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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
August 27, 2000
Anticipating the Cross
John 12:20-50
Introduction
At times we can make such an emphasis upon the deity of Jesus Christ that we downplay His humanity. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus is not a “high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as [we are, yet] without sin.” This morning we will see a glimpse into His humanity and how He overcame its weakness. We will also see the blindness of unbelief and it consequences as well as the results of having the fear of men instead of God, but our passage begins with some Greek proselytes seeking Jesus. Turn to John 12:20.
It is the Feast of Unleavened Bread which occurs the week prior to Passover. It is the day after Jesus entered into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey in fulfillment of the prophecy of Zachariah. The people were shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” This made the religious leaders indignant resulting in them plotting how they might seize Jesus and kill Him as well as Lazarus, but at the moment, they are fearful of Jesus because it seems the “whole world has gone after Him” (vs. 19). (See: Messiah’s Public Acclamation) Jesus wept over Jerusalem that day as He considered the future of that city and the nation due to their rejection of Him and His message that would occur within a few days. It is now Tuesday, and Jesus has just cleansed the temple of the merchants and moneychangers. He is now healing the lame and sick and teaching the people. (See: Condemned City, Condemned Nation) It at this point that we pick up our text in John 12:20.
Greek Proselytes Seek Jesus – John 12:20-22
John 12:20-22, Now there were certain Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these therefore 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 they told Jesus.
These were Gentile proselytes who had forsaken the paganism of their own nations and recognized that the God of Israel was the true God. However, because they were not Jews, they were greatly limited in their participation in the worship at the Temple. They could enter the outer court to pray, but they could not get any closer to the Temple. They may have just seen Jesus drive out the moneychangers and merchants from this area and where He was now healing the lame and the sick and teaching.
The text does not indicate why they went to Philip first, but Philip quickly consults with Andrew, and together they go to Jesus with the request of these Greeks. It is reasonable they may have had some hesitation in bringing the Greeks directly to Jesus without asking. On previous occasions Jesus had kept Gentiles at a distance. For example, Jesus said to the Syrophonecian woman, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). However, Jesus had also spoken about “other sheep, which are not of this fold” (John 10:16), so they approach Jesus with their request.
Jesus’ answer was instructive to Philip and Andrew about what was about to occur, but also a message of hope for these Gentiles and for us in the present too. John 12:23 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 by itself 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 shall keep it to life eternal. 26 “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Again, this answer was spoken to Philip and Andrew and heard by whoever else was present giving instructions about what was about to occur, but it was also a message of hope to the Gentiles and a warning about the consequences of the responses to Him. The common expectation was that Messiah would be a political leader that would free them from Roman bondage and make Israel a glorious nation again. Yet, Jesus had been consistently saying that He was going to die. He had pointed that out only a couple of nights before in commenting about Mary’s anointing Him with the perfume that it was “for the day of My burial.” Jesus now specifically points out that their hope is going to be based in His death.
Jesus states that the hour for Him to be glorified had come, but how would that be done? Jesus points to the analogy of a grain of wheat. This is a very fitting analogy to use at that time of the year when the farmers were planting in hope of a future harvest. Anyone that has ever done any gardening understands this basic principle of plant life. The seed of a plant is put in the ground and it itself dissolves in bringing forth the new plant which will then grow, flower and produce an abundance of fruit.
The prophetic reference is to Isaiah 53:10-12, But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting [Him] to grief; If He would render Himself [as] a guilt offering, He will see [His] offspring, He will prolong [His] days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. 11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see [it] and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
The prophetic promise was that as a result of the Messiah being the guilt offering that would pay for the sins of others, He would conquer and see His offspring or seed. In other words, there would be much fruit because of His death on behalf of sinners. The only true hope Jesus could give to the people would to be the substitute sin sacrifice and redeem them. An earthly Messiah would be of little help to either the Jews or Gentiles. Whatever benefits His righteous reign would bring would only last for the few short years of their lives, and then they would still have to face eternal judgment. In becoming the sin sacrifice, the grain that dies to itself, Jesus would bring much fruit of righteousness by cleansing multitudes of their sins forever.
