John 12:20-33
Now among those who went up
to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from
Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went
and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered
them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell
you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a
single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life
lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal
life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant
be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
1.
This is the last week of Jesus
ministry and this is just a day before Jesus faces all the pain, humiliation
and death on the cross. Some Greek who
were at the Passover festival come to Philip who was Bethsaida in Galilee. The told him they wanted to see Jesus. Now Philip tells Andrew and they go to see
Jesus about the matter. Now what is
interesting Jesus never meets with them but in the following monologue He
reveals why they wanted to see Him.
2.
He first revealed that the hour
had come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
All through John up to this point Jesus had refused to be trapped or
tricked because His hour had not come.
This showed that He had complete control over His destiny. When you trust in your Father’s will you will
have complete control over your destiny because you only want to do His
will. You are obedient, faithful and
trusting. Jesus would be glorified
because He would do the will of the Father.
He would exhibit and display God’s love, salvation and redemption. Jesus by His act of obedience showed the
character, essence and nature of the Father’s love. When we do that in our day to day lives we
glorify the Father. That is why we
should pray like the old song. “In my
life Lord be glorified.” You want to
exhibit Godly attributes because they show God is good. We may say flippantly or sincerely that God
is good but how it is practically shown by how we live and interact with those
we come into contact with. Don’t tell
people how good a Christian you are show them.
By your fruit they will know.
Action always speaks louder than words.
You need an example as Jesus was a great example.
3.
Jesus uses the illustration of
a grain of wheat that when it falls in
the earth either by plan or chance it dies.
It remains a single grain until it dies after it is placed in the ground
it lives again and bears much fruit. Jesus
used this example because Israel at this time was an agricultural society. If you want to talk to a farmer you use farm
examples. Jesus knew that and we should
follow His example when we want to discuss eternal things. Wisdom always meets a person where they are
and what they understand. This mean when
you are talking to someone find the common ground and work from there. Jesus used this example to reveal again that
His broken body, shed blood, death, burial and resurrection would bear much
fruit. We are products of this fruit.
4.
Those who love their life lose
it. When we pursue our agendas, choose
to be selfish and be like old blue eyes, Frank Sinatra and do it our way we
will lose our life. Free will is such a
gift but it has eternal consequences. If
you are your favorite person you have a problem. Talk about when I was young I was
conceited.
5.
Jesus was laying out conditions
for His service to the Greeks and the disciples. It is the third time He talks about
this. Those who hate their life in this
world will keep it and have eternal life.
Allegiance to this world will cost you everything. True pilgrims know this world is not worthy
of us. We have to keep our eyes on the
real prize. We are to hate the things of
the world. The pleasure, passion, and
pride, they are destructive and swallow
up and destroy all who seek them. The
list of casualties is endless. The
reward for losing your life in Christ is you keep your life and have eternal
life. True humility is giving up your
autonomy and sovereignty to God. To
trust Him
with your
past, present and future. Rebellion is the
action or process of resisting authority, control, or convention.. The truth is you do not trust yourself,
others and God. You feel that you must
take control even if you do not know what to do.
6.
Jesus then presents them with a
paradox and dilemma. The world says that
success, abundance and prosperity rely on self, significance and security. John tells us that it works with pride,
passion and possessions. He then tells
them they must be a servant. Being a
servant means you put the wishes and desires of others before yourself. Service breaks selfishness, self interest and
strikes at a basic drive towards self-importance. Being a servant actually makes you valuable
and elevates you. Being selfish makes
you a liability and brings you down. They
must follow Him and His example. Jesus
was a suffering servant. He came to
serve not to be served. His example
later is that He would wash the feet of His disciples. Jesus never will ask us to do something He
himself did not do.
7.
Where He goes they will
also. Jesus said in the upper room
discourse that He was going to prepare a place for them. In His father house is many rooms. One of the most exciting things is when we
get to the other side of eternity is being met by Jesus. Having Him utter these
words. ‘Well done good and faithful
service enter into my rest.” We have so
much waiting for us in eternity. Keep
your eyes on the prize church. Heaven is
wonderful. You have so many friends and
family waiting for you. In fact they are
pulling for you right now. You have
infinite love waiting for you. Imagine a
place with no sin, sickness, sorrow or pain.
A place of infinite beauty. Where
there is no darkness. Where you know all
things and understand why you went what you went through. Your body is perfect and the life of God
courses through you. The music of heaven
is beyond anything you could hear on earth.
Purity and perfection. You will
never feel alone or lonely. Paul says in
1 Cor 13:12, we look through a glass darkly but one day we will see all and
know all. All will be revealed. That is waiting. Jesus says He goes to prepare a place for
us.
8.
Whoever serves the Lord the
Father will honor. God holds in high
respect and great esteem those who serve Him.
Talk about the missionary who came home on the same ship from Africa
with Teddy Roosevelt. Remember the
Pharaoh who opposed Moses no one knows who he is even though he built honors to
himself but most of the world has heard of Moses. The world know there was a king who ruled
during Joseph’s time but they don’t know him but most people have heard of
Joseph. There were kingdoms and Kings
during Abraham’s time but no one knows who the King of the Ur in Mesopotamia
but they know Abraham. God will
distinguish you. He will give you
rewards, kudos and accolades. You do not
want the honor, respect and accolades of this world. A little truth if you seek the approval of men
in your acts of love and charity you have already been honored and God will not
give your reward for that. God has many
rewards and honor waiting for you. Keep
your eyes on the prize. You are looking
for a city whose maker and builder is God
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