Who gathered the next day? Why?
What did they do?
What did they say?
What did Jesus ride on? What prophecy was that a fulfillment of?
When did the disciples understand all of this? What was the result?
Why did this group of people assemble to honor Jesus this way? What had they previously witnessed?
What frustrated the Pharisees?
Who else was among those at the Feast?
Who did they come up to? What did they ask him?
Who did he go tell?
What was Jesus’ response to this? What hour has come?
What happens to the grain if it dies?
What happens to those who love their lives? What happens to those who hate their lives?
What two things happen with those who serve Christ?

Thought Questions

Read verses 17 and 18 again. Why were these people honoring Jesus this way? Do you think all of them continued to honor Him? Why or why not?
What kind of king did the people expect Jesus to be?
Do you think the people involved knew that they were fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9?
Why didn’t the disciples understand these things then? Why do you think they understood better after Christ was glorified? Is prophecy always given for the purpose of telling things in advance, or sometimes to help us understand after things have happened? How do you feel about God when you find out that something He had predicted far beforehand comes true?
Why did Greeks come to a Jewish festival? What does this tell you about which cultures or nationalities will be saved in God’s Kingdom?
Why do you think Philip and Andrew might have been involved with communicating with the Greeks? Look again at John 1:40-45. How can we help bring each other to Jesus in practical ways?
How was Jesus’ answer in verse 23 related to the question of seeing the Greeks? In other words, what’s the connection between Greeks coming to see Jesus, and the hour coming that Jesus should be glorified? (See John 12:32)
How is Christ glorified? How would you elaborate on and apply the idea that if a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it brings forth much fruit?
What does Jesus mean by loving/hating your life? What do you love or hate about your life? What would you be willing to give it up for?

My prayer is:
a prayer of praise and “Hosanna” to him who gives life, raises the dead, and is the fulfillment of ancient prophecies;
that I would not only be drawn to Christ because of His glorification, but that I would help others to come to Him as well;
and that I would not love my life on earth so much that I’d be unwilling to give it up for God’s Kingdom.

Where did Jesus go? When was that? What had happened there?
Who did Jesus have supper with?
Who anointed the feet of Jesus? What did she use? What did she wipe Jesus’ feet with?
What did Judas Iscariot say?
What was his motive for saying that?
What did Jesus say that Mary was anointing Him for?
Who will we always have with us? Who will we not always have with us?
Why did all those Jews want to come to that event?
Who did they want to kill? Why?

Thought Questions

Why do you think Mary anointed Jesus’ feet?
How should we honor our friends before their funerals, not after? Are there some things you can think of that people do to honor the dead that ought to be done when they are alive to appreciate it?
Do you think Mary anticipated criticism for her act? Do you have to courage to honor Jesus in ways that others would disapprove of?
Did Judas have a good point about giving the money to the poor, or not? Should we be generous to the needy? What is the difference (or differences) in this situation?
Did anyone at that time, on either side, doubt that Lazarus had been dead or that he had been raised from the dead? How do you know?

My prayer is:
that I would honor and show loving affection to those in my life so that they know I love them, and not wait until their funerals;
that I would honor Christ above all, with everything I have, first and best.

(verse 45 & 46) Did some of the Jews believe Jesus? Why? How about some others?
What did some of the Jews go tell the Pharisees?
Who gathered a council? What did they discuss? What did they worry would happen if they didn’t stop Jesus?
Who was the high priest?
What was his statement?
How did he come to that conclusion?
Who was Jesus to die for?
What did they plot to do from that day onward?
As a result, where did Jesus go?
What holiday was coming up?
Where did the people from the country go to? Why?
What was the big question among the people at the Temple?
What was the command given by the priests and Pharisees?

Thought Questions

If you saw a person raised from the dead, how would you react? Would you praise God for His wonderful works, or be bitter and jealous of the power of the One who raised him? Why did the chief priests and Pharisees react the way they did?
Why did the works of Jesus make the Pharisees and priests so frightened? What did that have to do with the Romans?
Was Caiphas a good guy? (Read Matt. 26:57-68.) Can God use a person who does not love Him for His work? Even to prophecy? Why would He do that?
Who are the “children of God who were scattered abroad?”
Was Jesus being cowardly by moving to a town near the wilderness? If you are threatened with death, even for a noble cause as martyrdom for God, would you run away? Is there a time to hide, and a time to face danger? How would you know?

My prayer is:
that I would always have a spirit of praise to God for His wonderful works, and desire to follow Him as a result;
and that I would have wisdom in how to deal with dangerous situations, knowing that there is a time to protect myself and a time to face danger for Your glory.