John 12:1-26, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone.

I am a retired pastor of the Church of God (Tennessee).
My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India.

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If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be:

John 1:1&14 say, In the beginning Jesus Christ was God the Word and he became flesh. In Philippians 2:8, He is being found as a man, humbled himself, and became obedient to God the Father unto his death, even the death of the cross. Romans 6:9 says, Christ being raised from the dead, will die no more. John 12:34 says, Christ will live forever. Acts 3:26 says, Christ came back to the world, and if we look for him, he will turn us away from our iniquities. John 3:16 & 1 John 4:9 say, God sent his only begotten Son to the world, in Omnipotent Spirit body, that we might live through him. Jesus Christ says, except a seed fall in the ground and die, it cannot become a plant. If we do not die to flesh, we cannot live through him.

"John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,.. Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Romans 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. John 12:34 ... We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: ... Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."

Old Testament events are a kind of shadow

Our study portion is, John chapter 12:1-26. "John 12:1 Then Jesus, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead." We have studied that Jesus raised Lazarus from death, four days after he died. Bethany was the village of Lazarus, which was near Jerusalem. Mary and Martha were his sisters. They made a feast to Jesus at their house six days before the passover day. Jesus was decided to be the passover lamb, even before the foundation of the world. His death and the shedding of his blood was the reality, and the passover in the Old Testament was just the shadow; and it is a big study in itself, and so we will not go to that now. Now our study is to cover the chapter, and I will cover the passover feast as another topic so that we may study the passover with details. Six days from this event at the house of Lazarus, Jesus will be crucified to his death. But at this point nobody knew it, except Jesus. It is very revealing to know, that Jesus has died on the same day and at the same time, that the passover lamb is to be killed.

Celebrity Preachers sell and We all buy Jesus

"2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment." We have studied this even in the last chapter. I like to add a side note to this incident. There is a similar identical incident mentioned in Luke 7:36-48. Many preachers say that, the woman in Luke is this Mary. It is not correct and that is not Mary. I am not going to the details, since our study is in John and not in Luke. Let us see: Spikenard was a very costly ointment. In a way, this supper and the anointing of spikenard, are the preparation for the death of Jesus, that will happen in another six days. "4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?" 300 pence was the estimated value of the ointment. One pence was one day's wage according to Matthew 20:2. So, 300 pence was one full year salary to a worker. It is a lot of money, just to wash the feet of Jesus. One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot called it a waste. Most of us may agree with him. But verse 6 says, "This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein." He was a money hungry traitor, and his motive was not compassion towards the poor. Every Christian knows that Judas sold Jesus for money. Yet none of us see that every celebrity preacher sells Jesus Christ for big money and fame; and we are buying Jesus from them. We may be doing it ignorantly; however, we are part in the sale of Jesus, since we purchase Jesus, not with our life, but with our substance. There was one Judas out of the twelve, but now 100% celebrity preachers, and most of all other preachers are in the business of selling Jesus for money. All our brand name big ministries are the Judas Iscariot of today. But we have a choice. We can either give our money to these glorious ministers, and buy Jesus Christ from them, OR we can pour our lives as fragrance in the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is God. Mary poured the valuable fragrance of spikenard on the feet of Jesus. "7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always." Mary kept the very costly spikenard for him to his burial. What do we have, to be buried with Jesus; it is ourselves, so that we may become his fragrance. Romans 6:4 says, "we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Our new life will have his fragrance. It is a figure of speech, yet it is spiritual reality. We should give ourselves to him; he does not need our money. Our preachers need our money for their ministry, as Judas Iscariot pretended to care for the poor. Jesus told his disciples to heal the sick and to do such things, and said "freely ye have received, freely give." But we are so proud that we make sure that we pay them; and they are so greedy that they make sure that they get our money. They sell Jesus, and we buy Jesus. We both are doing gospel work together very effectively with the same goal as a successful business. We are so happy that we are part of gospel work; and preachers are more than happy to have us as their partners. It is a very successful business; it is our gospel.

