Passion Week of Christ (Part 2)
Giving Meaning to Life - John 12:20-33

We’ve come to Monday morning in this last week of Christ’s earthly
ministry. The crowds had cried out and showed the popularity He enjoyed
at this time...as we saw last week if the people had not shouted out in
honor to this King and Messiah, God would have caused the stones to cry
out!

Mark 11:11 serves as a transition verse: "And He entered Jerusalem and
came into the temple; and after looking all around, He departed for
Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late."

On this new day, the scene slowly begins to change:
· the blind and the lame come to him at the temple and he heals them
· children cry out in celebration: "Hosanna to the Son of David"
· the religious leaders plot to kill Him

This response had been the long history of the religious leaders of the
day:
Notice at the birth of Jesus they ‘had the right answer’ but we know they
were not the ones seeking the Messiah:

Matthew 2:1-6: "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the
days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
saying, {2} "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw
His star in the east, and have come to worship Him." {3} And when Herod
the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. {4} And
gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he
began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. {5} And they
said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the
prophet, {6} 'and you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least
amaong the leaders of Judas; for out of you shall come forth a ruler, who
will shepherd my people Israel.'""

The wise men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh....gifts appropriate
for a king, a priest, and one who was about to die.

Jesus also cleanses the temple for what many believe is the second time
(since we’ve discussed this in our study of John, let me make only a few
points and relate it to the church):
1. Church is not to be a place where people are exploited (their system
to exchange money to buy sacrifices actually kept a person from God; they
were abusing the temple, the people, and God).
2. Church is to be a place of prayer
3. Church is to be a place of ministry (people came to worship and Christ
met their needs)
4. Church is to be a place where wonderful things are done: (Matthew
21:15 NASB) "But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the
wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were crying out
in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became
indignant..."
5. Church is to be a place where Christ is praised

· Jesus curses a fig tree as He enters the city and discusses the meaning
of it the next day (I want to wait until next week to discuss that event)
· Greeks come wanting to learn and Jesus teaches them (and us) a profound
lesson

John 12:20-26: "Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to
worship at the Feast. {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} I 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. {25} The man who loves his life will lose it, while
the man who hates his 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."

These men were wanderers, inquisitive nomads of Gentile birth who spoke
the Greek tongue, and who probably had become Jewish proselytes, since
they were pilgrims to the Passover.

Perhaps they found in Judasim something better than the futile paganism
of their day. It was attractive to thinking Gentiles for several reasons:
- the unity of Jehovah is contrasted with the multiplicity of the
heathen deities
- the majesty of His righteousness as opposed to the immoralities of
their gods
- the direct revelation of the law instead of the idle speculations of
conflicting philosophies

Jesus presents His last public teaching, concentrating on four major
themes:
- The cross is imminent, only four days away (vs. 23, 27, 32)
- The pain is great (vs. 27)
- The need is urgent (vs. 35-36)
- The response will be varied; some will accept Him, while others will
reject Him (vs. 37, 42-43)

The central theme of this message is the glory of God. Jesus presented
three things here, which are all variations of one central truth and all
at the heart of the Christian faith and life. They give meaning to our
life just as they gave meaning to His life:

- He was saying that only by death comes life.
The grain of wheat was ineffective and unfruitful so long as it was
preserved, as it were, in safety and security. It was when it was thrown
into the ground that it bore fruit.

- He was saying that only by spending life do we retain it.
The man who loves his life is moved by two aims: by selfishness and by
the desire for security. We have only to think for a moment of what this
world would have lost if there had not been men prepared to forget their
personal safety, security, selfish gain, and selfish advancement.

- He was saying that only by service comes greatness.
The people whom the world remembers with love are the people who serve
others.

One writer said: "Those who desire to follow Jesus and become His
disciples must imitate Him: do what He did, bear what He bore, and love
what He loved."

God's children are like seeds. They are small and insignificant, but they
have life in them, God's life. We must die to self so that we may live
unto God.

We find in these verses the gospel in miniature:
- The glorification and atoning of Jesus in His death
- The appropriation of that atonement by man through man's crucifixion
of self and following the word of Christ
- The safety and reward provided by the Father

John 12: 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."

This statement is profound: Jesus could have asked to be delivered from
the hour of His passion. He also could choose to go through it. "He
wanted to fulfill His Father's will, but the possibility of death is
something all humans feel and react to."

One writer: "The attitude of obedience to the Father was a judgment of
the world because the cross displayed the contrast between obedience of
Christ and the rebelliousness of man. It was a victory over the devil
because the sacrifice of God triumphed over the selfishness which is the
root of the devil's whole philosophy. The prince of this world has gained
his place by self-seeking, through trickery, deceit, and cruelty. The Son
of God draws all men to Himself by dying a humiliating death in purity
and forgiveness. Ultimate victory will rest with Christ."

Two Responses by the Multitudes:
1. When the Father spoke from heaven.
"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."

It's been suggested that "it was available to all those present, but
received only by those whose ears were tuned by faith to it."

2. When Jesus made an announcement of His coming death.
"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} But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all
men 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
Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be
lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"

They did not understand how He could be the Messiah and undergo the
suffering of death...it seemed a contradiction to them.

Other voices from heaven:
- The baptism of Jesus: Matthew 3:17: "And suddenly a voice came from
heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.""

- The transfiguration: Matthew 17:5 "While he was still speaking,
behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out
of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Hear Him!""

· chief priests and teachers of the law plot to kill Him:
1. they fear Him because the crowds were amazed at His teaching
2. they couldn’t find a way to do it because "the people hung on His
words"

Last modified: April 18, 2006