This is the transitional chapter in John, which takes us from Jesus' public ministry-the signs-to Jesus' private time with His disciples before His death and resurrection.

With the raising of Lazarus, the seventh sign and associated ″I am″ statement (John 11:25) has been given. This sign is a foretaste of the greatest sign of Jesus' own resurrection. In this bridging chapter, the raising of Lazarus is noted three times (vv. 1, 9, 17). This miracle sets in motion a train of events leading to Jesus' Passion, the last week of His life before His crucifixion.

First, in the presence of Lazarus, Jesus is anointed for burial by Mary (vv. 1-11). Judas objects to the cost of the anointing oil-being a thief he is not really concerned for the poor, but wants the money for himself (vv. 5-6).

Then Jesus enters His city (vv. 12-19). The people wave palms-an act thought to be a sign of nationalistic fervour-and shout ″Hosanna″, which means ″give salvation now″. The Lazarus sign may have been understood by many to be a clear sign of Jesus' messiahship. Consequently, He is seen as the one who will release Israel from the bondage of Roman rule.Jesus' riding on a young donkey fulfils the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9-the gentle king bringing peace. Jesus will not be swept along by popular expectation of what the Messiah will do. He won't accept Peter's advice regarding His messiahship (see Mark 8:32-33). The crowd cannot influence Him, for it is the Father's glory alone that He seeks (v. 28).

The ongoing effect of the Lazarus sign intensifies Jewish opposition (vv. 10-11, 19). This opposition from the Jews is contrasted to the response of the non-Jews, the Greeks, who seek Jesus (vv. 20-21). Their query is the trigger for Jesus to recognize that His hour has now come. It is the hour of glory (v. 23), of falling as a seed into the ground (v. 24). It is the hour for which He has come (v. 27). The death of Jesus means glory for God's name, salvation for the lost, and the defeat of the prince of this world (vv. 31-32).

In 1 Corinthians 1:21-23, Paul describes the cross as the wisdom of God. It is a multifaceted diamond: for the believer the cross is the power of God; for the unbeliever the cross is a foolish thing; for Satan it is the arena of his own certain defeat (Colossians 2:15); God the Father sees it as the means of His glory whereby people are reconciled to Him; God the Son sees it as the place where He lays down His life to draw people to Him (v. 32).

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
-Isaac Watts