Christ's Most Glorious Hour

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him (John 12: 20-26).

What attracted Greeks to the Passover Feast? They were in Jerusalem to worship. They were not born Jewish but were proselytes or converts. What prompted them to seek Jesus? Perhaps it was the testimony about the resurrection of Lazarus (see v. 17-18). Perhaps it was the crowd’s incessant declaration that Jesus was King of Israel (see v. 13). Truth seekers know it was the work of God that drew these Greeks to Himself through Jesus… “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). The desire to meet Jesus compelled them to approach Philip, a Jew with a Greek name. He was possibly named after Philip the Tetrarch who had shown great benevolence to his hometown Bethsaida in Galilee. They came to Philip with a burning desire… “Sir, we wish to see Jesus”. This request was clear evidence of the grace of God working in the hearts of non-Jews to include them among the disciples of Christ. It seems the approach of these Gentiles signaled that a very special event in the life and ministry of Christ was imminent. The request was met with a promise that they would soon see Jesus. In fact they would soon see the glorification of “the Son of Man”. Then Jesus used a parable to teach His disciples the truth that the cross was soon to be Christ’s most glorious hour.

Evidence that we are born again disciples of Christ is a strong longing in our hearts for the glory of God… “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). The very reason the Word of God became flesh was to reveal God’s glory to the world… “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The Spirit teaches through the pen of the apostle Paul that disciples are compelled to live above the sin and corruption of this temporal world by a driving desire to see the glory of Christ… “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ’ (Titus 2:11-13).

In today’s scripture, the Teacher inspired the Evangelist to reveal two precious truths about the glory of God as revealed by the Son of God. First, Christ’s greatest revelation of God’s glory would be revealed through His death… “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”. The Spirit echoes this truth elsewhere in scripture… “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Second, Jesus called His disciples to share His glory with the world by imitating His willingness to live and die for the glory of God… “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me”. The Spirit used the apostle Peter’s pen to encourage disciples to allow trials to refine our faith and reveal the glory of Christ… “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

As we grow up into Christ imitating Him in every trial we will show the world the beauty of…

Christ’s Most Glorious Hour.