John 12:20-36
Jesus Predicts His Death
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24I tell you the truth, 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. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever 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 heart 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. 28Father, glorify your name!"
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ[a] will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"
35Then 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. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem and is inside the gates...These are His last days...He knows He is going to die...That in itself is not a revelation...But Him knowing the exact time and how He was going to die is a revelation...He knows He is going to be crucified and raised from His death tomb...He tells us that "When I AM lifted up from the earth, it will draw all men to myself."...He tells us this so we know the kind of death He was going to die...
A group of Greeks (Gentiles) go to Philip and wanted to see Jesus...Maybe they felt something was coming...Philip tells Andrew and Andrew then tells Jesus that the Greeks want to see Him...Philip knew that Jesus had talked to Gentiles in the past...He may have thought since it is the time of Passover, he ought to run this by a friend, before going to Jesus...Sometimes two heads are better than one, when we are not sure which way we should go...Jesus tells Andrew that the hour has come for the Son of Man...He knows that His hours are numbered...We do not know, and are not told, if Jesus ever meets with the Greeks before His death...
The time before His death is documented in detail by St. John...Then Jesus gives us a parable about a kernel of wheat...When one looks at a kernel of wheat or the seed of a plant, you might think it it something dead, and by looking at it wonder how it might produce a living plant...Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed...A kernel of wheat in one's hand, or in storage does no one any good...But if it is planted in the ground, it produces many seeds and food...A dead seed planted can produce much good fruit...A dead-like seed can change from one small form into a large living plant...The small seed is transformed into a larger life...
Man loves the flesh and being on earth...We become attached to this earth and its possessions in this world...The man who loves his life (on this earth) will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life...The love of this world and love of this life is a contrarian teaching of His...Jesus does not want us focused on this world and this life...In His two great sermons, the Sermon on the Mount, and the Sermon on the Plain we learn that love of this world and this life are not what He teaches...He teaches us that love of God, love our our neighbor, and our faith must be the central parts of our lives...
Whoever serves Jesus must follow Him; and where He is, is where His servants will be...God will honor the ones who follow and serve Him...We are told here we are to take up the cross and follow Him...Our purpose on earth is to spread the good news, and to spread the truth...
Jesus, a man, now is feeling troubled and anxious...He know what awaits Him...Yet, He is at peace, because He follows God's will...He knows the difference and has seen both worlds...This world and the one from above...But, He is still torn by His upcoming death...He asks His Father, to save Him from this hour...No, for this very reason I came to this hour...(We learn that Jesus' temptation and struggle here are not a sin...In simple terms, our temptations are not a sin...It is when we further that temptation, with an idea, a thought, or carry it out that makes it a sin)...Jesus quickly follows the will of His Father...Then Jesus says, "Father glorify Your name."...Then a voice comes from heaven saying, "I have glorified My Name, and will glorify it again."...The surrounding crowd heard this from above...Some thought it was just thunder, others thought it was an angel talking to Him...
Jesus says the voice from heaven was not for His benefit, but for those following Him...He tells us that the evil one will be driven out of the world...He tells us that He will die on a cross, and His Father will raise Him from the dead...
The crowd spoke up and said the coming Messiah, would not die...The Christ would live forever...A ruler, the Messiah, from the line of King David will rule forever ((2 Chronicles 21:7)...The crowd does not know what this being lifted up means...They do not know who the Son of Man is...Jesus tells them the light will be with them only a little longer...The darkness will soon overtake us...But we must not walk in the dark...We must put our trust in the light while we have it, so that we may be sons of the light...Jesus is inviting all of us to follow Him...And when He finished talking He left and hid Himself from them...Even when He leaves we are to keep the faith...