John 12:20-43 ESV
Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
Rev. Charles Han
This is the last week of Jesus' life. John spends half of his book on this last week. It should tell us that he saw it was of great importance.
Glory is mentioned seven times in this passage. John wants to impress upon his audience the importance of glory. During this time, Jesus was at his height of popularity with the crowds. But still many Jews did not believe in Him. Even though there were many signs, they were like blind people. Among those who believe, there were even Jewish leaders. But they did not publicly identify with Jesus, for fear of losing their status, position, and income. John addresses this as a glory issue. We are glory seekers. But two glories are in conflict here. In the beginning of the book of John, he states that Jesus is God's glory. Glory is a person. But there is another type of glory, the glory given to people by God. These are the glories in conflict. We all seek glory, delight, pleasure, and approval from someone... But who? John says we should find it in Jesus... In the cross.
We find true glory when we embrace the crowds of Christ as the sole source of our significance.
When Jesus is asked by gentiles about seeing God, Jesus replied that his hour to be glorified was here. We would usually consider the hour of death by crucifixion the most unlikely act of glorification. Crucification was considered the most humiliating death. But this is where Jesus says that glory is found. This is the exact opposite of what the world expects. Gentiles are confused by it. Jews were stumbled by it. Muslims are offended by this. For the believer, the cross was where the most unfair exchange happened. Our shame was traded for the righteousness of Christ.
What do you boast in? This is our personal glory. Smarts, riches, success, good works. What makes you feel weak? Self hate, failures, and weaknesses. That is also our personal glory. All these things are crucified and buried. We should not listen to the world. We are rich in God and his wisdom.
We find true glory when we follow Christ on the self sacrificial path of the cross. He used an agricultural idea. A seed must die to bear fruit. A seed that is just preserved is useless. It must go into the ground and die. This is how Christians should live. The greatest sign of a believer, one who follows to the cross. Going to the cross and giving your life up to God. Jesus would've made a horrible megachurch pastor. He calls you to live by carrying a cross. Seeking after God's glory. This is finding glory in the eyes of God rather than man.
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