INTRO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, Sarah Barry
JESUS, A KERNEL OF WHEAT
Passage: John 12:20~36  
Key verse: 24
Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks(A) among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida(B) in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour(C) has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.(D) 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,(E) it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it(F) for eternal life.(G) 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.(H) My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “Now my soul is troubled,(I) and what shall I say? ‘Father,(J) save me from this hour’?(K) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven,(L) “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit,(M) not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world;(N) now the prince of this world(O) will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth,(P) will draw all people to myself.”(Q) 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.(R)
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law(S) that the Messiah will remain forever,(T) so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man(U) must be lifted up’?(V) Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light(W) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,(X) before darkness overtakes you.(Y) Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”(Z) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.(AA)
Footnotes
- John 12:32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
Cross references
- John 12:20 : Jn 7:35; Ac 11:20
- John 12:21 : S Mt 11:21
- John 12:23 : S Mt 26:18
- John 12:23 : Jn 13:32; 17:1
- John 12:24 : 1Co 15:36
- John 12:25 : Mt 10:39; Mk 8:35; Lk 14:26; 17:33
- John 12:25 : S Mt 25:46
- John 12:26 : Jn 14:3; 17:24; 2Co 5:8; Php 1:23; 1Th 4:17
- John 12:27 : Mt 26:38, 39; Jn 11:33, 38; 13:21
- John 12:27 : S Mt 11:25
- John 12:27 : ver 23
- John 12:28 : S Mt 3:17
- John 12:30 : Ex 19:9; Jn 11:42
- John 12:31 : Jn 16:11
- John 12:31 : Jn 14:30; 16:11; 2Co 4:4; Eph 2:2; 1Jn 4:4; 5:19
- John 12:32 : ver 34; Isa 11:10; Jn 3:14; 8:28
- John 12:32 : Jn 6:44
- John 12:33 : Jn 18:32; 21:19
- John 12:34 : S Jn 10:34
- John 12:34 : Ps 110:4; Isa 9:7; Eze 37:25; Da 7:14
- John 12:34 : S Mt 8:20
- John 12:34 : Jn 3:14
- John 12:35 : ver 46
- John 12:35 : Eph 5:8
- John 12:35 : 1Jn 1:6; 2:11
- John 12:36 : ver 46; S Lk 16:8
- John 12:36 : Jn 8:59
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. The hour has come.... (20-26)
Though the Pharisees rejected Jesus, some Greeks (non-Jews) sought out Jesus. Their timing was remarkable for Jesus' hour of glory had come. Within days Jesus would suffer and die on a cross. Like a kernel of wheat that dies and produces many seeds, Jesus' death and resurrection has given eternal life to many people down to the present time. Jesus calls us not only to seek him but to also follow and serve him with our whole being. When we do, God promises to be with us and to honor us.
2. Father, glorify your name! (27-36)
Jesus did not want to die. But his desire to glorify his Father was greater than his desire to save himself. God the Father glorified himself through Jesus' death. Jesus would be lifted up on a cross. He would drive out the devil and draw all peoples to himself. The crowds did not fully understand at that moment, but Jesus exhorted them to walk in the light and to believe in him while he was there. Then they could become children of light - that is, God's children.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for dying to give me life. Help me to die to myself and follow you.
One Word: Die and produce many seeds