THE KING PURSUED

 

John 12:20-26

 

The masses were swirling and whirling in enthusiasm because Jesus was present as the Passover was at hand and the multitude of people were in Jerusalem. There was a buzz in the city over Jesus. Filled with interest and mixed emotions to His presence, especially among certain Greeks seeking truth. The presence of the Greeks at the Passover was not unusual. (v20) It is said that the Greeks were “chronic wanderers” In fact, they were the first people to wander just for the sake of wandering. One Greek scolded his own people when he said, “You Athenians will never rest yourselves, nor will you even let anyone else rest.” Greeks were known for being “seekers after truth” It was not uncommon for Greeks to go through philosophy after philosophy in his search for truth. We read in the Book of Acts when Paul arrived in Athens. “And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.” Acts 17:19-21

 

Paul responds by saying, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” Act 17:22-25

 

Which brings us to this encounter with Phillip. (v21) The text doesn’t state who these Greeks were, or where they were from; but what we know is that they wanted was to see Jesus. Why they came to Phillip is not clear, it’s possible that Jesus was in the part of the temple to which they were not permitted to go. The Gentiles could go no further than the “Court of the Gentiles”, so it’s possible they saw Phillip passing through the Court of Gentiles, recognized him and asked to speak to Jesus, They said, “We would like to see Jesus” again, I find it interesting that Phillip is the first one they see or recognize out of the other disciples. I say interesting because Phillip is from Bethsaida of Galilee, which is near the Gentile region, which means Phillip most likely spoke Greek. Also though, like Andrew, Phillip wanted people to know Jesus as he did.

 

Phillip was persuasive with others, he was an Old Testament reader and thinker as we see in John’s letter. “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:45. Phillip was the one that brought the boys lunch to Jesus when the people were hungry. Phillip was straight shooter, everything was literal to him, everything was black and white. Phillip was given the responsibility even with the provisions and supplies. This means he had good practical management skills. So, these Greeks seeing Phillip first, was no coincidence. Knowing this though, why did Phillip not go right to Jesus, instead of going to Andrew first?

 

It’s possible he was doubtful whether Jesus would wish to converse with Gentiles, and chose to consult with Andrew about it. These Greeks really wanted to hear Jesus for themselves. What we learn from this request is that the Gospel includes the Greeks as well; otherwise, there would be no need for John to mention them in his letter. We read in Matthew’s gospel that the wise men came from the East to see Jesus; and here in John’s gospel we see wise men from the West coming to Jesus.

 

We know from the Old Testament the Nation of Israel was always God’s people, but they were to be God’s people to represent the glory of God to the nations. The blessing was never to be limited exclusively to Israel. I say that because God clearly commanded that the gospel be preached to all people of every nation and ethnic background. Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matt 24:14

 

Yet this same God desired that the gospel be offered first to His chosen people Israel. “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Deut 7:6-8

 

Isaiah wrote, “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off” Isaiah 41:8-9

 

Jesus told a Samaritan woman this, “for salvation is from the Jews.” John 4:22. As God’s recipients the Jews considered themselves to be superior to the pagan Gentiles, because of their God and they had no interest in letting Gentile cities to mingle among them. The Jews’ narrow, provincial, prejudicial attitude overlooked the promises and their national mandate to proclaim the salvation of God to the Gentiles. Remember in God covenant with Abraham, God promised him, “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Gen 12:3 And it’s for this reason that Israel's rejection had been foreseen in the Old Testament as Paul writes in his letter to the Romans in chapter eleven.

 

We need to see that this encounter with Phillip, is an example that God is drawing all sinners to His glorious gospel as Paul proclaimed. “For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” Rom 15:8-12

 

Up to this point in John’s letter Jesus stood in direct hostility of the ones who were to be an example to the nations. This includes the open hostility of the Jewish religious leaders, as well as the superficial interest of the crowd. And its here, at the highest level of hostility, that these Greeks sought to hear and know who this Jesus is. Israel’s willful rejection would be sealed by divine judgement as God set the nation aside and turned to the rest of the world. Israel’s rejection had been foreseen in the Old Testament as Paul said, “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’” And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.” Rom 9:20-29

 

The nation was so wicked, that unless God had preserved a small number who were devout from the general corruption of the people, they would have been swept off by judgment, like Sodom and Gomorrah. It’s their rejection we see the promises extended to the Gentile world and the fulfillment of God’s plan to save sinners. It’s here we see these Greeks who were most likely “God fearers” who abandoned their pagan religion and turned to worship the true God as they come to celebrate Passover. (v20) And its here we read, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus” which was brave for a Gentile to request. So, Phillip, and Andrew, approach Jesus; and we are thinking to ourselves that Jesus is going to meet them and talk to them. But what does Jesus do, “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 12:23-26

 

What is Jesus saying here?

 

Its here Jesus for the first time speaks that His hour has come. All other references point to that it had not yet arrived. “And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” John 2:4

 

John 7:30 we read, “So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.”

 

John 8:20, “These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.”

 

From this point on His hour is imminent as Jesus is speaking

about His death and resurrection.

