John 12:20-36
Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Jesus was troubled before His death...He knew His death was close in coming now...And He said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified...Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed...But if it dies, it produces many seeds...Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life...Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I AM, My servant also will be...My Father will honor the one who serves Me...“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say?...‘Father, save Me from this hour’?..No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour...Father, glorify Your Name!”...Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”...The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to Him...
Jesus has told us that for this very reason He came to earth...Jesus' hour of suffering on the cross was very near...Jesus has told us that He came to earth to be lifted up on a cross...And He would die for our sins, for all those who have sinned...Jesus though He was anxious about this hour nearing the cross, it was His reason He came to earth...On the suffering cross He would take our sin debts and the finality of death away...Jesus would take away the sting of death, for those who believe in Him...
Jesus would die on the cross and then be resurrected...But His suffering on the cross cannot be forgotten...Jesus’ resurrection does not erase His history or His past or the suffering He went through while He was on the cross...He suffered greatly on the cross...Suffering is a part of life and He shows us that we are not to erase the suffering part of our lives...Some of His teachings are about those who suffer and are lost, those who are outcast by society, or those who have sinned and are in search of Someone like Him...Like Him they have suffered in their lives...The suffering on the cross was a body and blood and graphic thing...
Jesus hanging and suffering of His body on the cross is the symbol many have in their/our homes and as part of what they/we where in necklace form...His suffering on the cross is never to be forgotten...It never will...For this reason He came to us...