In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 12:17-28 [HCSB])

17 Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify. 18 This is also why the crowd met Him, because they heard He had done this sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look the world has gone after Him! ” 20 Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 “I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop.

25 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

The World has gone after Him

Iwish I could say that the world had “gone after Jesus” in the way the Pharisees had originally meant it. In the beginning I am sure it seemed as though the world itself was bent in the direction of Jesus, especially as the Jewish leadership felt its religious control slipping away. But, the reality was (and is) that the world has gone after Him in a very different and malicious way: to kill Him as an enemy of the faith, not to honor Him as Savior.

And …the world is still going after Him, attempting to stamp Him out. The remnant of true believers is also being systematically isolated as the newest objectionable minority.

Yet, Jesus tells His disciples that unless grain falls to the ground and is placed underfoot it can never grow up to produce a large crop. How can this be? It is the plan that will bring about the end of this world and will usher in “a new heaven and a new earth.”

Jesus says:

 The hour has come.

 Grain must die to reproduce itself.

 If anyone loses this life they will keep eternal life.

 To follow Me means to serve Me.

 To serve is sacred, and God will honor it.

 Now My soul is troubled.

 What should I say – save Me from this?

 Why did I come to this hour?

 I came to glorify the Father.

 Father, be glorified in Me.

Whatever we do must lift up the Son in this hour.

(John 12:29-36[HCSB])

29 The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.

30 Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for Me, but for you. 31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to Myself.” 33 He said this to signify what kind of death He was about to die.

34 Then the crowd replied to Him, “We have heard from the scripture that the Messiah will remain forever. So how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man? ”

35 Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become sons of light.”

Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.

All people to Myself

This message might easily be misinterpreted if it were not for the context of the passage. John makes clear that Jesus is signifying His death, and not the arbitrary inclusion of unbelievers.

“Father, glorify Your name.” This proclamation is God’s method, in the person of the physical Jesus, to present the gospel message in a mighty way that leaves no room in the heart for misunderstanding. Why then would the hearers even suggest that it was thunder (a typical belief of God speaking in that ancient culture) or even an angel if it were not so?

It is interesting that Jesus didn’t let the crowds dwell on questions that were trivial, or those which attempted to derail His message: He breezed right by verse 34, as John records it, and proceeded to prophesy about His own impending death.

I believe that our Lord is saying to us, in this age, as our own lives wane, “Don’t get hung up on the details of legalistic thinking, but be aware that your time is short. Walk in the Light and avoid the darkness. Believe in the light and you will become sons of light; and you will know where you are going in this life and in the next life.”

Jesus puts a lot of information on believers’ plates. Yet, in the spirit, and in truth, we are able to digest all that God feeds us.