NOW IS THE TIME
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Opening Prayer
Father, help me to grow in wisdom through studying your Word. As I reach out to others each day, please give me a greater understanding of how to apply what you teach me.
Read JOHN 12:20–36
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 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. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “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. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 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’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Reflect
Where do you experience Jesus being glorified in your daily walk of faith?This passage is a structural turning point in John. The focus shifts from signs or miracles of Jesus (chapters 1–13) to his glorification (chapters 13–16). The Greeks’ request, ‘we would like to see Jesus’ (v. 21), sets in motion the ultimate expression of the glory of God that has been anticipated and prophesied.
Jesus’ words, ‘the hour has come’ (v. 23), mark and declare this moment’s deep significance. He already knows the eternal story that the following scenes will reveal. Now is the time for Jesus to be glorified. What does ‘glorified’ mean here (v. 23)?
Glory is a repeated theme in John, first introduced in 1:14. Ideas of magnificence, royal majesty, and honor help me visualize it. The glory of God in the Old Testament was seen visibly, for example, through the cloud that covered Mount Sinai when Moses received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 24:15, 16) or through fire (Deuteronomy 5:24). This is reflected in Jesus’ reference to himself as light
(vv. 35, 36).
‘Glorified’ (vv. 23, 28) also refers to the specific sequence of events by which Jesus will bring glory to God: the humiliating journey to the cross, followed by the resurrection. Jesus is preparing both himself and his disciples for his death (v. 33): a death that will bring them and us life (vv. 24, 32).
Apply
Do you identify with the crowd’s confusion and questions about who Jesus is (v. 34), or has this passage helped you understand him more?
Closing prayer
Holy Spirit, please bring light to my mind and heart as I seek to understand better who Jesus was and is.
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