Sermon - The Desire To See Jesus
John 12:20-28
Joh 12:20 20 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[a] to enter into his glory. 24 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. 27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 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.”
Introduction: “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.” Now, the signs are over, the parables are finish and Jesus begins speaking in plain language. The shouts of the Triumph entry are quiet, and a banquet has been prepared. The setting of the text is a beautiful banquet prepared in Jesus’ honor. We are back in Bethany, just outside of Jerusalem, a city that has been turn on its head by the raising of Lazarus from the dead. The pharisees and elders were saying, “that the whole world has gone after him.” Every plot and trick have failed, Jesus was more popular than ever. Jesus was not seeking popularity; he is seeking the glory of God.
If believers are not careful, the news of world’s events would make us think that monkeypox, virus pandemics, police brutality, protests in the street, the rise and fall of the stock market, Russian aggression, Chinese interference are the most important things going on in our world today. During that season of Jesus’ earthly, His mission was misunderstood. The crowd was wrong, the disciples were wrong, the pharisees were wrong and the Romans were wrong about who he was and what he would do. Both the powerful and the powerless were wrong in their expectation, yet God had a plan and Jesus knew his assignment. Then Jesus sets the record straight. His only desire was that God might be glorified. This is the turning point of the gospel of John. Jesus has a laser focus on his mission.
Some theologians see this text as a “book end.” Jesus’ story began with wisemen from the east seeking him and now ends with Greeks from the west seeking him. It seems as if Jesus was waiting for this sign. The learned Greeks of our text could stand it no longer. They wanted to know the truth for themselves. They had traveled a great distance, some say from Athens, to worship at Jerusalem for the Passover. Historians say that there was many God-fearing Greeks who believe in the one true God. They were not satisfied with Greek Philosophy, the many gods of Rome Empire, they sought the true God and believed in the one God of the Jews. There were two leading schools of thought were the Epicureans (whose philosophy was "Eat, Drink, and be Merry, for tomorrow we die) and the Stoics, who were heading in the direction of Vulcan denial of emotionalism. Neither the stoics nor the Epicureans had any concept of resurrection of the dead. These two schools of thought are mentioned in Acts 17, during Paul's visit to Athens, and they largely ignored Paul's message, because of his teaching of the resurrection.
These Greeks approached Philip who had a Greek name, Philip went to Andrew and they approached Jesus with the request. Jesus seems to have been waiting for this moment. “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.” As a side note, I am amazed at how often we find Andrew bringing people to Jesus. He brought Peter to Jesus; he brought the lad with two fish and five loaves to Jesus; and here he brings these Greeks to Jesus. We do not need to be the greatest, most popular, or most educated, yet we can all take a lesson from Andrew who just brought people to Jesus.
1. See Jesus as the Sacrificial Lamb, One dying for the glory of God. When the disciples expected glory and grandeur, the crowd expected a political leader to overthrow the Romans and the Pharisees expected a riot to overthrow them, the Greeks may have been looking for a new philosopher, Jesus makes it plain! 24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” Jesus knew this was the moment for kingdom increase, for the sin debt to be paid, for lost mankind to be saved, and the enemy’ power to be overthrown. Jesus does emphasize his miracles or popularity; He draws attention to his sacrificial death. If we would see Jesus, we must see His sacrificial death.
2. See Jesus as an example to be followed. His followers must be as their master. After Jesus draws attention to his sacrificial death, then he declares the necessity of His followers dying to sin and self. John the Baptist’s message appeared to be hard and demanding, while Jesus had proclaimed mostly the message of grace, love, and abundant life. Now Jesus speaks clearly about path to eternal life. John’s message of repentance and change was true. Those who would see Jesus must move beyond curiosity and popularity. He outlines the marks of true discipleship. His disciples and all who choose to follow Him must be willing to die to sin, self, and the world. The only path to reigning with Christ is through dying with Christ. John 12:26 “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.” There is no see him without following Him; no following him without serving Him; and there is no serving without dying to self. Yet when we do, God will always honor them as servants of God.
3. See Jesus as a Gateway to God’s Eternal Reward. Joh 12:26 “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.”
There is a reward waiting for all those who are willing to follow him. Jesus promises eternal life, and eternal place with Him and eternal honor from His father. Christ’ mission included be the sacrificial Lamb, leading by example, instructing his disciples, and appoint them to their work. Those who wishes to see him, (1) must follow him and serve Him become His disciples that he may teach them (2) must willingly become His servants, employed by him and obedient to him. Jesus mentions a twofold promise for faithful believers: (1) He shall be with Christ in eternal fellowship with him; and (2) He shall be honored by God and have an abundant reward in glory. How great will that reward be? “Eye hath not seen, ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive.” If you would see Jesus: See Jesus as the Sacrificial Lamb, See Jesus as an example to be followed; See Jesus as a gateway to God’s Eternal Reward.
4. See Jesus’ highest Goal as God Being Glorified. “Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Jesus prays for God’s glory to be revealed. Jesus knew the clearest picture of the Glory of God would reveal His love, mercy, and grace. It would all begin its display in the sacrificial death of His son on the cross for a lost world. God’s glorification would conclude with raising Jesus from the dead. His love for mankind is seen in the price he willingly paid for our justification. Sin is dreadful and carries a high price. The righteous judgment of God must be satisfied, and the price paid in full. The prince of this world, the father of lies, must be dethroned, and cast out. Then all God seekers, and all desiring to see him could be drawn unto God.
Seeking him is good. Desiring to be Him is good but limited. Not only should we desire to see him, let’s follow Him to the cross, willingly dying to sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil. Then let’s follow him in displaying the glory of God. We display the Glory of God by the way we live our lives, the things we do, and the decisions we make. His followers should follow Him in the way we treat our family, in the way we raise our children, in the way we work at our job. We should follow Him in faithfulness. Faithful in how we live, how we talk and what we stand for. Faithful in how we love. Displaying the glory of God means following Him so the world will see our walk with Him is more important than our comfort, earthly possessions; earthly achievements and accomplishments.” Following Him means living for the glory of God in this present world.
Many Jews wanted Jesus to overthrow the Romans and take back their authority. The Pharisees and Scribes thought Jesus was after an earthly kingdom and wanted to take their positions. The Greeks may have been seeking another philosopher like Socrates, Plato or Xenophon. Jesus disappointed them all. This curious crowd received an answer they never expected. Jesus said, “I am here that God maybe Glorified.” Have you at any point in your life been like these Greeks of our text? Have you ever said, “I want to see Jesus?” “I want to know Him and be known by Him. I want to be born again by this incorruptible seed. I want to know that His death paid it all for me, and that I can stand justified before God.”
Have you decided yet to see Jesus? Have you decided to follow Jesus, to serve him, and to obey him? Have you been saved from the wrath of God that’s coming upon the children of disobedience? If not, you can do it today. Jesus identified the main hindrance of people, as people loving themselves and this life too much! “
John 12:25 “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” People are hindered because love their sinful life and their free lifestyle in this world. They love the world system and living unrestrained lives. When we choose to live that way, Jesus said, we will eventually lose everything. Real life is found only in Christ Jesus. Choose Him today! People today, still need to see Jesus. More than that, they need to believe on him, follow him, imitate his lifestyle and glorify God.
