John 12:23-41 Jesus Predicts His Death on the Cross
“But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
Who Has Believed Our Report?
But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:
“Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Therefore, they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”
These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.”
Jesus’ life is coming to a close, even though the disciples are doing everything to ignore what’s happening. While Jesus has referred to those who serve him to the point of laying down their lives, he is also foretelling his own death.
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”
Sometimes we might have the idea that Jesus is kind of floating around preaching and teaching without worrying about his eventual death, and that his death on a cross will come as a shock. But crucifixion is one of the Roman Empire’s favorite means of dealing with malefactors while using them as terrible examples to discourage other would-be rebels. The Jews have watched crucifixions before. Jesus knows what’s about to happen and his soul IS troubled. Although Jesus is the Son of God, he is also human and the human part of him doesn’t want to suffer and die.
“Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.”
Jesus has come to Jerusalem in fulfillment of prophecy, knowing that eventually he must die for the sins of the world. What can we learn from this story?
Romans 8:20 tells us that God has subjected the entire creation to futility, to frustration, knowing that He will eventually redeem creation. Sometimes God leads us into situations that take bizarre turns, plunging us into chaos, confusion, and conflict. No matter what we might think, God is in these situations just as much as He is when things are going smoothly. Our task is to trust God, hold on, pray, and continue to perform what God has called us to do as well as possible.
Through our 38 years in missions, we have weathered all kinds of upheavals-changes in management, changes in direction of missions, changes of personnel, and changes of location. We have lost friends and supporters to death and economic upheavals. We have been misunderstood and mishandled by superiors and have watched other missionaries equally be mistreated by the very groups that have assigned them to difficult situations. Throughout all these challenges, we can testify that God will lead you through situations that appear impossible to endure. It’s an awful lot like navigating a white-water river, only to find yourself suddenly going over a 100-foot-high waterfall. You can only hope that you will be able to escape the hydraulic turbulence at the bottom and that you won’t land on any rocks.
In the fullness of time, Jesus will die for the sins of the world and be resurrected. After being lifted up on a cross, Jesus will truly draw all people to himself as the Savior of the world. The disciples will follow Jesus, spreading the good news of redemption through Jesus Christ and eventually dying for their faith. May God help us, so that we will follow hard after Him and trust Him, no matter the circumstances. And if God calls us to die for Him, may we remember that we practice for dying for Him by living for Him.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Help us trust You and fulfill Your prefect will for our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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