Jesus also applies this same general principle to them in declaring His expectation of them. He who loves his life loses it, but he who hates his life in this world will keep it with a view to everlasting life. If the wheat grain sought only to preserve itself, then it would remain alone and never accomplish anything and would eventually decay. If the wheat grain sacrifices itself, it fulfills its purpose and reproduces itself into much fruit. Those who live their lives only for themselves accomplish nothing of eternal value and they will eventually die and be judged. Those who see this life as the opportunity to give of themselves for eternal purposes will fulfill the reason for their existence and gain eternal reward.
Jesus’ strong language of “hates his life in this world,” is similar to the language He used in Luke 14:26 (“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple”). This is not a command to hate others, for Jesus commanded us to love even our enemies (Matthew 5:44). The statement is one of comparison and contrast as in Matthew 10:37 (“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”). Your love of Jesus needs to be so great that by comparison your love for the things of this world, self, and others would seem like hate. Our eternal hope is in Jesus and Jesus alone because of who He is and what He has done. Outside of Him there is only condemnation and judgment. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself for our sin is amazing on every level. It is the demonstration of God’s love magnified because He did it while we were still sinners in rebellion against God (Romans 5:8). It is also amazing because He did it so that we might be with Him and be honored by God as stated in John 12:26, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
The reward for serving Jesus is two-fold. First, you will be wherever Jesus is. There will be no separation between you and your master. Jesus’ promise to us was that no one can take us out of His hand (John 10:28) and that He would never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
Second, God the Father will honor him. That is also amazing . We deserve nothing from God except His condemnation, yet His great love extends to save us from our sins and then beyond that to even honoring us for simply doing what really is our duty as His creatures!
The duty of the servant is to follow and obey the master. That is not always easy, but it is the only way to fulfill the purpose of your existence, and Jesus will help you for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:29-30). Jesus said in Luke 9:23-26, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25 “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 26 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory, and [the glory] of the Father and of the holy angels.
What is the value of your life? What is the value of your soul? Jesus valued them enough to become your substitute sin sacrifice. He gave His life that you might gain everlasting life. How much do you value your soul? The answer to that question will be found in your response to Jesus. Those who truly value their life and soul will deny themselves and follow the Master.
Jesus’ Troubled Soul – John 12:27
It is while still giving this answer that Jesus gives a glimpse into His humanity, for the crucifixion is now only a few days away. John 12:27, “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 Thy name.”
Jesus will display the same anguish of soul while praying in the Garden of Gethesemane before His arrest, trial and crucifixion. His soul is troubled. The word (tarassw / tarasso) means to be “agitated,” “distressed” or “stirred,” as was the water in John 5:4. The verb tense here is a perfect passive indicating that this agitation had been present for some time. We do not usually think of Jesus being inwardly bothered by anything, but as incredible as it may seem, He was. Jesus is God, but He is also human and subject to the same frailties that we have.
What was troubling Him? He expresses it here with the phrase, “this hour,” which is used in the figurative sense and refers to the cross and all the suffering associated with it that He would have to endure. The physical suffering included the lack of sleep, the scourging, the crown of thorns, the nails being driven through His hands and feet and the slow suffocation while hanging on the cross. The natural human response is to be repulsed by the thought of having to go through such things. There was also the mental and emotional suffering. Hebrews 12:2 adds that Jesus “endured the cross, despising the shame.” This is not just the shame related to being rejected by men, for Jesus had already endured much of that. This also includes that unthinkable moment in time when Jesus would bear the burden of man’s sin and the Father would forsake Him. If it were you or I facing such suffering, we would also be in agony of soul and much beyond that.
The grammar in verse 27 could be interpreted in a couple of different ways. I take Jesus’ statement, “Father, save Me from this hour” as a rhetorical question that expresses both His own anguish of soul and a teaching device for those who were around Him. I believe His expression is designed to point His disciples and those listening to the purpose of His coming. Even though what was coming was troubling His soul, it was the very purpose of why He came. The reminder to Himself as to His purpose would calm His soul and keep Him focused on the goal that lay before Him to glorify the Father.
