

(ii) A selfless, sacrificial life brings about results to fruitfulness.

This is clear from the sacrifice of Christ which has brought millions of souls out of darkness into the marvellous light of God.

Question 5: How does Christ’s death bring forth much fruit?

The glorious life of a truly converted and consecrated Christian youth is the fruit of Christ’s vicarious death. Just as one “corn of wheat” in the ground grows to produce much fruit, the death of Christ has led to the salvation of many. He has set forth Himself as our perfect Example to follow. “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour; but for this cause came I unto this hour” (John 12:27). Here, we see the human nature of Christ. This is why His soul was troubled. Christ is the personification of light. “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46). Light is desired by all, for all the different shades of meaning and benefits it bears. It repels darkness (John 1:5) and guides one’s way from stumbling into danger. Christ, being the Light of the world, has several implications to believers. The Scripture talks about light and salvation (Psalm 27:1), light and righteousness (Psalm 97:11; Proverbs 13:9), light and truth (Psalm 43:3), light and pathway (Psalm 119:105), light and light and joy (Psalm 89:15). All unbelieving youths are abiding in darkness. Outside Christ is total darkness; only in Christ do we have and walk in the light. “They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed” (Psalm 34:5). All youths who look away from Christ cannot be saved.

Question 6: What must sinning youths do to benefit from Christ’s light?

All sinning youths must shun all forms of sins and come to Christ for their salvation. They must believe only in Christ and His sacrifice, repent and forsake their sins (John 14:6; Acts 4:10-12). Youths must know that hearing the word of God and not believing or acting accordingly displeases the Lord. All those who hear the word of God but reject Christ shall be judged by the same word eventually.

Question 7: What is the consequence of unbelief?

“But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him” (John 12:37). Youths who do not believe the truth of God’s word and the gospel message cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Of the children of Israel who did not believe the Lord, He told Moses, “I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them…” (Numbers 14:12). Unbelief robs one of divine favour and dispossesses one of God’s blessings.