I'll explain
So that you may believe - Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:02:39
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Handout
Handout
Inquisitive Minds
Inquisitive Minds
Do you have an inquisitive mind?
Do you seek out answers? If so, how?
Are you a person who wants things explained so there is better understanding?
This evening we want to start by finishing where we left off last week, so to keep everything in context.
The coming crowd
The coming crowd
Is there a difference between a gathering crowd and a coming crowd?
Think again, who were the people, why were they coming?
What was the conclusion that the Pharisees made in this?
17 Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify.
18 This is also why the crowd met Him, because they heard He had done this sign.
19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look—the world has gone after Him!”
The crowd followed because they heard, they believed about Lazarus.
This to them would be evidence that He could be the conquering king they were looking, waiting for.
FF Bruce “One who could summon a dead man back to life would certainly be able to deliver the holy city from the yoke of Caesar.”
Have you ever been envious of someones popularity or appeared blessings?
Have you been offended by someone’s rise, their notoriety?
Pharisees were offended, claiming “all the world has gone after Him.” —we know that is not a true statement, it is an exaggeration.
Still the Pharisees felt their authority, their respect and receptiveness of the people was at risk. They no longer felt effective.
This crowd who gathered, this crowd who came, soon would be the crowd who deserted Him.
May we not desert Him in spirit, in truth, in gathering, in worship, in praise, in serving.
We study the bible so that we may know more. Know the character, the nature, the truth, the promises. As we study we should have an inquisitive mind to gain, knowledge and wisdom.
Purpose of John (Jn20:31)
Major theme (Jn1:29)
Major promises (Jn3:16, 6:33, 8:12; 10:16; 14:1-6; 11:51-52)
John dedicates about 1/3 of the book to passion week, and we will take our time going through it.
Recently we have seen
Resurrection of Lazarus (11:41-46)
The plot without a plan to kill Jesus (11:47-57)
The anointing for burial (12:1:11)
The triumphal entry (12:12-19)
Tonight we are going to look at some inquisitive people and Jesus instructive response (12:20-26)
Our passage
Our passage
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.
Think back and prove it, where was Jesus at this time?
Jerusalem 12:12
Anything stick out to you in this passage, what verse and why?
12:22 Andrew was always bringing people to Jesus
Who were the people who were seeking Jesus (v.20)?
Some Greeks
Who did they talk to, and what was their request (v.21)?
Philip, and they wished to see Jesus
Who went to see Jesus (v.22)?
Philip and Andrew
Who is Jesus speaking to (v.23)?
Philip and Andrew
What has come now, that previously had not come (v.23)?
The hour has come
What does Jesus say has to happen to bear much fruit (v.24)?
A grain of wheat must die first (figuratively)
What contrast does Jesus state (v.25)?
love you life, lose it; lose your life will keep it eternally
What instructions and promise does Jesus make (v.26)?
Must follow Me, and you will be with me
The Father will honor him
Greeks Seek Jesus
Greeks Seek Jesus
It maybe a simple answer, but what does it mean to seek something, someone?
A little background
In looking at (Mk11;15-17) - it seems Jesus is now doing more
15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple.
17 And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.”
This to fulfill (Isa56:7)
7 Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
It now seems Jesus is teaching in the temple
Do the Greeks realize this? That now things are being done for the Gentiles too? That maybe no longer they would be outcast. They were only allowed in the outer courts of the temple. This from the “all the peoples” in Isaiah verse.
What can we learn about the Greeks (v.20-21)?
They were Greeks seeking Jesus, could be converted Jews
They would be at a minimum God-fearing men who did not convert and were not circumcised.
They could have been Greek travellers that were passing through and heard about Jesus (this one is unlikely due to phrase used)
In looking at the wording used, the “and began to ask” here is in the imperfect, active tense and it meant asking over and over again.
Do you remember being a child, or having a child that would ask time and time again? What was the purpose of the Greeks asking continually?
Maybe they heard of Jesus reputation, His teaching, His miracles.
What they did know made them want to know more.
They came to Philip (a Greek name) asking, Philip brought them to Andrew.
Interesting thing to think about, here is a quote from Alford
“These men from the West at the end of the Life of Jesus, set forth the same as the Magi from the East at its beginning: but they come to the Cross of the King, as those to His cradle.”
23 Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
The hour has come picture here
Previously the hour had not come (Jn2:4, 7:6) but now the proclamation that the hour has come (12:23).
Jesus previously escaped intended violence for the hour had not comes; Now the hour has come he will suffer at the hands of others so others could be save (Jews, Gentiles alike). - this covers the “sheep of another fold” (Jn10:16).
Humanity was to have the ability to come to a heavenly home through Jesus, but first He had to be glorified (more on glorified will come in future lessons).
Jesus had been glorified by man recently (triumphal entry). The next glorification that Jesus is referencing is the cross.
The world sees humiliation at the cross, Jesus sees glorification at the completion of the work the Father gave Him to do.
Why He was willing to go to the cross
Why He was willing to go to the cross
24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.
25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.
26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
Jesus illustration shows no glory, no fruit without suffering first
Courson says: “There is both beauty and bounty when a seed “dies” and fulfills its purpose.”
No victory with out death first where we obtain our victory at our obedient surrender.
To fully produce fruit, the seed must die; Jesus died for us, we need to die to self to live for Jesus
20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
A fully fruitful life is a life that follow Jesus death, burial and resurrection.
How do we follow Jesus life, burial and resurrection?
We are called, invited, encouraged to live for Christ, to follow Christ and surrender our lives to Christ and for Christ.
Another thought, did Jesus in the garden say “Father save me?” or did He say “Father let your will be done.” are we doing the same? When we ask God, do we ask for God’s will be done in our prayers, or our will, even if it seems good?
God is not worried about your comfort, He is worried about if you are conformable . Are you willing to follow Him?
In a comment found on (v.25) I read by FF Bruce
“We are called to hate our life not in the sense that we disregard it, but in the sense that we freely give it up for God. Our life is precious to us, especially because is it something we can give to Jesus.”
If we desire comfort we will do whatever we can to be comfortable, stay comfortable in accordance to our desires. Jesus wants us to be conformable to be like Him. To live for His plans, His desires for us. He invites, encourages and even commands those who desire to serve, that they MUST follow Me!
Enduring word commentary says
“To be a Christian is to serve Jesus, to follow Him. It doesn’t mean that you stop working your job or caring for your family or studying at school. It means you do all that as a servant of Jesus, a follower of Jesus.”
Be a servant, be a follower wherever you go!
Spurgeon once wrote “All of you who would have Christ as your Savior , that you must be willing to serve Him. We are not saved by service, but we are saved to service.”
Do you agree with that statement?
“Where I am, there My servant will be also” - this is not about a place specifically but a heart that wants to glorify the Father.
In looking at (v.26) what does the end say, what does it mean?
It is a great and remarkable promise. This goes with the purpose John wrote this Gospel, so that we may believe and have eternal life. The remarkable promise, the reward is for serving Jesus it the honor from God the Father. This honor is both reward and recognition. Reward, Heaven, Recognition, check out
23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
So, the question is have we been planted? Are we bearing fruit? How can we know if we are bearing fruit?
(Prayer)