John 12:20-50
Jesus before the cross

²⁰ And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

²¹ The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

• The journalist questions: Who What Where When Why:
• Who were they? What are they doing? Where were they? (see John 12:12) When did this happen? Why were they there?

²² Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

²³ And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

²⁴ Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

• Summarize:

²⁵ He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

• Read in another translation:
• 25 NIV, “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

²⁶ If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

• Read in another translation.
• 26, NIV, “… My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

²⁷ Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

• What are the emotions of the characters?
• 27 What is going to happen? Jesus says he came for this time (speaking of dying on the cross)

²⁸ Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

• 28 A voice could be heard from heaven, NIV, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
• When I read something and it reminds me of somewhere else in scripture, it is a connection.
• Connection: This makes me think of the other times a voice from heaven is spoken. At Jesus’ baptism, (Matt. 3:13-17)  and at the “Transfiguration” (Matthew 17:1-13).

²⁹ The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

• 29 Some said it sounded like thunder, others said it was an angel that spoke.

Connection: Many places says the voice of God sounds like thunder, Job 37:2-6, “²Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. ³He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. ⁴After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. ⁵God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. ⁶He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.‘”

³⁰ Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

³¹ Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

³² And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

³³ This he said, signifying what death he should die.

• 30-33 Interpretation and Insight: What did Jesus prophesy here?

³⁴ The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

³⁵ Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

• Another translation: 35 NIV “…You are going to have the light just a little while longer …36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.”
• Connection: Jesus has spoken of himself being the light of the world before. (John 8:12)

³⁶ While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

³⁷ But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

• 37 Interpretation and Insight: What were people’s reaction?
• Connection: If he came today, we would see the miracle on a cell phone and think it had been photoshopped. If in person, we would believe he was a magician.

³⁸ That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

³⁹ Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

⁴⁰ He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

• 39-40 quotes Isaiah 6:10, a prophesy. They probably didn’t “see” the correlation.

⁴¹ These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

⁴² Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

• 42 Interpretation and Insight: What were people thinking?
• Connection: Pharisees made their opinion of being thrown out of the Jewish culture was known. (John 9:22)

⁴³ For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

• 43 Connecting scripture to culture. Connection: This is still very common, being a “closet Christian”.
• Connection: Matthew 10:32 ESV, “but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” Think of the martyrs who died for their faith. And Luke 9:26, “s Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” 
• Respond to what you read as an application to your life.
• Response:

⁴⁴ Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

⁴⁵ And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

⁴⁶ I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

⁴⁷ And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

⁴⁸ He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

• 47, 48 is a bit perplexing because Jesus does judge in the last days. John 5:22-23 ASV, “²² For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son; ²³ that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.”

⁴⁹ For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

⁵⁰ And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

• Connection: John 20:29, KJV, “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

• Respond to what you read as an application to your life.

What my Notebook Entry looks like in my personal journal

DATE: May 22, 2022
PASSAGE: John 12 20-50
TITLE: Jesus before the cross

• 20,21 They are in Jerusalem (vs.12) and Greeks were there looking for Jesus, so they asked Philip a disciple.
• 24 Jesus explains in a simple parable that he must die.
• 25 NIV, “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
• 26, NIV, “… My Father will honor the one who serves me.”
• 27 Jesus feels the weight of dying on the cross. As a human, that would be close to impossible to handle.
• 27 Jesus says he came for this time (speaking of dying on the cross)
• 28 A voice could be heard from heaven, NIV, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
• CONNECTION: This makes me think of the other times a voice from heaven is spoken. At Jesus’ baptism, (Matt. 3:13-17)  and at the “Transfiguration” (Matthew 17:1-13).
• 29 Some said it sounded like thunder, others said it was an angel that spoke.
• 30-33 Jesus proclaims in veiled words that he was going to die.
• 35 NIV “…You are going to have the light just a little while longer …36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.”
• CONNECTION: Jesus has spoken of himself being the light of the world before. (John 8:12)
• 37 Even after all the miracles people had seen him do, many still did not believe. If he came today, we would see the miracle on a cell phone and think it had been photoshopped. If in person, we would believe he was a magician.
• 39-40 quotes Isaiah 6:10, a prophesy. They probably didn’t “see” the correlation.
• 42 Some didn’t believe, but others did. Those who did believe , were silent about it. Fear of the Pharisees. Pharisees made their opinion of being thrown out of the Jewish culture was known. (John 9:22)
• 43 NIV “…Loved praise from man more than praise from God.” This is still very common, being a “closet Christian”.
• CONNECTION: Matthew 10:32 ESV, “but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” Think of the martyrs who died for their faith. And Luke 9:26, “s Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” 
• RESPONSE: I remember thinking about if I would deny Jesus if put to the test when I was younger and decided then that I would.
• 47, 48 is a bit perplexing because Jesus does judge in the last days. ASV, “²² For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son; ²³ that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.”
• 49-50 I always find it interesting that Jesus takes instruction from God the Father and speaks and acts on behalf of Him.
• CONNECTION: John 20:29, KJV, “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

• RESPONSE: I always felt comforted by the words of John 20:29. I think of those who saw the miracles and did not believe like here in verse 37. Is it easier to believe because we read it and not see it? To see his human form and not believe? But we are drawn to believe by the Holy Spirit. Would they be more likely to believe if the Holy Spirit drew them, or did Jesus presence act like the Holy Spirit? Jesus knew who would believe because their hearts were ready? Same as today. If your heart is not ready, you don’t believe.
• PRAYER: Lord, thank you that you called me and I am one of those who believes. My life is richer because of my faith in you. I think of all the aid and comfort I receive from you and think, “How do others live without the Lord?” The car accidents you protect me from. That crazy day where I drove so poorly, when the angels protected me from 3 accidents. Why are you so good with my life? From that crazy day that you spared my life and kept me from life long injuries, when a tree hit me on the head. Thank you. I am so perplexed by it, but thank you. Why me? But thank you. NASB Exodus 9:16,  “But indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name throughout the earth.” Okay then, God, I will continue on. Lead me, guide me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.