John 12:20-34. Loving This Life?

Yakov Smirnoff was a comedian who came to the United States from Russia. He wasn’t prepared for the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores. He says,

“On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk - you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice - you just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to my self, what a country!”

Somewhere along the way people became convinced that Christianity was ‘easy’. Just add water and ‘wala – instant Christianity”. All you had to do was go to Church once in awhile, say a few prayers, read your Bible from time to time, and invite Jesus into your heart as your personal Saviour, and you were good to go. You could go on living with your own goals and ambitions, you could make life the way you wanted it to be, you could do it “your way”, still get to heaven, and all would be good. How wrong this view is – that is the road to hell.

John Wycliffe (1320s – 1384) had been a senior academic in Oxford who had come to the conclusion that the Roman Catholic church was no longer representing the faith that Jesus and his apostles taught. He translated the Bible into English and trained up some young men to go around the country and into Europe to teach Bible truths. They were called Lollards. English bishops had been burning these English Bibles, and some Lollards, whenever they could get hold of them. Until his death he increasingly argued that the Scriptures were the overruling authority of Christianity, that the claims of the papacy were largely unhistorical, that monasticism was seriously corrupt, and that the moral unworthiness of some priests invalidated their office. His stand was far from easy. He was called arrogant and self opinionated. Wycliffe was declared a ‘heretic’ posthumously at the Council of Constance in 1417. Forty three years after his death his bones were dug up, publicly burned and his ashes thrown into the river Swift. Wycliffe's teachings however continued to spread. A later chronicler observed,

“Thus the brook hath conveyed his ashes into Avon; Avon into the Severn; the Severn into the narrow seas; and they into the main ocean. And thus the ashes of Wycliffe are the emblem of his doctrine which now is dispersed the world over.”

Wycliffe faced much adversity in this life because of his Biblical faith but he loved someone more than this life – his Lord Jesus.

William Tyndale (1492 – 1536) spent much of his young life translating the Bible into the English language so that ordinary people could read it. Copies of his New Testament were publicly denounced and burned by Bishop Tunstall, both in England and in Amsterdam where they had been printed. Soon afterwards Tyndale himself was tried before this same bishop and was executed by being burned at at the stake. He considered that to enable people to have the Word of God in their own language was more important than even his life. Tyndale was thought to share many of the opinions of Martin Luther of Germany, whose German translations of the Bible were also condemned and publicly burned.

The Bibles were burned because these Bible translators had recognised that the Bible taught much that was at variance with that taught and practiced by the medieval Roman Catholic church. The translators considered that God’s ultimate authority must be the Word of God, to which all churches, church leaders and clergymen must submit. To take such a stand was perilous.

The Jewish leaders in Jesus’ day had a similar problem to that of the medieval church leaders. They had missed the point that their Scriptures tell of God’s coming Messiah and that they insist that people’s hearts must be put right with God. Outward religion was not what God wanted; he sees people’s hearts. When people long for a relationship with God, he says that they still need a scapegoat, some being who will pay the price for our sin. Animal sacrifices were a picture or model of what the Saviour of the world would achieve on that awful cross.

Religious leaders always have the temptation to act in a way that is either politically expedient or in their self interests instead of in ways that will please God, that are in accord with God’s word. In this passage Jesus gives us some remarkable statements that are intriguing and yet so rich in value.

“Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” John 12:31-32

What does Jesus mean when he speaks in such climactic terms? What does he mean by ‘lifted up from the earth’? Is he referring to his ascension or to his crucifixion into heaven where he was going to be with his Father? The next verse makes the answer clear,

“He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.” John 12:33

Jesus is saying that it will be that by his death the world is somehow judged, Satan will somehow be driven out and that many people will be drawn to follow him. The cross of Christ is the core of the Christian message. We therefore need to understand it as Jesus taught it and as John recorded it.

Context

This all takes place early in the week in which Jesus was crucified, possibly the Sunday or Monday, as Jesus had just entered Jerusalem on a donkey on the Sunday. Certain Greeks had come to Jerusalem ‘to worship at the Feast’. This suggests that they were more than just tourists, although the Greeks were renowned for their interest in travelling.

