John - Chapter 12, Part 3

THE AGE OF THE GENTILES BEGINS

JOHN 12:20-36

In John 11 we see the proof positive that Jesus was the Son of God in His remarkable miracle of the raising of Lazarus to life after he was dead four days. Next we see Jesus as the Son of David, as seen by the jubilant crowds who welcomed Him as Prince and King into the holy city of Jerusalem one week before he will be crucified. Now we will see Him as the Son of Man. 

As the Son of David, he is tied to Israel only and the tie is through the flesh. His final title of the Son of Man takes on  a far wider connection that extends beyond the Jews into the entire world. Here He is fulfilling the prophecy of Daniel 7:14:

“...there was given him dominion and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away...”.
Jesus as the Christ has led those given to Him by the Father out of Judaism into liberty, and He will lay down His life to protect His sheep from sin. In John 11 He is seen as the resurrection and the life, the victor over death and the grave (when Lazarus is raised upon His command).

Now in John 12 He speaks of Himself as a “corn of wheat” that falls to the ground that it may bear much fruit. Now we learn His teaching of exactly how He will become to all who are His the resurrection and the life. It is to be through His death. Verse 24 clearly teaches us that the corn of wheat must die to bring forth much fruit. We remember that Jesus taught us that unless a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom, and unless Christ dies, none could be born again. Paul speaks so very well on this issue in Romans 6:23 when he teaches that “...the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord”.

As our destination is to be heavenly people we must be related to Him in more than the flesh. All believers must be related to Him in spirit, and this is possible only on the resurrection side of His death. Here is the profound teaching, that the One who has been lifted up (above the earth) is the One who draws all to Himself, Jews AND Gentiles.

In verses 20 & 21 we see that certain Greeks among them came to worship at the feast and said to Philip ,” Sir, we would see Jesus”. Philip tells Andrew and both men tell Jesus. Jesus is within days to be delivered up to the Romans just as Daniel had foretold (69 weeks). Now as we see in Acts 15:14, God visits the Gentiles to make of them a people for his name. 

The Greeks are the “other sheep” and provide proof of the fields being “white with harvest”. We should note that it was the Gentiles who sought Him at His birth and it is the Gentiles who now seek Him just before His death.

Here is our first hint that the world to exist after Jesus dies, rises, and ascends will be a world made up of far more believers that the Jews. Once more OT prophecy is made true. Hag 2:7 teaches “And the Desire of all nations shall come”.

Jesus in verse 23 tells them that the hour is come that the Son of Man may be glorified. We are not granted insight as to whether Jesus met with these Greeks. But I believe He did. He seemed always willing to go to those who sincerely seek Him. Even today, believers know this to be true through His Holy Spirit.

Jesus now begins to reveal His inner turmoil in verse 27 by saying that His soul is troubled. Here is the preview of the time in Gethsemane. He was not troubled at the hour, for it was for this hour He came. He was accepting the bitterness of the cup. Now He asks the Father to glorify the name of the Father, and the voice from Heaven thunders the Father's reply that “.. I have both glorified and will glorify again...”. (28)

We should take note of the future tense of the last portion of the Father's statement. We know this refers to the glorious raising of the Lord from the dead after three days as Paul teaches us in Romans 6:4: “raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father”.

Jesus once more assures the people that this voice from heaven was given not for Himself but for their sakes. (30) for “now is the judgment of this world (31) and now shall the prince of this world (Satan) be cast out (31). Not only was life to rise from death but victory to rise from what was seen as defeat. 

The Savior crucified – The Savior glorified.