John 12:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

NIV: He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

NASB: Now He was saying this to indicate what kind of death He was going to die.

CSB: He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.

NLT: He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

KJV: This he said, signifying what death he should die.

NKJV: This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

Here, John explains that Jesus' reference in the prior verse was meant to indicate the method of His death. When speaking to Nicodemus in a prior encounter, Jesus mentioned how a bronze serpent was "lifted up" to save the people from a plague (John 3:14; Numbers 21:4–9). This most recent reference to being "lifted up" (John 12:32) is also an allusion to crucifixion, where the victim is suspended off the ground.

As with many of Jesus' statements, few people hearing Him will completely understand. Most of that confusion is based in their misunderstanding of prophecy (John 12:34). Even though Jesus has been clear, at least with His disciples (Luke 9:22; Mark 8:31), most of His followers don't grasp the idea that His death is going to be a literal one. Of course, Scripture and other evidence have been pointing people towards this for some time (Isaiah 53:3–5). The problem is not that most people cannot possibly understand; the problem is they choose not to.

John 12:27–43 represents the end of Jesus' public ministry in the gospel of John. After being approached by non-Jewish people who believed in God, Jesus seems agitated as He anticipates His impending death. A voice from heaven affirms His mission, but to most people it simply sounds like noise or thunder. What Jesus means as a reference to crucifixion is misinterpreted by many as a prediction that He'll be exalted: to be ''lifted up.'' The people struggle to understand His message, and Jesus will leave them after warning that their time is short. This confirms Old Testament prophecies and reiterates how far some people will go in order to defy evidence of God.

Jesus is treated to an honorary dinner at the home of Lazarus, whom He has recently raised from death. At this dinner, Lazarus' sister, Mary, anoints Jesus with expensive oil. Jesus then enters Jerusalem to great fanfare, stoking fears that His popularity will attract the anger of the Roman Empire. That anger even inspires a murder plot against Lazarus. After being approached by non-Jewish seekers, Jesus offers a final plea for people to understand His ministry. In effect, these are the last public words spoken by Jesus in the gospel of John.

In the prior chapter, Jesus spectacularly raised Lazarus from death in front of a crowd of witnesses. This inspired local religious leaders to commit to having Him killed. Here, after a celebratory dinner where Jesus is anointed with oil, He will fulfill prophecy by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, celebrated with shouts of ''Hosanna'' and a massive crowd. This leads to a group of curious non-Jews approaching Him. Christ then offers a final plea for belief in Him and His message. After this, His ministry will turn to preparing the disciples for His impending death and resurrection. The next several chapters of the gospel of John are almost entirely made up of his teachings to these men.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 11/21/2024 1:32:00 PM