Jesus knew that he had come to Jerusalem to die and had repeatedly told his disciples about this fact. In the previous weeks Jesus had repeatedly told his disciples that he would be killed in Jerusalem, but that that would not be the end – he would rise from death. After Peter had acknowledged Jesus to be God’s Messiah, Jesus immediately responded by explaining what this would mean.

“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” Mark 8:31

Later he said to his disciples,

“‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.’ But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.” Mark 9:31-32

Jesus hid nothing from his disciples but what he told them did not sink in.

“They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. ‘We are going up to Jerusalem,’ he said, ‘and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.’” Mark 10:32-34

Jesus clearly could have avoided this awful fate by escaping, but he determined to fulfil his Father’s wishes and even the prospect of a horrible death could not dissuade him from fulfilling his destiny.

The disciples all knew that the authorities wanted to kill Jesus. When Jesus had suggested that they go to Bethany, two miles from Jerusalem, where Lazarus had died, the implication was clear to Thomas. He replied,

“Let us also go, that we may die with him.” John 11:16

Greeks come

John tells us that what happened in chapter 12 took place in the last week of Jesus’ life. John alone tells us about this visit from some Greek worshippers. It is most likely that they were ‘God fearers’. These were Gentiles who were disillusioned with the morality and religion of paganism and the absurdity of the Greek gods and accepted the monotheism and morality of Judaism without becoming full Jews by circumcision.

Perhaps they had been impressed by the moral stand Jesus had made when, that very morning (Mark 11:12), he had cleared the money changers, dove sellers and other merchants out of the Court of Gentiles in the temple. This had, yet again, caused a great furore and must have further increased the antagonism of the ruling classes to all Jesus said and stood for. Such moral leadership is hard but is attractive.

Their introductory statement is magnificent,

“Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” John 1:21

People frequently say to a Christian,

“I wish I had a faith.”

Often this means that they admire something in the life and thinking of Christians. The way to finding a real faith is to investigate Jesus and his claims. What better way is there than reading through John’s gospel and asking if this makes sense, is evidence based and resonates with our deepest needs. Jesus said to these who are genuinely searching for answers,

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7

These Greeks were looking for answers and they want to meet Jesus.

This is a good reminder for pastors and teachers. Our goal must be the same, to introduce people to the living Jesus. In Victorian times many churches had a brass plaque fixed in the pulpits that reminder the preachers,

“Sir, we would see Jesus.” John 12:21

It is a good reminder about the preacher’s goal, nothing less and nothing more is needed.

The Greeks went to Philip first and he in turn told Andrew of this request. Could it be significant that these were the only two of the twelve with Greek names? The Greeks recognised that they needed help and turn to those they feel closest to.

Jesus understood that this approach by the Greeks was a sign that his end was fast approaching. When Andrew spoke to Jesus, he replied,

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” John 12:23

The Bible commentator, Leon Morris wrote,

“The fact that the Greeks were wanting to meet Jesus showed that the time had come for him to die for the world. He no longer belonged to Judaism, which in any case had rejected him. But the world whose Saviour he is awaits him and seeks for him.”

Surely this is what John is implying, Jesus is the Saviour of the whole world and that many people will benefit from his death on their behalf, even Greek pagans.

The hour has come

When hearing of the interest from Greeks Jesus replied,

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” John 12:23

This ‘hour’ is a repeated theme in John’s gospel ever since his mother, Mary, asked him to help out when a family wedding ran out of wine. Jesus replied,

“My hour has not yet come.” John 2:4

We have already seen that he was talking about his death which he saw as the point of his coming. When he died he would carry the sin of all people from all nations who would trust in him and join his kingdom.

