Things are changing all around Jesus. Things are heating up but the clarity of who he is, is becoming more evident. Something our world desperately needs right now.
Last week we ended with the leadership of the Jews saying, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone (THE WHOLE WORLD) has gone after him!”
The stunning miracle of a man who had been dead for four days walking around alive set the whole of Jerusalem a buzz for Passover. Jesus entered into the city in celebration as king on the day all the lambs that were going to be sacrificed were inspected. This was no accident as it was accurately predicted or more accurately, testified by Gabriel in Daniel chapter 9: 24-26.
Everything is part of God’s plan, Jesus is completely in control of everything. Up to this point he had continually told his disciples and the people, it was not his time (to be made King, to be glorified, to be worshiped) but now it is time.
John 12:20-23
Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 21 paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.
Jesus is beginning to be open to the whole world, not just the Jews. These devout Greeks who had come to worship at Passover came to Philipp as he was a Jew and a Greek, asking for an audience with Jesus…..Jesus’ response is it is the time for everyone to begin to know who he really is and his reason for coming into the world. The Holy Spirit is letting us know through John that Jesus is moving past his message of just being for the Jews, and that His death, resurrection, and life are for all people.
John 12: 24-26
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 is once again explaining that in order for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on all mankind in order for people to be saved, he must surrender his life. But he is also challenging those who want to truly be his disciples that they must too, be willing to lay down their lives! Jesus said it very plainly in Luke 9:23-25
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?
The result of our daily, laying down our lives is being with Jesus, living in Him through the power of the Holy Spirit in this life, and being with Him forever in the next.
John 12:27
“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!
The humanity of Jesus wrestled with the idea of what he knew he was about to go through, but He chose, as we will see later in the garden, to fulfill the plan he, the Father, and the Holy Spirit set in place from the beginning.
John 12:29-30
“Father, bring glory to your name.”
Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.
30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine.
It is interesting what the people say they heard; some heard only thunder, and others believed it was merely an angel. So often, God speaks, and we miss it because we think it is something else. Jesus clarifies so the people understand. We only have a record of God audibly speaking to Jesus three times. Each time, it is for the benefit of the people around him: Jesus’ baptism, the transfiguration, and here. Each time was to give people faith to believe that God had a plan and Jesus is who he said he is.
John 12: 31-33
The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die.
In John 3, we talked about how Jesus’ death was prophetically shown in Numbers 21 with the serpent on the pole for the healing of the people. Jesus is saying his death is the beginning of the judgement of Satan which will be finalized when he is finally cast in the lack of fire. But he is cast out for the believer and we can walk in power because of the Holy Spirit and Satan doesn’t have the authority over a believer.
John 12:34-36
The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”
35 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.
The Jewish tradition was the Messiah would live on the earth, establishing an earthly Kingdom and reign forever. That is why John and James were arguing about wanting to sit on Jesus right and left hands. They expected as the Messiah his Kingdom was an earthly Kingdom.
Jesus’ challenge is to pay attention to live and become children of light so that you may scatter the darkness of this world. He challenges them to not get caught up in making him King of Israel (as he is already King of the whole earth) But to live as people of light. Knowing they would once again try to force his hand he would go away from this group of people.
John 12:37-41
But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. 38 This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:
“LORD, who has believed our message?
To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?”
39 But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,
40 “The Lord has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts—
so that their eyes cannot see,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and have me heal them.”
41 Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory.
This passage is much more than meets the eye. Jesus is once again fulfilling these prophecies both from Isaiah chapter 53 and chapter 6.
John tells us this for two reasons. He was showing us that Jesus was about the greater kingdom. He says the scriptures state that the eyes of the Jews will be blinded for a while because of their rejection of Jesus. That is also a warning to all that once the Holy Spirit moves on your heart to accept Christ, it is possible that if you do not your heart can become so hardened that you do not have a second chance. The scripture even alludes to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD because they did not understand the testimony of Gabriel to Daniel, which would have caused them to anticipate Jesus’ arrival at the exact date.
Paul told us that this blindness would be until the “fullness of the Gentiles”
Romans 11;25
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (NKJV)
The second reason the Holy Spirit quoted these verses through John, was to clarify the authorship of Isaiah. Most seminaries will tell you there are two Isaiah’s (chapters 1-39 and 40-66) because the prophetic side of Isaiah could not have happened. The Holy Spirit, through John, is showing us here that Isaiah is accurate, prophetic, and written by one author, Isaiah. There are subtle challenges to the truth of scripture and this is one of those that scripture itself puts to rest…..God’s word is true.
John 12:42, 43
Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
The Holy Spirit had worked on the hearts of many but their fear of man kept them secretive.
John 12:44-50
Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. 45 For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 47 I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49 I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”
Jesus summarizes basically everything over the last three and 1//2 years of ministry
– If you see and know me, you see and know the Father
– The world is in darkness but if you follow me, you will be light and scatter the darkness
– I have come to save the world, not judge it but you will judge yourselves on the judgment day as you will see the truth
– I spoke only what the Father was speaking, I have told you the truth, there is eternal life for those who believe in what I say and who I am
The question today is, in every situation you face every day, do you believe all of this to be true? His words are life, the darkness around you is destroyed as you trust the Lord. Jesus is God and so loved you that he laid down his life for you, for your freedom, your healing, your life.
Maybe it is time for a change for you. Time for you to fully apply that you are truly loved by God, he has a plan and purpose for you. He has nothing but love, joy and freedom in mind for you!