In the Gospel of John the author uses a unique phrase to describe the climax of this book.  “Jesus’ hour.’  He will use this phrase seven times.  We have see the first three and they have all set “Jesus’ hour had not yet come.”  Now today we see something different.

Today’s Scripture: John 12:20-36
 
It is Palm Sunday and John tells us that: some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”

Some Gentiles were attracted to Judaism.  It was monotheistic.  The Jews worshiped ONE God not many, also the moral purity that was different from Greek and Roman culture.  They came to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover festival

They had heard about Jesus and the amazing things he was doing and saying.  They wanted to meet him.
 
Jesus responds with: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (John 12:23)

It is amazing that these two things are connected.  Some Greeks want to see Jesus and Jesus says “the hour has come.”  It has always been God’s plan to offer salvation to the whole world not just the Jews.

Go back to the beginning Genisis 22:18 God’s promise to Abraham and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed. All nations.

“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles. (Isaiah 42:6)

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24)  Jesus knows.  He knows he must die, but if he dies it will produce a great harvest of believers.  The mention of these Greeks wanting to see Jesus reminds him that his death will produce a harvest of believers throughout the ages that will come from all over the world.
 
We see the grief that is stirred in him as he faces the thought of not only an excruciating, humiliating, death but also the weight of the judgement he will have to experience in order to be the ultimate sacrifice for man’s sin. “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. (John 12:27)
 
The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” (John 12:34)
 
Jesus chose not to call himself the messiah, instead he choose the tile “Son of Man.”  The title “messiah” had a firm definition in the people’s minds.  Military Leader.  Whenever anyone said the word messiah, the people would instantly picture and military leader who would free Israel from Rome and set them up as a great nation.  That was not part of Jesus’ first coming. 
 
Jesus ends with this: “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. We are all waiting for something.  We are all waiting for Jesus to return.  Will you trust Him while you wait?

Discussion Questions
1 What is something you have had to spend a long time waiting for?  How long have you been waiting for it?

2 Have you ever had to wait for something a very long time, and then when it happened it was not at all what you expected?  Share that story.

3 (Read John 12:20-23) Why was it interesting that there were some “Greeks” that came to the festival.  Why did they come?  What festival is John talking about?

4 What does Jesus mean by “the hour has come.”  What is significant about the timing of Him making this statement?

5 (Read John 12:24-33) What did Jesus mean when he said: unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. What is he referring to?

6 How does Jesus call us to follow him?  What is the reward the Father will give to those that serve Jesus?

7 Why is Jesus’ “soul troubled?” What is he thinking about? How does Jesus fight off the temptation to abandon his calling?  Who does he turn to?

8 (Read John 12:34-36) Why does Jesus refer to himself as the “son of man” instead of the Messiah?  What was the crowd confused about?  What did they have wrong?