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Question (John 12:19-26)

How does Jesus respond to the request (verse 21) to be seen?

In verse 21, some Greeks request to see Jesus. I first want to explore how Jesus responds to this request.

It seems like He doesn’t respond in the most direct manner - there isn’t really any indication that Jesus is going to make Himself more easily “seen” by this group of people than what He has already been doing. The most direct thing Jesus might say in this passage related to this request is about how He is going to be glorified (verse 23). The rest of Jesus’ response is related to that, though not necessarily clearly connected to the original request.

The “glorification” that Jesus speaks of here generally has to do with the “after-effects” of His crucifixion, where He triumphed over the grave and ultimately returning to the right hand of His Father in heaven, being shown to be who He truly is (the Messiah):

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. - Mark 16:19 (ESV)
But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” - Luke 22:69 (ESV)
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” - Luke 24:26 (ESV)
Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. - John 7:39 (ESV)
But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” - John 11:4 (ESV)
His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. - John 12:16 (ESV)
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ - John 13:31-33 (ESV)
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. - John 16:13-14 (ESV)
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you…I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. - John 17:1-5 (ESV)
All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. - John 17:10 (ESV)
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. - John 17:22-24 (ESV)
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” - Acts 2:32-36 (ESV)
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. - Acts 3:13 (ESV)
The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. - Acts 5:30-31 (ESV)
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. - Acts 8:17 (ESV)
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. - Romans 8:34 (ESV)
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, - Ephesians 1:20-22 (ESV)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)
who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. - Philippians 3:21 (ESV)
by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. - Colossians 2:14-15 (ESV)
when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. - 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 (ESV)
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. - 1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. - Hebrews 1:3-4 (ESV)
But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. - Hebrews 2:9 (ESV)
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, - Hebrews 10:12 (ESV)
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. - 1 Peter 1:11 (ESV)
who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. - 1 Peter 1:21 (ESV)
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. - 1 Peter 3:22 (ESV)
For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” - 2 Peter 1:17 (ESV)

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Question (John 12:23-26)

Why would Jesus bring up all of these things?

Next, let’s turn to the rest of Jesus’ response here. Why might Jesus have brought up all of these different things (which initially may appear to be unrelated), and what do they mean?

John 12:24 - Jesus is likely alluding to the necessity of His death, by which many children of God would also be won and bear fruit.
John 12:25 - This seems to suggest a bit of a transition between Jesus and us as Christians, which could also suggest that the previous verse has applicability of us, needing to die and be born again and then also daily put to death sin in our flesh, to bear fruit. Also see Matthew 10:37-39, Matthew 16:24-26, Mark 8:34-37, Luke 9:23-25, Luke 14:26-27, Luke 17:33.
John 12:26 - This is perhaps connecting the previous verse back to the original request, showing how/where people can see Jesus. Jesus uses similar “where I am” phrasing in John 14:3 and John 17:24.

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/if-a-grain-of-wheat-dies-it-bears-much-fruit

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Reading

John 12:27-36

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Question (John 12:27)

What is the “purpose/reason” that Jesus came to this very hour?

Also see Luke 22:42-44.

Reasons Jesus mentions in John thus far:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. - John 3:16-17 (ESV)
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” - John 6:38-40 (ESV)
Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” - John 9:39 (ESV)

Note how in verse 28 Jesus mentions glorifying of the Father’s name. The close proximity of this to Jesus’ other words suggests that this “act” that Jesus is about to perform is glorifying of the Father’s name and is very much in line with Jesus’ seeking the Father’s will/glory elsewhere. And we get a response of God confirmation that He has and will continue to do so (though for the crowd of hearers, rather than Jesus, here).

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John 12:31-36

“Ruler of this world” (John 12:31)

Satan
John 14:30, John 16:11, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2, Luke 4:6

“Lifted up” (John 12:32)

Lifted up on the cross, possibly ascension/glorification
Surrounding context and John 3:14, John 8:28

Light and darkness (John 12:35-26)

Common theme in John:
John 1:4-9, John 3:19-21, John 8:12, John 9:4-5, John 11:9-10, 1 John 1:5-7, 1 John 2:8-11

A few miscellaneous notes on this section.

Judgment in John

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. - John 3:17-19 (ESV)
For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. - John 5:22-30 (ESV)
You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. - John 8:15-16 (ESV)
I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” - John 8:26 (ESV)
Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. - John 8:50 (ESV)
Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” - John 9:39 (ESV)
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. - John 16:8-11 (ESV)

Light and Darkness in John’s Writings

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. - John 1:4-9 (ESV)
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” - John 3:19-21 (ESV)
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12 (ESV)
We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” - John 9:4-5 (ESV)
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” - John 11:9-10 (ESV)
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. - 1 John 1:5-7 (ESV)
At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. - 1 John 2:8-11 (ESV)

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Reading

John 12:37-50

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Questions (John 12:37-43)

Why do these people not believe?