Common Jews believed Jesus will be the King

"9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;" They all went because Jesus, as well as Lazarus were there. People went to see them; because the news went viral. The dead man was raised alive, after four days of his burial. They were sitting on the same table, and we can see them both. It was excitement. The priests also went, and their excitement was the plot to kill Jesus, and to kill Lazarus also. See how evil they were, yet they were known as ordained servants of God. This situation will never change, even in the future. Religion and godliness are enemies to each other. But they will appear as twines, but religion will kill godliness and take its place very quietly and deceitfully. Common people will not notice it. It has happened to Christianity. Christians accept religious rituals very easily as godly worship. Religion is a very effective counterfeit for God. "11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus. 12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." Even though religious people plotted to kill Jesus, common people loved him. Remember that the people wanted to make him king, when he fed 5000 people with five loaves and two fishes. The people shouted Hosanna, which is a cry of acclamation, and a shout of victory. Bible does not give the meaning of Hosanna. Some say that it means, "save us", but that does not match with the context. I would say that it is a shout of victory.

He is Messiah to Jews and God to the World

"14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written," More information about the colt, can be seen in all other gospels. But they are not given in John. "15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt." It is the prophesy in "Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." This is the prophesy for the Jews only. For Jews, he was Messiah to be cut off at this point, and the next time he will be the Messiah to rule in the Millennium. It was for the Jews to recognize that their king came upon an ass, and it was Jesus. Then, they will call upon him in their distress of tribulation. So, it is for the Jews to recognize, who Jesus was, when they will be in tribulation and distress. Even though, he is to be cut off this time, he will come to rule the next time as the king in the Millennium. Christians celebrate Palm Sunday; it is okay. But it is foretelling of Millennium, which will be in the promised land to the Jews. Verses 16-19 tell that his disciples as well as the Jews did not understand the depth of the events. "20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified." A Greek came to see Jesus. Immediately Jesus said that the time has come for him to be glorified, that is, the time for him to die, to begin his next phase of work. When Jesus was a man, he came as a man under the law, and his ministry was limited to the Jews only. In order to expand his ministry to the gentiles in the whole world, he must die as the man in the flesh, and to become God in the Spirit. So, this is the time for him to finish his ministry as a man, that is, the Son of man should be glorified. Then, he will be God to everyone, including to the Gentiles, it is the next phase of his work.

From limitation of body to access His Spirit

When Jesus was living as a man, his access was limited to the Jews and to the people in that area only. Christians say that he was God, when he was a man. But the man Jesus did not do anything in India, in Africa, in China, in Russia, or in any other part of the world and his limitation was, where his body could go. Then he dies, and his soul get into the Omnipotent Spirit body, then he is God and his limit is even beyond the universe. "24 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. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." Jesus Christ applies this power, not only to himself, but also to his servants; but, not to every human being. Jesus Christ will give this privilege to you and me, if we serve him. Serving Christianity or the churches is not serving HIM. "26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." This promise is only to those who serve HIM, but not to pretenders and deceivers, who use his name. If we serve him, we must follow him. But if we follow a preacher, we serve the preacher. A true servant of Jesus Christ will only have the ministry that he has prescribed. All other ministries, which are not fit under his instructions how to minister, are not his ministry, even though they label the name of Jesus. All other ministries are of deception and of the devil. Let us see a few of his instructions: "Luke 10:3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. 8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence... 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." So, don't go before you are baptized with the Holy Ghost, and then you will receive the power from God. These are the instructions that God has given to do his ministry. Those who have structured ministry for themselves are those who jumped over the fence, and they are of Satan, the devil. Jesus Christ tells not to add anything to what it is written. If we add anything, Jesus Christ will add the plagues in the Bible, that is, he will add to them all curses and damnations that are in the Bible. In short, they will be punished in the lake of fire. Yet, preachers add a lot of projects to their ministry, to become rich and famous, and thereby add their own eternal damnation. Jesus Christ says in John 12: "26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." So, serve the Lord Jesus Christ and not any other, even your famous preacher, church, or denomination. They are traps. If you serve Christ only, God will honor you.

Note: If any point needs explanation, OR, if you find an error according to scripture,
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Matthew 28:20, & Mark 16:15. Jesus Christ preached his commandments to obey, as his Gospel; it is the true Gospel to inherit Eternal life. Genesis 3:1-4 & 2 Corinth 11:2-4. But Preachers, who are Serpents of Satan, preach the life of man Jesus just to believe, but not to live as a chaste virgin, as the gospel; it is another gospel, which cannot and will not give Eternal life.

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