The Christ and the Crisis

Four part series in John Chapter 12, Showing how He relates to four different groups of people; the third:

“Greek Guests”John 12:20-

36

The Crisis…•John 12 records the second major crisis in Jesus’ ministry, as perceived by the disciples•The first when multitudes left Him, (John 6:66)•This time we look at a group of Greek “Jews” coming to Jerusalem for Passover, but seeking out Jesus•Several things in this passage raise many questions•Why did they approach Philip instead of Jesus?•Why did Philip hesitate to lead them to Jesus?

The Crisis…•What was Jesus talking about with the dying seed?•Love my life, hate my life…?•What was He talking about saying he would…•Draw all man unto Himself?•By being “lifted up”…?•You might think it obvious but there are things we’ll learn today by comparing the Passover with the Sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb…

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip *came and *told Andrew; Andrew and Philip *came and *told Jesus. 23 And Jesus *answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and

dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 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. 27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a

voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. 31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” 33 But He was saying

this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. 34 The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 While you have the

Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.

John 12:20-36, NASB

Jesus heads to the Feast…•V 20, Greeks going up to worship at the Feast•This tells us many things about them•The original Greek text says “…they were accustomed to come and wor- ship at the feast…”•This means they were practicing “Jews” •By this we know they were not Pagan Greeks, but Monotheists, worshipping the true God

Jesus heads to the Feast…•V 21, While they were going, these Gentiles approached Philip•They obviously wanted Jesus, why did they approach His disciples instead?•How did they come to know of Jesus?•Word of mouth•Possibly even heard of Jesus’ recent rebuke of the Gentile woman asking to be healed

Jesus heads to the Feast…•Vv 22-23, the original Greek text indicates a persistence on their part, and a hesita- tion by the disciples to tell Jesus

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip *came and *told Andrew; Andrew and Philip *came and *told Jesus. 23 And Jesus *answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip *came and *told Andrew; Andrew and Philip *came and *told Jesus. 23 And Jesus *answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and

Jesus heads to the Feast…•Vv 22-23, the original Greek text indicates a persistence on their part, and a hesita- tion by the disciples to tell Jesus•Why? May be because of that earlier Gentile woman•Probably lots who wanted private time with Jesus•Fear– Being from elsewhere, the Greeks did not know about the danger of Pharisees’ plot

Jesus and the Greeks…•Vv 24-26, no indication this is a conversation with them privately as they asked, but what H He says is profound •He uses another parable to illustrate the spiritual truths of “no Glory w/o suffering” and•No victory without surrender, no fruit- ful life without surrender

Jesus and the Greeks…•A seed by itself is week and useless, but when it is planted, it “dies” and becomes fruitful• I’m sure the seed doesn’t like it, but the results are both beauty and bounty•We are like seeds• Individually small and insignificant•But with the life/power of God inside•Only fruitful after being planted•Death to self, Romans 6, Galatians 2:20

Jesus and the Greeks…•Vv 27-30, Jesus voices a prayer– either He can run or ask for God to be glorified•He gets an answer, OUT LOUD, from Heaven– third time, btw•God ALWAYS gives His Word of assur- ance to those who willingly suffer for His sake!! Be encouraged by this!•The people heard but didn’t understand it– that’s OK•When God speaks to you, YOU will know; others…

A new parable…•Vv 31-36, Jesus tells them what is coming to pass is for their salvation •He talks of being lifted up, we know its a reference to the Cross—•But He is also alluding to the Serpent raised up on a cross in the desert•The sign of “healing” is the same

Back to Passover…•These Greeks came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Passover & Unleavened Bread, which commemorated the dying of the Paschal Lamb, and the subsequent release from the bondage of Egypt•The Feast of Passover & Unleavened Bread therefore was about those who killed the first-born lamb (and thus suf- fering "lost" life and then escaping Egypt) versus those who remained in Egypt and "lost" life, when the Angel of the Lord killed the first-born sons of Egypt

Back to Passover…•The parting of the Red Sea and the resurrection of Jesus are also in direct parallel in the Feast of Passover & Unleavened Bread, when the armies of Egypt were destroyed as was the power of Satan: thus Jesus adds, "...the ruler of this world will be cast out"

Back to Passover…•The parting of the Red Sea and the resurrection of Jesus are also in direct parallel in the Feast of Passover & Unleavened Bread, when the armies of Egypt were destroyed as was the power of Satan: thus Jesus adds, "...the ruler of this world will be cast out“• Finally, the way that Jesus will draw all men to himself is by being "lifted up" (John 12:32) in the same way that the as the bronze serpent was lifted up in the wilderness–

Back to Passover…•The sting of the “serpent of sin” (whose infection was death) by believing the word of the Lord and looking upon the bronze serpent "lifted up." •The point here is that if you connect the dots and believe the word of the Lord, you see “the light” (Vv 35-36)•This was a contradiction to the current belief that the Messiah would never die, (v34) hence un-belief

Take Away…•Remember when He said this?

“36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” John 12:36

What does it mean to “walk in the light”?

Take Away…

COMFORTABLE

Take Away…

COMFORTABLE

Take Away…

COMFORMABLE

Take Away…

TRANSFORMABLE

Take Away…

TRANSFORMABLE“2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Take Away…

TRANSFORMABLE“29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren

Take Away…

TRANSFORMABLE“29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren

Take Away…

TRANSFORMABLE“29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren

Take Away…

TRANSFORMABLE“29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren

Take Away…

TRANSFORMABLE“29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren”

Romans 8:29

Take Away…

COMFORTABLE

Take Away…

COMFORMABLE