What are the consequences of Israel’s lack of belief here?

John 12:38 -> Isaiah 53:1

John 12:40 -> Isaiah 6:10

There are a few things we can learn directly from this text about why these people do not believe:

First, note that signs are not sufficient for belief here - Jesus performed plenty such signs, but the people still did not believe. This makes the previous request for a sign for belief in John 6:30 seem even more ironic.
The next thing we see is that the lack of belief here is a fulfillment of prophecy (John 12:38-40).
We also see their eyes were blinded and hearts hardened (John 12:40).

We also see an interesting hint about some rulers who “believe” (John 12:42)...but we see how they love the glory of men more than that of God. This may also play into lack of belief of people.

Next, let’s look at the references here made to Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah for some additional insights:

John 12:38 is quoting Isaiah 53:1. This is the first verse of the chapter in Isaiah that is traditionally called the “Suffering Servant” passage, referring to a lot of Jesus’ suffering on the cross. In this passage, we get some more hints for why these people may not believe: “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2c-d ESV). In other words, the people were look for a more traditional “majestic” king, rather than the suffering servant. We see the sovereignty of God later in the passage as well (Isaiah 53:10).
John 12:40 is quoting Isaiah 6:10. This is right after Isaiah sees the Lord sitting on His throne, recognizes his sin, and has his sin forgiven. God then commissions Isaiah to go preach to his people, which is then where we see the words that John quotes. Looking at the context and flow of this Isaiah 6 passage, it seems like the preaching of Isaiah to these people is what triggers the blindness and hardness of heart. The message itself seems to have this kind of effect. The glory that Isaiah saw and preached about seems to be something these people would not want. Note that this Isaiah passage is also referenced by Jesus in Matthew 13:14-15 in relation to parables.

Now…what are the consequences of Israel’s unbelief here? Well, from Isaiah 53, we see the glorious plan of redemption that God had in mind. This rejection of Jesus is part of what led to His crucifixion and glorification, leading to the penalty for our sins being paid and an eternal high priest of Jesus Christ. But if we turn to Romans 9-11, we see that despite the sorrows in the unbelief of these people, God was still working things toward good. The stumbling of Israel has led to salvation for the Gentiles, and there is still a remnant of Israel that will be saved: “So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!” (Romans 11:11-12 ESV)

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Questions (John 12:44-50)

We’ve reached the end of Jesus’ public ministry recorded in the Gospel of John…

Why might this final cry of Jesus be here?

What is the meaning trying to be communicated?

If you look closely at this text, you’ll notice that John does not give us a setting here. After the preaching before the Passover earlier in this chapter, we see Jesus depart and hide himself away (John 12:36). And then we have this final “cry” of Jesus in John 12:44 given without any setting given (not clear exactly where or to whom Jesus was speaking). And if you look at the book of John, what we’ve covered in this chapter is the end of Jesus’ public ministry recorded in this book. The remainder of the Gospel of John covers a more private experience of Jesus with His closest disciples, followed by His betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection.

So why is this “final” cry placed here in the book of John? And what is trying to be communicated to us?

I think what we see here is a bit of a final summary of Jesus’ ministry prior to His crucifixion. We see many themes from the book of John repeated here such as:

The Oneness of Jesus with the Father, the Word, and obedience to what God has called Him to (John 12:44-45, John 12:49-50):

John 1:1, John 1:18, John 3:32-35, John 4:34, John 5:17-37, John 6:37-40, John 6:44-46, John 7:16-18, John 7:28-29, John 8:16-19, John 8:26-29, John 8:38, John 8:42, John 10:18, John 10:25, John 10:30-33, John 10:38

Light and darkness (John 12:46):

John 1:4-9, John 3:19-21, John 8:12, John 9:4-5, John 11:9-10

Judgment (John 12:47-48):

John 3:17-19, John 5:22-24, John 5:27-30, John 8:15-16, John 8:26, John 8:50, John 9:39

Eternal life (John 12:50):

John 1:4, John 3:15-17, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 4:36, John 5:21, John 5:24-26, John 6:27, John 6:33-34, John 6:39-40, John 6:44-58, John 8:50, John 10:10, John 10:28, John 11:25-26

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