Text: John 12:20-36

It was an odd answer to a regular question: Question: We would see Jesus; Answer: I am going to die. It would be like someone asking to see you and the answer would be “go to the funeral home” while you were still standing there with them. A key to Jesus’ answer, I believe, is found John 12:19, “So the Pharisees said to one another…. ‘Look, the world has gone after him.’” And now ‘the world’ represented by the Greeks seeking to see Him illustrated the Pharisee’s concern.

And that is what Jesus saw, not just a few Greeks looking for Him, but the world that the Father so loved—the world that He was sent to die for. Hence, “Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit’” (John 12:23-24 ESV).

Yes, the Greeks would see Jesus, but not in the way they ever imagined. The middle wall of partition that kept them out from the commonwealth of Israel was on the eve of breaking down, much fruit would be born, and Jesus sees what the Greeks would soon see as well, though it was beyond comprehension. Jesus sees the cross. “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 ESV).

Don’t just look to Jesus today, be drawn to Him. Don’t just see Jesus, experience Him. Let His death bring new life, new hope, and new peace, to you. Agree with the Father and glorify Jesus in your prayers today.