What Does Jesus Say About Death? Series

Good morning to our both NRHBC and Cross Church family who are joining us online. A special welcome to those of you who are guests joining us as well. Please also know you can call one of our pastors for prayer at the numbers you see. Many of you are watching us on Facebook and we invite you interact with the message in the comments section as the message goes along.

Isolated because of the Coronavirus, we are meeting for worship online again. A distraught husband asked to me to pray this week with these words: “We are 15 days into self-isolation and it is really upsetting me to witness [my wife] standing at the living room window gazing aimlessly into space with tears running down her cheeks. It breaks my heart to see her like this. I have thought very hard about how I can cheer her up. I have even considered letting her in - but rules are rules.”

More seriously, there is no substitute for gathering together in person. How I look forward to seeing everyone face to face! Even though a virus can keep us out of our buildings for a while, there is no virus that can stop the church from being the church! Amen? Today, I want to speak to you about this subject, “What Does Jesus Say about Death.”

Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday when Jesus entered into Jerusalem to the fanfare of many worshipping Him. I invite you to find John 12 with me. You’ll find the story of Palm Sunday beginning in John 12:12, but our focus this morning is what likely happens the following day on Monday. You’ll see in a moment that our Scripture today is speaking of a feast. The feast is Passover that our Jewish friends will celebrate on Wednesday (April 8) of this week. Keep in mind that our story takes place just four days before Jesus is crucified.

Today’s Scripture

“Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 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. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 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).

During this pandemic, all of us are do everything possible to save lives – social distancing, etc. We have so many devices to save lives: life preservers, life boats, lifelines, lifeguards, and even life insurance. Many of you have taken courses on life saving and some of you are even in the medical field where all you do is for the purpose of saving lives. So it sounds really strange to hear Jesus talk about “hating life” in a time when all we want to know is how to live.

When thinking about your mortality, listen as Jesus first gives us a truth about Himself and then a truth about you.

1. The Truth about Jesus

1.1 Greeks

Our story begins with some Greeks wanting to know about Jesus. So the Greeks approach Philip and he turns to Andrew who turns finally, to Jesus Himself. You’d think Jesus would say something to the effect, “Sure, bring these guys in. I’d be glad to see them.” But Jesus doesn’t do that at all. Jesus seemingly looks at invisible watch on His wrist to announce to all, “My hour has NOW come.” Somehow these Greeks trigger Jesus to kick off the momentous events of the last week of His life. Now, the Greeks disappear from the story and we are left with Jesus speaking. It’s as if Jesus is on a stage where everything else turns black but a spotlight is on Him.

1.2 The Hour

Now with the arrival of these Greek men, Jesus bursts forth with an announcement, “The hour has come” (John 12:23b). How did Jesus know that the decisive moment had arrived? We really have no idea. Now, Jesus stands at the threshold of a door, a seminal moment in time that will advance the world clock in ways only God knows. You can just feel the pace pick up in our story.

1.3 Amen, Amen

Then Jesus says, “Amen,” in verse 24. In fact, Jesus gives the double amen here again. Now, when Jesus uses “amen,” He’s calling on you to come to a full stop (pause for effect). For when Jesus says, “amen,” the next words out of His mouth are crucial words for you to digest “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” (John 12:24).