1. Context
(BKC) John in chapter 12 concluded his record of Jesus’ public ministry with (a) the account of Mary’s anointing of Jesus (which set the stage for His coming sacrifice), (b) His Triumphal Entry, and (c) the prediction of His death.
2. Repeated words: glorified
23 Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
(PNTC) The servant who does not stoop to his own will, but who performs the will of the one who sent him—even to the death of the cross—is the one who glorifies God...The heavenly Father who has been glorifying his name throughout the ministry of his dear Son can be counted on to continue that glorification at the climactic hour
3. Structure
v.20-26 The glorification of the son in His obedient death
3 parallel terms:
v.24 the kernel has to die to bear abundant grain.
V.25 the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life.
V.26 if anyone wants to serve Jesus, he must follow Him...the Father will honor him
In other words “dying” is equivalent to “hating life in this world” and “following” Jesus’ example/”serving” Him.
(BKC) The wheat analogy (v. 24) illustrates a general paradoxical principle: death is the way to life. In Jesus’ case, His death led to glory and life not only for Himself but also for others. In the case of a disciple of Jesus, the principle is similar... To “hate his life” means to be so committed to Christ that he has no self-centeredness, no concern for himself. On the other hand the man who loves his life will lose it. Anything in life can become an idol including goals, interests, and loves (cf. Luke 12:16–21; 18:18–30). A believer should undergo a spiritual death to self (Rom. 6:1–14; 2 Cor. 5:14–15; Gal. 6:14)...His true disciples (those who serve Him) follow Him in humiliation and later in honor or glory (Rom. 8:17, 36–39; 2 Tim. 2:11–13).
Reflection: Self-love, or self-centeredness may be popular in psychology, but is totally opposite to what Jesus taught us. Whoever loves his life destroys it. Am I loving myself too much? Do I concern about myself so much that no one can put me down? On the other hand, what cost am I willing to pay to others to gain Christ? Will I give my time? Will I give my life? The motivation is great. Who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life v.25. If anyone serves Jesus, the Father will honor him v.26b.
v.27-28 Jesus' submission
Questions: From the previous passage Jesus asked His followers to hate his life in this world. How did Jesus Himself do this? 12:27 “Now my soul is greatly distressed. And what should I say? ‘Father, deliver me from this hour’? No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour.12:28 Father, glorify your name.”
Obviously, Jesus was not unemotional when facing death. Why did Jesus ask the Father to glorify His name? What does that do about His struggle now? (PNTC) . The servant who does not stop to his own will, but who performs the will of the one who sent him—even to the death of the cross—is the one who glorifies God. Then what did God refer to when He said v.28b, “Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again”? (PNTC) I have glorified it—apparently throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, in the incarnation (1:14) and especially in the powerful signs (cf. notes on 2:11; 11:40)—and will glorify it again—presumably in the death and exaltation of Jesus, which makes this promise a direct response to Jesus’ petition. The heavenly Father who has been glorifying his name throughout the ministry of his dear Son can be counted on to continue that glorification at the climactic hour.
Reflection: Jesus did not require His followers to do something without He Himself doing it first. He hates His life in this world in the sense that He gave up His fear of sufferings. I think most Christians do not fear death, but many of us fear the pain and sufferings. Jesus had felt that, too, but He did not let that to dominate Him. Instead He submitted to do God’s will. Missionaries went to countries closed for Gospel workers. Their lives are in danger every day. How about us? Do our fears stop us from doing God’s will? Do our fears of Covid stop us from visiting seekers? Do our fears of losing time for ourselves stop us from serving God?
V.29-33 Jesus' glorification on the Cross
A. Why did Jesus said this voice has not come for my benefit, but for yours? V.30 Wasn’t Jesus the One Whose heart was troubled? Wasn’t God confirmed to Him that He could count on the Father to continue to glorify Him?
First, the words were not known by the people, only Jesus knew, other only had the sound v.29. (PNTC) [Jesus] alone who understands the heavenly message and (presumably) later conveys it to his disciples so that it comes to be recorded in this passage...But eventually they would remember what Jesus had told them the voice had uttered, and it would be for them a divine confirmation that the shameful cross, and all that flowed from it, was not a defeat but a victory, not final destruction but ultimate glorification
(PNTC) Even though the crowd did not understand the voice, the very fact that a voice from heaven spoke should have been sufficient to alert those with any spiritual sensitivity that a turning-point in redemptive history was impending. For those with ears to hear, Jesus’ next words consequently take on fresh urgency. Jesus’ unpacking of the implications of what the voice said—that is the burden of vv. 31–33—inevitably gained extra authority and urgency in the minds of his followers.
Anyhow, the sound/voice should have become an important evidence for people to believe in Him, but they did not. We will see that tomorrow in v.34-36.
B. v.31 the ruler of this world will be driven out
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