JESUS, A KERNEL OF WHEAT

Passage: John 12:20-36

Key verse: 24

NIV

Jesus Predicts His Death

20 Now there were some Greeks(A) among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida(B) in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “The hour(C) has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.(D) 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,(E) it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it(F) for eternal life.(G) 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.(H) My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27 “Now my soul is troubled,(I) and what shall I say? ‘Father,(J) save me from this hour’?(K) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven,(L) “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit,(M) not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world;(N) now the prince of this world(O) will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth,(P) will draw all people to myself.”(Q) 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.(R)

34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law(S) that the Messiah will remain forever,(T) so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man(U) must be lifted up’?(V) Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light(W) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,(X) before darkness overtakes you.(Y) Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”(Z) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.(AA)

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. John 12:32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Some Greeks Seek Jesus

20 Now (A)among those who went up to worship at the feast were some (B)Greeks. 21 So these came to (C)Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told (D)Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, (E)“The hour has come (F)for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, (G)unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 (H)Whoever loves his life loses it, and (I)whoever (J)hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must (K)follow me; and (L)where I am, there will my servant be also. (M)If anyone serves me, (N)the Father will honor him.

The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up

27 (O)“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, (P)save me from (Q)this hour’? But (R)for this purpose I have come to (S)this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then (T)a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, (U)“An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, (V)“This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 (W)Now is the judgment of this world; now will (X)the ruler of this world (Y)be cast out. 32 And I, (Z)when I am lifted up from the earth, (AA)will draw (AB)all people to myself.” 33 He said this (AC)to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that (AD)the Christ remains forever. How can you say that (AE)the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, (AF)“The light is among you (AG)for a little while longer. (AH)Walk while you have the light, lest darkness (AI)overtake you. (AJ)The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become (AK)sons of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

Read full chapter
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The hour has come.... (2 -26) Though the Pharisees rejected Jesus, some Greeks (non-Jews) sought out Jesus. Their timing was remarkable for Jesus' hour of glory had come. Within days Jesus would suffer and die on a cross. Like a kernel of wheat that dies and produces many seeds, Jesus' death and resurrection has given eternal life to many people down to the present time. Jesus calls us not only to seek him but to also follow and serve him with our whole being. When we do, God promises to be with us and to honor us. 2. Father, glorify your name! (27-36) Jesus did not want to die. But his desire to glorify his Father was greater than his desire to save himself. God the Father glorified himself through Jesus' death. Jesus would be lifted up on a cross. He would drive out the devil and draw all peoples to himself. The crowds did not fully understand at that moment, but Jesus exhorted them to walk in the light and to believe in him while he was there. Then they could become children of light - that is, God's children.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for dying to give me life. Help me to die to myself and follow you.

One Word: Die and produce many seeds