Jesus Predicts His Death and the Jewish Unbelief Continues- John 12:20-50

Today, is John’s last record of Jesus’ public ministry.

Right after the Triumphal Entry, there were some Greeks who were there to worship and approached the disciple Philip. They told him they wanted to meet Jesus. There were some people who were attracted to Judaism because of its monotheism as well as its morality, but they did not like its nationalism or the idea of circumcision. They worshiped in the synagogues, but didn’t “become” Jews. The name Philip is Greek, which is possibly why he was approached.

Philip found Andrew and they told Jesus. Jesus told them that the hour of the son of man had come. That meant that the beginning of all of the events that would soon lead to the cross had begun. He went on to say that a kernel of wheat must die to produce many seeds. In the plant world, this is a common phenomenon. The kernel must perish for a new plant to grow.

Jesus tells them that people who are consumed with their own success and their own lives will lose them. Love for God must be at the top of our lives.

Then we get a glimpse of Jesus’ humanity. He says his heart is troubled. He knows what is soon coming and I’m sure it was agony. He wonders briefly about praying for God to save him, but he immediately dismisses the thought and never prays the prayer. He says now, is why he is here and ends with, “Father, glorify your name!”

God immediately answers him in a loud, thundering voice. When Jesus felt internal weakness, he sought God, just like we should. I find that very comforting.

Jesus tells the crowd that the voice is for their benefit, not his own. Jesus tells them that now is the time for judgement on the world. Satan will be driven out and Jesus will draw all men to himself. The cross would be Satan’s ultimate defeat because the greatest good that ever came to this world was through it.

Even though, the Jews had seen all of these miraculous signs, they still would not believe. They did have a choice, but they rejected it. There was prophesy about this, found in the Book of Isaiah.

The passage goes on to say that many did believe, even some of the leaders, but they were afraid of the Pharisees and what they would do to them if they acknowledged their belief.

Then Jesus cried out. These words were given special emphasis. He says that when a man believes in him, he believes in the one who sent him, (God) and when he sees him, he sees the one who sent him, (God). I love the next verse. “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

And that is the truth of following Jesus. It’s a dark world, but if we walk with him, there is always light. We are never alone in the dark.

He then says that he didn’t come to judge the world; he came to save it, but there will be judgement because he has only spoken what God has commanded him to say.

This is the end of John’s record of Jesus’ public ministry. What do you think about today’s passage? I’d love to hear from you.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