JESUS, THE KERNEL OF WHEAT

John 12:1-50

Key Verse: 12:24

* JESUS WAS ANOINTED BY MARY AT BETHANY (1-11)

1. What is the time of this event? Who was present at the dinner party in Bethany? How might this event been related to the raising of Lazarus?

2. What did Mary do? What did the perfume mean to her? Why did she do this? How did Judas react? What was wrong with his reasonable sounding words? What does the writer tell us about his motives?

3. How did Jesus interpret Mary's actions? What was significant about the time? What does he teach about himself? About the priorities we should have?

4. What do verses 9-11 show about the spiritual condition of the Jewish leaders?

* A HUMBLE KING, JESUS (9-19)

5. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, how did the crowd welcome him? What does "Hosanna" mean? What did their welcome signify

6. What Scripture did Jesus deliberately fulfill when he entered Jerusalem? (Compare Zec. 9:9,10) What does this passage teach about the nature of Jesus' kingship and kingdom? What was the Pharisees' problem?

* "UNLESS A KERNEL OF WHEAT..." (20-50)

7. To whom did Jesus give this teaching about the kernel of wheat? What does it mean that the kernel of wheat must die? In what respect is life like a kernel of wheat?

8. How do verses 25 and 26 further explain the "kernel of wheat"? What two kinds of lives are described here? What is the reward of following Jesus' example?

9. How is Jesus himself like a kernel of wheat? Look at verses 27 and 28a. What does this tell us about Jesus' personal struggle? How did he resolve it? What did Jesus teach about his death and its meaning for them and for us? (30-33)

10. How did the crowd respond? (34) What was Jesus' broken-hearted plea? (35,36)

11. What do verses 37-50, including the prophecy of Isaiah, teach about belief and unbelief? (43) About light and darkness? How do these verses suggest and open door of faith for the Gentiles?