Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. (John 12:20-22)
Now we know that one of the disciples, Philip may not have been a Jew, or at least not raised in Israel. Therefore, when certain Greeks came to Jerusalem to worship at the feast, they came to Philip and asked him to see Jesus. 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. (John 12:23-26)
Philip and Andrew came to ask Jesus if He would meet with these Greeks who wished to see Him. True to Himself, His response is in the form of a lesson. Ever wonder how we can put dead seeds into the ground and get living, growing plants and trees? And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food." (Genesis 1:29) The life of the seed it what's inside, not the shell we see on the outside. Our life is in the inside of us, not this flesh shell everyone can see. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7) The dust of the ground, our bodies aren't our life, but the breath of life, the spirit inside of us is what makes us a living being, a living soul.
Jesus had previously taught the disciples, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore;... “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.(Matthew 10:27-31-33; see THE GOSPEL: Price fo Being a Follower of Christ - pt2) Not too long from this time, Jesus will prove this lesson to be true. He did not fear those who wanted to kill His body, because He knew that if a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it produces much grain.
Jesus' death would lead to not only the disciples and the few thousands of people's lives He touched to be saved, but that through His death, ...the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ...our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14) God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! (Psalm 67:1-4)
All this glory and redemption had to come at a great price, Jesus' death, and He did not minimize how that made Him feel. “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. (John 12:27-30)
Jesus is very clear about why He came, and God the Father gave confirmation for all who stood by and heard it. So also Christ did not glorify Himself ..., but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” [Psalm 2:7] who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,... (Hebrews 5:5, 7-9; see THE GOSPEL: The Final and Only High Priest)
No comments:
Post a Comment