What Jesus Did : John 12:20-23 - The World Comes Knocking
by Phil Ware
The World Comes Knocking - John 12:20-23
There were some Greek people there too. These were some of the people that went to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover festival. These Greek people went to Philip. (Philip was from Bethsaida, in Galilee.) The Greek people said, "Sir, we want to meet Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew. Then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Now is the time for the Son of Man to receive his glory. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
The enemies of Jesus proclaim it. The non-Jewish Greek seekers demonstrate it. Jesus has won. The world is looking for Jesus as Savior. The only thing Jesus' enemies can think of doing is to crucify him. That will make him a martyr and open the door to the world's greatest miracle and eternity's greatest turning point—Jesus' resurrection. Jesus has been saying all throughout the Gospel of John that his time has not yet come. With the Greek seekers approaching him and his enemies recognizing his victory, Jesus knows that his time has come. He will enter his glory by doing what the Father asks—faithfully offer his life as a sacrifice for sins by dying on the Cross. It will be a brutal and painful glory for Jesus, but it will guarantee glory for all who come to him.
Today's Prayer
Lord God Almighty, I confess that I am stunned when I realize the cost of your plan to save me. Thank you for this incredible gift placed so firmly in the world in which I live. I praise you and give you all glory for your plan, your sacrifice, and your grace shared with me in your gift of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
There were some Greek people there too. These were some of the people that went to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover festival. These Greek people went to Philip. (Philip was from Bethsaida, in Galilee.) The Greek people said, "Sir, we want to meet Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew. Then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Now is the time for the Son of Man to receive his glory. I tell you the truth. A grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die. Then it grows and makes many seeds. But if it never dies, then it will always be only a single seed. The person that loves his own life will lose it. But the person that hates his life in this world will keep it. He will have life forever. The person that serves me must follow me. Then my servant will be with me everywhere I am. My Father will give honor to people that serve me. "Now I am very troubled. What should I say? Should I say, 'Father save me from this time {of suffering}'? No, I came to this time so that I could suffer. Father, do what will bring you glory!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have already brought glory to myself. I will do it again." The people standing there heard the voice. Those people said it was thunder. But other people said, "An angel spoke to Jesus!" Jesus said to the people, "That voice was for you and not for me. Now is the time for the world to be judged. Now the ruler of this world (the devil) will be thrown out. I will be lifted up from the earth. And when this happens, I will bring all people to me." Jesus said this to show how he would die. The people said, "But our law says that the Christ will live forever. So why do you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?" Then Jesus said, "The light will be with you for only a short time more. So walk while you have the light. Then the darkness (sin) will not catch you. The person that walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. So put your trust in the light while you stillhave it. Then you will become sons of light." When Jesus finished saying these things, he left. Jesus went to a place where the people could not find him.-- John 12:20-36 (ERV)
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/john/0826-wjd.html
(c)2001-2006, Phil Ware and Heartlight, Inc.
©1996-2002, Heartlight, Inc. - http://www.heartlight.org