Lifting The Message Of The Cross

John 12:20-33

In our Gospel reading for today Jesus is steadily making His way towards Jerusalem.  There, He knows that His enemies will gain control and have Him put to death. However, Jesus knows this is only temporary, as He will rise to life again.  Jesus has given out many references of this to His disciples, as He does in today’s reading, but they seem to be totally oblivious to the meaning of this.

As our passage opens some Greeks, most likely Gentile proselytes to Judaism, seek to meet Jesus (vs. 20-22).  They wish to talk with Him, to learn from Him. This stands in stark contrast to Jesus’ own people who would not accept Him, and who would shortly have Him put to death.

Jesus goes on to give a lesson to the disciples and the group gathered around Him.  He speaks of the hour of His death, which is now just a matter of days away (vs. 23).  How could Jesus refer to the hour of His death as one where He would be glorified? His death, though extremely brutal, would seem to be just like any other brutal execution.  This death, though, would bring glory to Jesus in that He obeyed His Father’s will, and paid the price for our salvation, and He would receive all glory when He returned to heaven.

Jesus goes on to give an example from nature to show how death can bring forth fruit to God (vs. 24-26).  Referring to His coming death, and our death, either literally or figuratively to self, can bring a harvest of life to God.  When a farmer sows a seed into the ground it simulates death. The seed has to be buried and the protective shell broken before the seed can grow and be what it is meant to be and bring a harvest.  Jesus would truly die, He had to die, to pay the penalty for our sins, and then bring a harvest of millions to salvation. His resurrection shows His power over death and now has eternal life. Jesus gives that same eternal life to whoever believes on Him.

Many believers are also called to sacrifice their life in service to God. When we read in verse 25 about hating our life, we should be so committed to living for Jesus that, by comparison, it looks as if we hate our own life.  This is not promoting anything suicidal or any destructive actions. It is meaning giving up our self-centeredness, releasing control of our life, and give it over to God.

As we continue on in verse 27, Jesus’ contemplating the upcoming crucifixion brought much anxiety and agitation.  Doing a personal study of exactly how brutal scourging and then crucifixion was like, one can understand why Jesus, in His human nature, was dreading the horror of it.  Jesus, though, knew that this was why He came. He knew that it was only through His sacrificial death that anyone could be saved and go to heaven.

In everything He did, Jesus desired to glorify the Name of God (vs. 28).  Is that the case with us? Do our words, actions, and behavior glorify God?  Though it may not appear that way, Jesus’ sacrificial death for our salvation would also bring glory to God.  God spoke back to Jesus, saying that He would glorify His Name through Jesus. There were two other times where the audible voice of God was heard.  The first time was at Jesus’ baptism, and the second time was at His transfiguration on the mountain. Now, a third time, God’s voice was heard. Some people heard and knew it was the voice of God.  Others heard and thought it was only noise (vs. 29). They allowed Satan to tune out the voice of God. How many today allow Satan to distract them from hearing God’s voice, and keep them from His Word?

The ruler of this world is Satan (vs. 31).  Satan is powerful, but Jesus in infinitely more so.  It may have seemed like Satan won the victory when Jesus was crucified, but in reality it was his doom.  Jesus’ resurrection destroyed Satan’s power.

When Jesus spoke of being “lifted up” in verse 32, He was referring to being lifted up when crucified.  He drew all people to Himself for salvation.  Salvation is open to everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or nationality.  We need to lift the message of the cross up, live the message of the cross in our lives each day.