Jews learned 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. But the chief priests took counsel that they might put
Lazarus also to death; because that by reason of him many of the
Jews went away, and believed on Jesus."--JOHN xii. 1-11.

This twelfth chapter is the watershed of the Gospel. The
self-manifestation of Jesus to the world is now ended; and from this
point onwards to the close we have to do with the results of that
manifestation. He hides Himself from the unbelieving, and allows their
unbelief full scope; while He makes further disclosures to the faithful
few. The whole Gospel is a systematic and wonderfully artistic
exhibition of the manner in which the deeds, words, and claims of Jesus
produced,--on the one hand, a growing belief and enthusiasm; on the
other, a steadily hardening unbelief and hostility. In this chapter the
culmination of these processes is carefully illustrated by three
incidents. In the first of these incidents evidence is given that there
was an intimate circle of friends in whose love Jesus was embalmed, and
His work and memory insured against decay; while the very deed which had
riveted the faith and affection of this intimate circle is shown to have
brought the antagonism of His enemies to a head. In the second incident
the writer shows that on the whole popular mind Jesus had made a
profound impression, and that the instincts of the Jewish people
acknowledged Him as King. In the third incident the influence He was
destined to have and was already to some extent exerting beyond the
bounds of Judaism is illustrated by the request of the Greeks that they
might see Jesus.

In this first incident, then, is disclosed a devotedness of faith which
cannot be surpassed, an attachment which is absolute; but here also we
see that the hostility of avowed enemies has penetrated even the inner
circle of the personal followers of Jesus, and that one of the chosen
Twelve has so little faith or love that he can see no beauty and find no
pleasure in any tribute paid to his Master. In this hour there meet a
ripeness of love which suddenly reveals the permanent place which Jesus
has won for Himself in the hearts of men, and a maturity of alienation
which forebodes that His end cannot be far distant. In this beautiful
incident, therefore, we turn a page in the gospel and come suddenly into
the prese