Text: John 12:20-36John 12:20-36
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.
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.
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.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
Topic: The glorification of Christ through the crucifixion
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John 12:20-22John 12:20-22
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.
tell us that there was a group of Greeks who were in Jerusalem at the time of the feast, and even though they were not Jews, they had come to understand that the God of Judaism was the one and true God. Although the Bible does not indicate how they heard about Christ in Jerusalem, they were familiar with who he was and hailed him as their King.
One of the major themes of the book of John is that Jesus is the Savior of the world and not merely the Savior of Israel.
- John 1:29John 1:29
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. taketh away: or, beareth
indicates that Jesus is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world - John 4:42John 4:42
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
tells us that the citizen of Samaria rightly identify Jesus as the Savior of the world - John 6:33John 6:33
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
shows us that Jesus gave his life for the world - In John 8:12John 8:12
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
, Jesus is presented as the Light of the world
On this occasion, Jesus reacts with deep emotion to the news that these gentiles are seeking him, and John 12:23John 12:23
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
records His statement that the time had come for the Son to be glorified. The glory of God becomes a major theme in the Book of John from this point on.
- John 13:31-32John 13:31-32
31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. - John 14:13John 14:13
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. - John 17:1, 4-5, 22, 24John 17:1, 4-5, 22, 24
17 1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. - John 12:23John 12:23
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
-27
- The Law of the cross (John 12:23John 12:23
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
-27)- There is no fruit without death
- It was absolutely essential for Jesus to die
- It was necessary in order for Him to bear fruit
- Salvation is for the Jews and Gentiles
- There is no salvation without surrender.
- We must be willing to lose our life in order to gain eternal life
- The man who loves his own life will ultimately destroy it
- The man who loves his life is right now destroying it
- John means for us to understand that loving our lives is a self defeating process.
- There is no fruit without death
- The Horror of the cross (John 12:27John 12:27
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
)- A prayer is offered
- Jesus was in turmoil as He faced the cross Jesus had 2 choices in prayer:
- “Father, deliver me from this hour” or “Father, glorify thyself!”
- The glory of the Father was paramount!
- Jesus was in turmoil as He faced the cross Jesus had 2 choices in prayer:
- A voice is heard
- I have glorified it in the past
- I will glorify it again in the future.
- God was pleased with the Son and the cross was in view.
- A prayer is offered
- The Fruit of the cross (John 12:31-32John 12:31-32
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
)- The judgment of the wicked
- The cross means judgment to the world and the wickedness therein
- Satan was defeated in what appeared outwardly to be the very moment of his triumph.
- The deliverance of the saved
- What was judgment to the world and defeat to the devil is deliverance to the redeemed
- All men will be drawn to Christ because of the cross.
- The judgment of the wicked
Supporting Texts:
- Jude 1:24-25Jude 1:24-25
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
