(REFLECTIONS ON John 12:20-50)

In the previous section of Scripture, the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.” (v.19) How interesting that today’s Scripture begins with a reference to some Greeks among the Jews who were going up to worship in Jerusalem. Not only Jews, but also some Greeks were asking about Jesus,

21 these (some Greeks) then came to Philip. who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Indeed the world has gone after Him. And it is when the world has gone after Him, that Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

The hour has come, for all the world are coming to Jesus, and so it is now the time for Jesus to complete the will of His Father, which is the purpose for His ministry on earth. It is in Jesus’ next statement that we see the path of sacrifice for Jesus, as well as the blessing and hope for the world.

24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

Jesus is that grain of wheat falling into the earth in His death on the cross. Although Jesus’ soul was troubled, He still said, “But for this purpose I came to this hour.” Jesus knew what lay ahead was a path of suffering, and death on the cross, but the hour has come also meant glory, not in His death, but in His resurrection.

Just as a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies and bears much fruit, so the hour has come for Jesus Christ to bear fruit in His death, to receive glory from God, and for those who believe in His name to enter through Him into eternal life.

The hour has come for Jesus to do His part, but that also means the hour has come for the world, whether Jew or Greek, to do its part. That is to decide to continue on the path of trusting in the world, or to turn life, authority, and trust over to the Lord, Jesus Christ.

The hour has come, but Scripture tell us,

42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believe in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

Brothers and sisters, the hour has come and it is for us to decide if we love the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: John 12