The Gentiles Pose A Question

Can We See Jesus?

John 12:21 So these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and began asking him saying, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

These were Gentile proselytes to Judaism. While they believed in the God of Israel, and were there attending the feast, they did not comprehend all concerning Jesus.

Jesus Answers Them Indirectly

John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man will be glorified.”

Jesus does not respond to the direct request of the Gentiles, but to the situation that their request represents.

At the very moment when the Jewish authorities turn against Him, some Gentiles begin to seek His attention.

Up to this point, “the hour” has always been in the future. “The hour” refers to the appointed time for Jesus’ death, Resurrection, and exaltation, in short, His glorification.

These Greeks could not yet belong to Him, until “the hour” was over and Jesus had been “lifted up from the earth.”

That is what was necessary for the gospel to be fully operative—the gospel that encompasses Jew and Gentile alike and draws together a new covenant community whose locus is no longer constrained by the parameters of Sinai.

Jesus’ Answer Speaks of His Death

Jesus Chooses to Die

John 12:24 Verily, verily I say unto you, unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:32 “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all [people] to Myself.”

Jesus’ glorification is tied to His refusal to seek His own glory (8:50, 54) and His commitment is always to do what pleases His Father (8:29). The principled subordination of the Son to the Father culminates in the spectacular obedience of self-sacrifice.

Jesus’ uniquely fruitful death (the death of one seed to produce many living seeds) leads to the mandated death of Jesus’ followers as the necessary condition of their own lives. If we don’t understand that He had to die for our sin then we don’t understand anything about Christ. He had to die, to correct our sin, because the wages of sin is Death.

Jesus’ Death Mandates a Choice Upon Everyone

John 12:25-26 The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world preserves it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me, and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor Him.

You choose to live (Live for self), you die. You choose to die (Die to self), you live.

The person who loves his life will lose it: to love one’s life more than one loves God is a strong denial of God’s sovereignty, of God’s rights, and a extreme elevation of self to the highest place. It places an idolatrous focus on self, which is the heart of all sin.

Self must be displaced by another. The endless, shameless focus on self must be displaced by focus on Jesus Christ, who is the supreme revelation of God.

Jesus’ Death Will Judge & Draw

John 12:31-32 Now is the judgment of this world! Now the ruler of this world will be thrown out! 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all [people] to Myself.”

Jesus’ passion/glorification draws people to Himself, but also constitutes judgment on this world, on all of
human society in rebellion against its creator.

The world thought it was passing judgment on Jesus, at the cross. In reality, the cross was passing judgment on them. Since Jesus was sent as His Father’s representative, His agent, and the supreme divine revelation, rejection of the Son is rejection of God Himself.

The fundamental smashing of Satan’s reign of tyranny takes place in the death/exaltation of Jesus. This statement is kin to the apocalyptic scene in Revelation: “They overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev. 12:11). When Jesus was glorified, lifted up to heaven by means of the cross, He was placed on His throne; at the same time Satan was dethroned.

The judgment of the world, the destruction of Satan, the exaltation of the Son of Man, the drawing of men and women from the ends of the earth, these might all be reserved for the end times. But the end times have begun already. They began the “Hour” Jesus died on the Cross. It is not that there is nothing reserved for the consummation; but the decisive starting point began with the death and exaltation of Jesus.

Are WE committed to Jesus?

John 3:16b Whoever believes in Jesus will not perish, but will have eternal life. 18 The one who believes in Him is not judged, but the one who does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in the name of the One and only Son of God.