That is an example we need to follow. There are times that we also have agony of soul because we are facing something that we know could be or will be unpleasant to severe. However, trying to avoid unpleasant things is not the goal of the Christian. Our goal is do God’s will which includes walking in righteousness, obeying His commands and glorifying His name regardless of any negative consequences we may have in our earthly lives. The Bible is clear that we will have tribulation in this world (John 16:33) and that all who strive to live Godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). We even expect people to lie about us and slander us for that is the way the prophets and apostles were also treated (Matthew 5:11f). The troubles of life take on a new perspective and we are better able to endure them when we remember our purpose for living and set our goal to glorify God in all things. We have a purpose in living that transcends this life.
A poem by Charles Ross Weed gives some perspective on this.
Jesus and Alexander died at thirty-three,
One died in Babylon and one on Calvary.
One gained all for self, and one Himself He gave.
One conquered every throne, the other every grave.
When died the Greek, forever fell his throne of swords,
But Jesus died to live forever Lord of lords.
Jesus and Alexander died at thirty-three.
The Greek made all men slaves, the Jew made all men free.
One built a throne on blood, the other built on love.
The One was born of earth, the other from above.
One won all this earth to lose all earth and Heaven.
The other gave up all that all to Him be given.
The Greek forever died, the Jew forever lives.
He loses all who gets and wins all things who gives.
Jesus’ Glorification – John 12:28-30
Jesus kept the correct perspective and so prays out loud, 28“Father, glorify Thy name.” There came therefore a voice out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The multitude therefore, 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.
God the Father responds immediately to the prayer and confirms that it has been answered and will be answered. The Father had glorified Himself through the Son throughout Jesus’ life and He will do so again through Jesus’ death. The voice was audible and the people heard it, but those around did not understand the distinct words. The skeptics in the group looked for a natural explanation for what occurred and claimed it was thunder. Others recognized that this was supernatural and concluded an Angel had spoken to Jesus.
Jesus confirms that this was supernatural and that it was given for their sakes. It was a confirmation that God answered Jesus’ prayer. Whether they understood the specifics of what was said or not, they should have understood the nature of what was happening. Some did while others did not. Skeptics today continue to ignore the obvious to find alternatives so they will not have to believe the truth as evidenced by the philosophies of evolution and liberal theology. Rather than give heed to our Creator and recognize His judgment on mankind in the past, they hold on to foolish and contradictory theories so they can deny His warning of judgment in the future.
Jesus’ Prophecy – John 12:31-33
Jesus continues on to give warning and declare what would happen in the future. John 12:31-33, “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out. 32 “And I, if I be 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.
Satan and those under his control would see Jesus’ death as a victory for themselves, but in truth, it would be their condemnation. It would seal their judgment, for sin would be atoned for and death would then be conquered. Satan, the ruler of this world, would be cast out from his power over men and the nations. Certainly the devil does and will continue to have power on this earth until Jesus returns and the devil is physically bound for a thousand years, and then later, after a short release and consequential rebellion, he will be thrown into the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20). However, the seal of Satan’s doom is Jesus’ atonement, for in it is the redemption of mankind from sin and slavery to Satan.
Back in John 3, Jesus has previously talked to Nicodemus about “being lifted up” in relationship to the manner of death in which he would die and in parallel to Moses lifting up the bronze serpent in the wilderness. Jesus would draw all men in faith, both Jew and Gentile, to Himself. This was the hope the Greeks were looking for when they came to Philip about seeing Jesus in the first place. However, the people did not understand.
The Multitudes’ Confusion – John 12:34-36
The multitude therefore 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?”
The multitudes understood clearly that Jesus’ use of the phrase, “Son of Man,” (vs. 23) was a claim to be the Messiah, and that the “lifting up” meant that Jesus was foretelling His death, but this confused them. They were still looking for a political Messiah that would throw off the yoke of Rome and restore Israel to her former glory under David and Solomon. How could the Old Testament prophecies match what Jesus was saying? Psalm 110:4 proclaimed the Messiah to be “a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” Isaiah 9:7 said that there would “be no end to the increase of [His] government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. Daniel 7:14 proclaimed that “to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and [men of every] language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.”
