Title A grain of wheat / John 12:20
Contents
Title: A grain of wheat / John 12:20-
The text is the same event as the illustration that took place before the cross of Jesus.
1. Greek request
(1) These Greeks were probably converted Gentiles, and they were devout people because they came up to the feast.
John 12:20 Among those who came up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.
(2) Why did they ask Philip to go and meet Jesus Christ?
Presumably, the name Philip is a Greek name, and Bethsaida in Galilee was a region on the outskirts of Judea, close to the Gentiles. Therefore, he must have felt more friendly to the Greeks than to the other disciples.
John 12:21 Then they went to Philip the Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Teacher, we want to see Jesus."
(3) What are their requests?
They are talking about their desire to see Jesus.
Judging from the situation at the time, it was right after Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey and listening to [Hosanna] praise, so Jesus must have been very well known to those who came up to Jerusalem for the Passover.
Therefore, it must have been very natural for these Greeks to want to meet Jesus Christ. However, one thing to remember here is that it cannot be said that they came here simply out of curiosity about Jesus Christ. Because they would not have needed an intermediary like Philip to meet Jesus Christ.
By the roadside, in the temple in Jerusalem, wherever Jesus conversed with the Jews, to hear the words of Jesus Christ,
because you could see it.
However, they were hoping to meet Jesus Christ personally and quietly.
It can be seen in the fact that they are not asking to see the signs or miracles of Jesus Christ as evidence of that, but are saying that they want to see Jesus Christ.
John 6:30 They asked him, "What then is the sign that he does so that we may see and believe in you? What is it?"
(4) The reason Philip went to Jesus with Andrew
Philip could have gone to Jesus alone and asked, so why did he go to Jesus with Andrew?
Jesus at the beginning of his ministry
Matthew 10:5 ...Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans.
Matthew 10:6 Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
He said.
Therefore, Philip was hesitant to convey the Greek wishes to Jesus.
(5) Why the Bible records the fact that the Greeks came to Jesus
The Bible records the visits of Greeks to Jesus at the end of Jesus' ministry, testifying to the globality of Jesus Christ's work and the fulfillment of the Old Testament.
John 10:16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold, and I must lead them. They will also hear my voice, and they will become one flock, with one shepherd.
Isaiah 49:6 He said, "Be my servant, and raise up the tribes of Jacob,
It is rather a light thing to bring back those who are preserved among the El.
2. Jesus' answer
The Bible does not record whether Jesus met a Greek or not. The important thing is to focus on the fact that Gentiles came to Jesus at the end of Jesus' ministry.
(1) The time of the Son of Man has come.
John 12:23 Jesus answered and said, The hour has come for the glory of the Son of Man
① From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus spoke a lot about [time].
John 2:4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what have you got to do with me?
My hour has not yet come.
John 7:6 Jesus said to them, My hour has not yet come...
John 7:8 I have not yet ascended to this feast, for my hour is not yet fulfilled.
John 7:30 They tried to seize Jesus, but no one touched him.
for his hour has not yet come.
John 8:20 These words were spoken before the treasury when he was teaching in the temple, but no one took hold of them, for his hour had not yet come.
That the time has not yet come means that the time has not come for the Lord to bear the cross.
②But now, the [time] has come.
When Jesus was crucified, the time had come to complete His work.
③ Then, why is Jesus pointing out that the time has come through the Gentiles coming to Him?
prophesy in the bible
Haggai 2:7 also shall shake the nations, and the treasures of all nations shall come.
I will replenish the former with glory, says the LORD of hosts.
In other words, it is to testify that the salvation work of Jesus Christ is to bring salvation to all people in all parts of the world.
(2) A grain of wheat must rot to bear fruit.
John 12:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
① These verses do not describe the sacrificial death of some great man, but rather are the words of a parable about the death of Jesus Christ.
② Jesus is talking about bringing salvation to many people because of the fact that a grain of wheat bears much fruit through death.
3. The attitude of the believer
(1) Hate yourself.
John 12:25 He who loves his life loses it, but he who hates his life in this world will keep it for everlasting life.
① Life here is the word [ ], which is related to the [self].
[those who seek to save their own body (Matthew 8:35)] or [in themselves or for themselves]
can be interpreted as meaning.
In other words, it refers to those who value the life of this world more than the life of the next life.
② Also, here, eternal life is the word [ ], which is originally related to [divine] life.
It means [the life to be enjoyed in the coming generations].
③[He who hates himself] follows the unique usage of the Hebrew word for [hate].
It means [thinking as secondary, secondary, not primary].
④ That is, those who seek their body and live for themselves will lose it, consider themselves secondary in this world, and follow Jesus Christ and gain eternal life.
Matthew 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Mark 8:35 Whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever wants to save his life will lose it for me and the gospel.
If I lose my life, I will save it.
Luke 9:23 And he said to the crowd,
If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:24 Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
Luke 17:33 Whoever wants to preserve his life will lose it, and whoever loses it will live
(2)Follow me
John 12:26 If anyone wants to serve me, follow me; where I am, there will also be those who serve me. If a man serves me, my Father will honor him.
① [Serving me] means becoming a Christian and serving Jesus.
②If you want to become a Christian, Jesus says, [Follow me].
It is to follow the path of Jesus Christ.
Luke 9:23 And he said to the crowd,
If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
③ The word [where I am] means being with Jesus Christ in the place of life, the place of death, the humble place, the glory place, wherever Jesus Christ is.
2 Timothy 2:11 Faithful saying, if we died with the Lord, then we also live with him.
2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, we will also reign with him; and if we deny the Lord, the Lord will also deny us.
④ Jesus said that he would die just as a grain of wheat dies and bears fruit.
Whoever wants to serve me must follow me.
**The way to serve Jesus Christ is to follow his way
***conclusion
1. The [time] of Jesus Christ was the time of the cross.
The climax of Jesus' ministry was the cross.
2. The attitude of the believer is [denying himself].
3. The attitude of the believer is [following Jesus Christ].