 

The title “Son of Man” signifies the Messiahship to those who knew the prophecy and the establishing of the kingdom. “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

 

What Jesus says next would shatter any though to what Phillip and Andrew had of a conquering king. As Jesus turns their dreams of conquest into a vision of death, the Son of Man would be glorified not by conquest, but by His death. (v24-v26) There is no kingdom that would be established apart from the cross being represented first, this has been God’s plan when we see the first gospel in Genesis chapter three. John MacArthur wrote, “There could never be the establishing of His kingdom with all its features promised in the Scriptures without the cross. Anyone who thinks that Jesus came to offer the kingdom of Israel without the cross, and thinks the cross was only a reaction because of Israel’s unbelief is a fool.”

 

Remember what Jesus said to the two individuals on the road to Emmaus? “And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27. Just as a grain of wheat falls into the earth, it will produce a rich harvest; this ultimately means that His death will produce much fruit. What is that harvest? “And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,” Rev 5:9

 

This harvest would include many Gentiles and

Greeks who desire to see Him.

 

What Jesus says here to Phillip and Andrew is that after the cross the gospel would spread far beyond the borders of Israel to the nations of the world. “Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” Eph 2:12-16

 

Regardless of race, every person who through faith in Christ would receive eternal life, this is all part of His spiritual harvest, “His seed” though the gospel. And it all because of this one grain of wheat that falls into the ground, meaning His death and resurrection, that many will be saved. But there is one condition and Jesus applies this truth with a general invitation. The heart attitude required for one to receive this gift of salvation is for someone who loses here, but gains life eternally in Jesus. (v25-v26) For someone to love his life in this world reveals that someone doesn’t truly love the life that Jesus came to give. It’s the love for this world over the love for God’s kingdom as John so clearly warns us to do. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

 

It is here where you, and I, need to exam what we love most, not more, but most. Is it this world or is it God’s kingdom? To love this world or as Jesus says “loves his life loses it” the promise and gift of salvation means nothing to them and they are forever lost. Why? Because the man who loves his life destroys it. This statement or warning by Jesus reminds me of what Voddie Baucham said in one of his messages, “It’s always amazed me how people spend their lives not having time for God, being too busy for Him — but hoping to go to heaven for all eternity, and be with the God for whom they had no time for.” But there is hope for those who don’t love self and this world. As Jesus says, “Whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

 

This doesn’t mean we cultivate a hatred for this life?

 

What this means is that Jesus is telling us to die to self, because to die to self is to live for Christ.

We only find true life when we lose it, whether its in this world or the world to come, our potential is never reached except through death of sin and denial of self.

 

A prime example of this is when Jesus talked about the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matt 13:44-46. The spiritual life is governed by this truth found in the gospel confession. “God’s power is made perfect in our weakness” 2 Cor 12:9. Do we want to be rich we must become poor in spirit. Matt 5:3. Do we want to be first we must be willing to come last As the reformer Edward Payson wrote, “Has God loved you from eternity? The He will love you to eternity. Has He raised you from spiritual death? The He will never suffer you to fall again. For His name sake, we will carry on the work He began in you and render it perfect in the day of Christ.”

 

It’s this truth in the gospel that Peter said this, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:6-11

 

If we want to rule, we have to serve. If we want to live, we have to die. What Jesus is saying is that if a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. (v24) Unless there is death, the vast possibilities inside us will not be released to produce any sort of fruit. This means that person will shrink and remain alone. We must die, because the Christian life whether it’s in the beginning, or you’re a veteran, to have any spiritual growth, or fruit, we must learn that we live by dying. Geroge Muller when asked, “What has been the secret of your life?” Muller hung his head and said, “There was a day when I died.” Then he bent lower and said, “Died to George Muller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will; died to the world, its approval or criticism; died to the approval or blame even of brethren or friends”

 

What is the reward of death to self? Jesus summed this this truth for the Christian life in (v26) “Whoever serves me must follow Me.” The promise of eternal life doesn’t say this life doesn’t begin with a coronation, but with a crucifixion. Remember to follow Christ requires us to live like Christ, while we live here. As John said, “Whoever claims to live in Him, must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6. Charles Spurgeon said “Hang this question up in your houses! "What would Jesus do?" And then think of another, "How would Jesus do it?" Why did Spurgeon say that? Because what Jesus would do, and how He would do it…..will always stand as the best guide to us. We as God’s children are supposed to make the most of our time about Christ and His gospel. Christians should make the most of their time about His work because we do not want to waste our lives on earthly pursuits. We must passionately shine our lights as a reflection of His glory for a world to see and taste the glory of the gospel.  While we have breath may it used solely for Him!

 

Why?

 

Because when we stand before Him in all His glory, we will not regret having spent our lives wisely. Through the foolishness of the Gospel, God has ordained to destroy the wisdom of the wise, frustrate the intelligence of the greatest minds, and humble the pride of all men. We live for Him that in the end that no flesh may boast in His presence, but just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Cor 1 :31. Are we going to die in our religion or are we going to die in our devotion? On that first Palm Sunday when our Lord marched into Jerusalem the crowd applauded Him. The Gentiles came and said, “We wish to see Him” But how would they see Jesus? Only through His death for our sins. How did they understand Him as King? Only through His death. How will those around us see Jesus? Only as we die to ourselves and live for Christ. My prayer as we close that God would lead us into a royal life, a life of sacrifice, and a life that bears much fruit for Him. As Paul said, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Rom 12:1-2