They could not understand that Jesus would come twice. Once as the suffering servant and later as the conquering Lord at which time the prophecies I already cited would be fulfilled. They did not understand such passages as Isaiah 53 which speaks of Messiah’s sorrows, scourging and being smitten of God for our transgressions. They did not understand Psalm 22 which speaks of Messiah being pierced and forsaken by God. They did not understand Zechariah 13:7 which predicted the Messiah being struck and the sheep scattered. Nor did they understand Daniel 9:24 and the Messiah being cut off. The information was there, but they did not understand it.
Jesus does not answer their question and give them another lesson in Biblical prophecy. Instead, He simply points again to Himself. John 12:35-36, Jesus therefore said to them, “For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may 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, in order that you may become sons of light.”
Jesus had already explained about Himself, His fulfillment of prophecy and declaration of God the Father’s words. He proved His claims with His many miracles. He would not be repeating them. He simply points out that He Himself is the true light that came into the world to enlighten every man (John 1:9). He would not be with them much longer, but if they would believe and walk in His teaching, they would be sons of the light and not stumble in the darkness that was coming. They would know the truth that would set them free from sin.
Fulfilling Prophecy – John 12:36-41
At the end of verse 36 John comments “These things Jesus spoke, and He departed and hid Himself from them.” There was still teaching and confrontation to come, but this was the end of Jesus’ public ministry of signs and miracles. The light and come and had shined brightly for them, but now the light was departing. Those that loved the light would follow Him. The rest would be left in darkness. John then explains that Jesus does this in fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy.
John 12:37-41, But though He had performed so many signs before them, [yet] they were not believing in Him; 38 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?” 39 For this cause they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 “He has blinded their eyes, and He hardened their heart; lest they see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and be converted, and I heal them.” 41 These things Isaiah said, because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.
Isaiah 53:1 predicted this response. The Messiah would perform many signs demonstrating that He was from the Father, but the people would not believe. The reason they could not believe was, as Isaiah 6:9-10 predicted, their eyes were blind and their hearts were hard. John does not quote the part of this section of Isaiah that spoke about hearing and ears because John’s emphasis was on their rejection of the signs they had seen Jesus do. Some have tried to argue using this passage from Isaiah that God is responsible for a person’s unbelief for “HE has blinded their eyes,” etc. The fault of a person’s blindness and hardness of heart does not belong to God. He is not a cruel being that delights in sending people to everlasting damnation. God is a God of love and compassion demonstrated it in that while we where yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance (2 Peter. 3:9). The fault lies with the human who rejects what God has said and done. Like Pharaoh of old who continually hardened his heart against all the miracles that Moses did by the power of God, there finally came a time when God confirmed him in that rejection and hardened his heart so that there could no longer be repentance (Exodus 7:13,22; 8:15;19; 32; 9:12). The same is true for these who had seen what Jesus had done and continued to reject Him.
The mechanism for this is seen in Romans 1 where Paul emphatically states that all people have a knowledge of God evident in creation itself so that they are without excuse. However, people willingly suppress the truth in unrighteousness, and when they do so, God confirms them in their rejection by giving them over to their sin. God does not harden the heart by an action that He does, but rather the human heart is hardened without hope of change when God refuses to work in that person’s life any longer. And without the work of the Holy Spirit, a person cannot come to repentance and salvation. A person is hardened in sin when God abandons them to their sin.
A person does not go to Hell because God is cruel. God did not prepare Hell for men, but for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). People go to Hell because they do not know God and have not obeyed the gospel of our Lord Jesus (2 Thessalonians 8).
The Tragedy of Fear – John 12:42-43
There are always those who reject God openly. Others are favorable to Jesus, but because their fear of man is greater than their fear of God, they never profess Him. Such was the case even among the religious leaders of Israel at the time of Jesus. There are consequences for them too, as we shall see in a few moments.
John 12:42-43, Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing [Him,] lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
John probably found out about these people from Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea who made their profession of faith in Jesus publically known after Jesus’ crucifixion (John 19:38-39). Other Pharisees professed their belief after the resurrection (Acts 15:5). All of them were in danger at this point because of their desire to gain the approval of men rather than God. Jesus had just pointed out to them in verse 25 that those that loved their life would lose it. Undoubtably there were those that did suffer that consequence then just as there are those that suffer it now. How can I be so sure that a belief that is hidden and not openly professed does not do a person any good?
First, Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33, “Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men , I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 “But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” This is stated in the positive and the negative. There is to be a positive confession of Jesus and no denial of Him. Otherwise, Jesus will not confess you before God the Father and instead will deny you.
Second, which is more important here because it is the immediate context, is the commendation and condemnation Jesus gives in verses 44-50 concerning belief and rejection of Him.
Belief and rejection – John 12:44-50
This section is a summary statement by John of Jesus’ teaching throughout His ministry. Verse 36 precludes this from being a later public address and the verb in verse 44 that Jesus “cried out” precludes it from being a private teaching to His disciples. Jesus first addresses belief in Him and then rejection and its consequences.
Belief – John 12:44-46, And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him who sent Me. 45 “And he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me. 46 “I have come [as] light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness.
This is a repetition of Jesus’ teaching that He is from God the Father. This is a foundational aspect of belief in Jesus. To believe in Jesus is to believe in the Father who sent Him. To see Jesus is to see the Father who sent Him. As the writer of Hebrews put it, Jesus “is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature.” Or as Jesus told Philip in John 14:9, “Have I been so long with you, and [yet] you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Jesus came as the light of the world that those who believed would be saved out the darkness of sin. Those who practice the truth come to the light (John 3:21), but most people love the darkness and reject the light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). That includes those that deny or minimize the deity of Jesus. They are not true Christians. They have a false God and will incur to themselves the judgment that Jesus explains in the next four verses.
Rejection – John 12:47-50, “And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. 49 “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. 50 “And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”
To hear the commandments of Jesus and not keep them is to reject Him and bring yourself under God’s judgement. No fence sitting is allowed. You either believe Jesus and follow what He says or you are rejecting Him. Jesus did not speak on His own, but only what God the Father gave Him to say.
The Father sent the Son to save the world and believing Jesus and following Him brings eternal life. But whoever rejects Jesus is under God’s condemnation because when a person rejects Jesus they are also rejecting what God the Father has commanded. Again, it does not matter whether that rejection is active and defiant or passive in just refusing to make a decision. Refusing to make a decision to believe and obey Jesus is making a decision to reject and rebel against Him and God the Father. The consequence will be His judgment at the last day.
Most people here professes to know and believe on Jesus though there are a few that do not. There are also those of you who profess your belief here while you are among true Christians, but you do not profess your belief when you are among non-Christian family, co-workers, neighbors, school mates, etc. You are like the rulers that believed, but because of the fear of man you refuse to confess Jesus openly. For all of you who do not openly profess faith in Jesus, please take what Jesus says here seriously. You do not know when your last day will come. You may not have tomorrow. You may not even make it home this afternoon. Death can come suddenly and unexpectedly. If you died right now you would have to face God as someone who has rejected Christ and Him. Jesus came to save you from your sin. What is holding you back from believing and following Him? Only you can answer that question.
I plead with you to get right with God today. Talk with any of our church leaders and get the help you need with whatever is hindering you from faith in Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him. Do not leave while still under God’s condemnation, but gain peace with Him through faith in Jesus.