A lesson from nature

This section begins with two key words, “Amen, Amen” which literally means ‘Truly, Truly’. Jesus uses this phrase when he is emphasising something very important,

“I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds.” John 12:24

The Greek literally says, ‘produce much fruit’. Jesus is saying that to produce much fruit through his death means to draw others into the Kingdom of God. Just as a seed sown in the ground by a farmer has to die if it is to produce a harvest, so Jesus is stressing that he will have to die. Fruitfulness comes through death.

Jesus, after applying this concept to himself, applies it to us his followers. This saying is repeated seven or more times in the gospels, in different contexts and to different people.

“The man who loves this life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this life will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:25

How important this teaching is. The writer C.S.Lewis said,

“The natural life in each of us is something self-centred, something that wants to be petted and admired, to take advantage of other lives and exploit the whole universe.” Mere Christianity Book 4, chapter 5

This is true, we all naturally want to exploit our universe for our benefit, from when we are babies till when we are grandparents. We naturally keep away from anything that shows us up for what we really are, such as the light. We, dirty people, don’t want the hassle or having a bath. Yet if the spiritual life that Jesus wants us to have takes hold, we will want to walk in the light and be washed so we can be effective for our Lord. The Holy Spirit will enable us to hate the idea of spending our lives living for ourselves.

A reward from the Father

It is too easy to claim to be a Christian, to be a follower of Jesus, yet not to have his priorities as our own. Jesus gives us a stark warning,

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.” John 12:26

Anyone who serves Jesus, by taking up our cross, will be honoured by the Father. Jesus carefully uses personal pronouns here. He does not say, ‘If anyone serves the church,’ or ‘If anyone serves his neighbour,’ even though these are right principles. Instead he says, ‘Serve me.’

To follow Jesus in this life is our whole Christian duty. To live with Christ in this world will bring us great rewards in this life. These sentences are astonishing, they are simple yet so profound. Jesus is talking about the importance of his death but is also saying that those who follow him will have to die, in a sense, too – die to priorities of self, the world and the flesh.

The other gospel writers remember other similar statements of Jesus. Luke recalls Jesus saying,

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet forfeit his very self.” Luke 9:23-25

It is all a matter of priorities in life. It is easy to make our family or our work the real purpose in life, yet Jesus is saying that even this good purpose is insufficient. When large crowds were following Jesus he turned to them and said,

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple. And any one who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-27

Addressing a national seminar of American Southern Baptist leaders, George Gallup, who established the Gallop polls, said,

“We find there is very little difference in ethical behaviour between churchgoers and those who are not active religiously...The levels of lying, cheating, and stealing are remarkable similar in both groups. Eight out of ten Americans consider themselves Christians, Gallup said, yet only about half of them could identify the person who gave the Sermon on the Mount, and fewer still could recall five of the Ten Commandments. Only two in ten said they would be willing to suffer for their faith.”

Martin Luther said this in a different way, “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.”

What is the attraction of following Christ?

Jesus is certainly not making it easy for us to be his disciples. He himself had just cleansed the temple of merchants, so further enraging the authorities. Popularity was not his goal, faithfulness, in living as his Father wanted, was. He was about to be cruelly killed and he calls us, his followers to take up our crosses. He must be willing to fall into the ground and die for him.

There are however great benefits – look at how several verses end,

“ . . . it produces many seeds.” John 12:24

To win others for Christ is so rewarding, we are saving people for an eternity with God.

“ . . . will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:25

That is the prize for Jesus, a return to the glory of his Father’s presence and that too is our great reward – eternal life.

“ . . . him will the Father honour.” John 12:26

What better reward could there be, than to be honoured by the creator of the universe? This is the repeated theme, that the Lord Jesus has prepared a home for us. The prodigal son came home to his father from the meaningless life he was living and this still is the good news for us. Our heavenly Father is longing and waiting for us to come home to him. To live for the Lord is eminently rational but at times this can be disconcerting as we live in a world that is going in a different direction. Soon after this Jesus reassured his disciples and we should also be comforted,

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

Jesus set us an example for all his people to follow. He lived only for his heavenly Father. He did everything asked of him, even to the point of dying. What greater love can there be?

BVP