Day Twenty-Eight
Scripture: John 12:20-27
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour. 27 ‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.
Observation:
Some Greeks wanted to see Jesus. They asked Philip because he was from a Greek-speaking city, Bethsaida. When Andrew and Philip came to Jesus to tell this, he answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
What does this mean? This is an odd answer. So, did he want to see them or not? John does not even tell us if Jesus actually met with these Greeks. Contrary to Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus (John 3) or the Samaritan woman (John 4), this passage does not record any deep theological conversation between them. Instead, it only tells us about Jesus’ public speech.
Nevertheless, what John wants to tell us seems to be clear. When Jesus heard that the Greeks wanted to see him, he took it as a sign. This signified that it was the time for the Son of Man to be “glorified,” not only for the Jews but for all people, including the Greeks, in all nations. And we know that for Jesus being glorified meant being crucified for the sake of his love for all. According to John, this happened just six days before he was crucified.
Therefore, when he talked about how a grain of wheat must die to bear much fruit, he indicated how he must die to save not only the Jews or those who were close to him but also the Gentiles, those who were distant or different from him.
And we are invited to follow him. May our despair, hatred, and selfishness die today so that we may bear fruit of hope, peace, and love tomorrow. May we practice the power of self-giving love, especially for those who are distant and different from us.
Application:
Is there something that needs to die in you so that you may bear much fruit?
What does that mean to “lose life” for you at this moment of your life journey?
Prayer / Reflection:
Song of Reflection: Christ in Me