If you are someone reading these sermon notes on our web site, our plea is to you too. We are available to help you too. Please contact us at our e-mail addresses listed on this site, or write us or call us at:
Grace Bible Church
158 Myers Corners Road
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
845/298-8481
Sermon Notes – 7/15/2018<
Anticipating the Cross – John 12:27-50
Introduction
It is the day after Jesus made His triumphal entry into _____________during the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Jesus has ______________the Temple of merchants and moneychangers and is teaching and healing the sick
Greek Proselytes Seek Jesus – John 12:20-22
These Gentile worshipers of God could only enter the Temple’s ________________- where they saw Jesus
They ask __________to introduce them to Jesus, and Philip gets Andrew and they go to Jesus
Jesus’ answer gives instructions to Philip & Andrew about the future – and _________for the Gentiles
Jesus’ glorification is explained in the ________of a seed which dies to itself to produce a plant bearing fruit
Isaiah 53:10-12 – The self ______________of the redeemer gives hope of salvation and eternal life
Those who live for themselves will die and be _____; those who die to themselves live for eternal purposes
Love for Jesus needs to be so great that love for this world, self and others seems like hate by ____________
Jesus’ sacrifices Himself so that we can be with Him and be _____________by God – John 12:26
Luke 9:23-26 – Those who value their life and soul will deny themselves and _________the Master
Jesus’ Troubled Soul – John 12:27
Jesus’ soul is troubled (tarassw / tarasso) – Jesus is God, but He is also ___________with human emotion
“this hour” refers to all that Jesus will __________physically, mentally and emotionally in facing the cross
He uses a ____________question to express His own anguish and as a teaching device for those around Him
The goal of the Christian is to ____________________in all circumstances including tribulation
Jesus’ Glorification – John 12:28-30
God _____________confirmed He had glorified Jesus and would continue to do so
Jesus confirmed this was a supernatural voice, but skeptics ______truth to believe their own rationalizations
Jesus’ Prophecy – John 12:31-33
Jesus’ death would be Satan’s _________as Jesus atones for sin and then conquers death
“Being lifted up” refers to ______________- as it also does in John 3
The Multitudes’ Confusion – John 12:34-36
They were looking for a ______________Messiah – Psalm 110:4; Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 7:14; etc.
They missed the prophecies of the _______of His first coming: Isaiah 53: Psalm 22; Zech. 13:7; Daniel 9:24
John 12:35-36 – Jesus does not answer their question, but only points again to Himself as the __________
Fulfilling Prophecy – John 12:36-41
Jesus would still teach and confront His enemies, but He would no longer perform _______signs & miracles
John 12:37-41 – Isaiah 53:1 predicted this response of the people whose eyes were ___________
Christ’s death for sinners proves God’s ________, compassion and desire to save (Rom. 5:8; 2 Pet. 3:9)
Spiritual blindness is due to the rejection of God & the gospel and God ________________them to their sin
People will go to hell because they have ___________the means of salvation which is freely offered to them
The Tragedy of Fear – John 12:42-43
Some rulers professed faith in Jesus after the crucifixion or resurrection, but ___, not faith, controlled others
Matthew 10:32-33 – Those who __________ Jesus will be denied by Jesus
Belief and rejection – John 12:44-50
Belief – John 12:44-46 – a repetition of the foundational ___________ that Jesus is from God the Father
Jesus, the light of the world, brings those who __________ to God and removes them from darkness
Rejection – John 12:47-50 – those who reject Jesus and His teaching will be ___________by His teachings
Belief in Jesus brings eternal life, but _________, whether active or passive, results in eternal condemnation
KIDS KORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Count how many times the word “soul” is said. 2) Discuss with your parents Jesus’ troubled soul as He faced the cross. How did He overcome it?
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. What is the context of John 12:20-50? Why would the Greeks approach Philip in order to see Jesus? How were Gentiles restricted in the worship of God? What was Jesus explaining by using the analogy of the wheat seed? How does Jesus’ death bring about an abundance of fruit? Why is selfishness dangerous to your soul? How does God want you to live? What are the rewards for believing and following Jesus? How much have you considered Jesus’ humanity? How has Jesus displayed His humanity? What is your reaction to the truth of Hebrews 4:15? Why was Jesus’ soul troubled? How did He overcome it? How can you follow His example? Do you have to understand everything God says in order to believe He has spoken? How did God the Father glorify Jesus? How do you handle the foolishness of skeptics? How does Jesus death bring judgment on the world? Why did it confuse the multitudes that the Son of Man would be lifted up and die? What Old Testament passages were they ignoring or misunderstanding? Why did Jesus end His public ministry of signs and miracles a few days prior to the crucifixion? What prophecy did this fulfill and how did it fulfill it? Why were the people blind with hard hearts? What was their responsibility in this? What did God do to them as a result? Are those who “believe” but refuse to confess Jesus true believers? Why or why not? What do those who truly believe in Jesus believe and what do they gain? What do those who reject Him receive? What constitutes rejection of Jesus? Why did Jesus come? What do you believe about Jesus? If your faith is not in Jesus, why not? What is blocking you from believing? How will you seek to overcome what hinders your faith?
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