Commentary on the Gospel of John

                                  Chapter Twelve

                                                                                                                                              Verses 12-19

Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy when He rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed ass. Psalm 118:25-26; Zechariah 9:9. The people worshiped Him as the King of Israel, not as their spiritual Savior. They believed Jesus had miraculous power because of the witness of those who had seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. But they only believed Jesus had miraculous power like that of a prophet. They believed Jesus came from God but not that He was God. Most of them probably hoped that as King of Israel, Jesus would use His miraculous power to free them from the Romans.

The Pharisees, who witnessed Jesus' entrance to Jerusalem, became afraid that if the people made Jesus their King, then He would annul their power over the people. The Holy Spirit then influenced these Pharisees to make a prophecy that they could not understand. Without their conscious understanding, the Holy Spirit had them prophecy that not just the nation of Israel would come to believe in Jesus, but the whole world would eventually come to faith in Jesus. This prophecy will come true. Jesus came to save the entire human race, even those who would be rebellious in their earthly lives. Psalm 68:18; Psalm 107: 9-21; John 5:24; Revelation 5:11-14; John 11:47-48; John 5:28-29; Matthew 13:36-43. I Timothy 4:10 clearly states that Jesus exists as the Savior of all men, especially of those who become saved by grace. II Peter 3:9 clearly states that God's Will happens to be that all humans will repent. God would never allow the puny will of humans to thwart His Will. God will save all humans because He wills it.

                                                                                                                                               Verses 20-22

As further confirmation of the prophecy of the Pharisees, these verses relate that certain Greeks came to Philip and asked him to give them an audience with Jesus. God sent these Greeks, and He made them symbolic of the entire human race who would eventually come to Jesus for their spiritual and physical salvation, some by His grace and all others in a great worship service near the end of the world. John 5:24; Revelation 5:11-14.