NLT Study Bible - Gospel of John - Flipbook - Page 36
John 12:34
1797
12:17
John 11:43-44
12:18
John 12:11; 19:37
12:21
John 1:43-44
12:23
John 13:32; 17:1
12:24
1 Cor 15:36
12:25
Matt 10:39
Luke 9:24; 17:33
12:26
John 14:3; 17:24
12:27
Ps 6:3
Matt 26:38
Mark 14:34
12:28
Matt 3:17; 17:5
Mark 1:11; 9:7
Luke 3:22; 9:35
2 Pet 1:17-18
12:31
John 14:30; 16:11
Eph 2:2
12:32
John 3:14; 6:44
12:34
Ps 89:4, 36; 110:4
Isa 9:7
Ezek 37:25
Dan 7:14
But after Jesus entered into his glor y, they
remembered what had happened and re
alized that these things had been written
about him.
17Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call
Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from
the dead, and they were telling others about
it. 18That was the reason so many went out
to meet him—because they had heard about
this miraculous sign. 19Then the Pharisees
said to each other, “There’s nothing we can
do. Look, everyone has gone after him!”
Jesus Predicts His Death
Greeks who had come to Jerusalem
for the Passover celebration 21paid a visit
to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Gali
lee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.”
22Philip told Andrew about it, and they went
together to ask Jesus.
23Jesus replied, “Now the time has come
for the Son of Man to enter into his glor y. 24I
tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat
is planted in the soil and dies, it remains
alone. But its death will produce many new
kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.
25Those who love their life in this world will
20Some
12:17-19 This scene describes the apex
of Jesus’ popularity.
12:17 were telling others: Literally were
testifying.
12:19 everyone: Literally the world. The
Pharisees’ words were more significant
than they realized. Jesus came to reach
the world (3:17), and the Pharisees said
that Jesus had accomplished his task.
12:20 Among the people drawn to Jesus
(12:19) were some Greeks, God-fearing
Gentiles who had come to Passover to
worship. Jesus’ mission was not simply
to Israel but encompassed the entire
world (10:16; 11:52). Following Jesus’
resurrection, the church’s mission was
to go beyond Judea to Samaria, and ultimately to the ends of the earth (Matt
28:19; Acts 1:8).
12:21 The Greeks approached Philip
because he had a Greek name and was
no doubt Greek.
12:23 Jesus often said that the time (literally the hour) had not yet come (2:4;
7:30; 8:20), but now it had. The coming
of the Greeks also marked the beginning of the key moment in Jesus’ ministry—the time of his glorification. This
occurred when Jesus’ sacrificial work
on the cross was completed (19:30), he
rose from the dead (ch 20), he gave
the Spirit (20:22), and he returned to
his place of glory in heaven (17:5, 11).
The connection with the Greeks who
had come to Jerusalem (12:20) was
significant: Jesus’ ministry among the
lose it. Those who care nothing for their life
in this world will keep it for eternit y. 26Any
one who wants to serve me must follow
me, because my servants must be where I
am. And the Father will honor anyone who
serves me.
27“Now my soul is deeply troubled.
Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this
hour’? But this is the very reason I came!
28Father, bring glor y to your name.”
Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying,
“I have already brought glor y to my name,
and I will do so again.” 29When the crowd
heard the voice, some thought it was thun
der, while others declared an angel had
spoken to him.
30Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for
your benefit, not mine. 31The time for judg
ing this world has come, when Satan, the
ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32And
when I am lifted up from the earth, I will
draw everyone to myself.” 33He said this to
indicate how he was going to die.
34The crowd responded, “We understood
from Scripture that the Messiah would live
forever. How can you say the Son of Man
Jews alone was finished and he now
belonged to the wider world. Son of
Man is a title Jesus used for himself.
12:24 The central event of Jesus’ glorification (12:23) was the cross. As with
a kernel . . . planted in the soil, Jesus’
death would bring abundant life.
12:25 For disciples, sacrifice and selfeffacement are means of gaining the
fullness of life provided by Jesus’ sacrifice. Those who renounce the world will
join Jesus in eternity and be honored by
God just as Jesus is.
12:27 my soul is deeply troubled: John
used the same term (Greek tarasso)
to describe Jesus’ strong emotion of
agony before Lazarus’ tomb (11:33;
also 13:21). When Jesus stood before
death, he could not be impassive. Jesus
experienced genuine anguish, yet he
remained strong in obedience to the
Father’s will (5:19-23; 6:37; 8:29, 38;
14:31).
12:28 a voice spoke from heaven: Cp.
Matt 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke
3:22; 9:35. God had already brought
glory to himself when Christ entered
the world (1:14) and through Jesus’
work, which showed God’s power to
the world. I will do so again: The final
display of glory would come at the cross
(see 12:23; 17:1). In John, the cross is
an event of glory as Christ was “lifted
up” (12:32) and glorified there. Jesus
was prepared for crucifixion like a king
coming to his coronation; the cross was
like a throne (see 19:19-22), and he was
buried like royalty. Jesus’ time of glorification included the entire sequence
from arrest through resurrection.
12:29 It was impossible for people
to comprehend what was happening
with Jesus, and many of his signs led
to confusion and division in the crowd.
Only later did his disciples understand
(2:22; 12:16), when Jesus was glorified
and the Spirit was given. Still, God’s
voice symbolized his validation of his
Son before the world.
12:31-33 The time for judging does not
occur only on Judgment Day; it began
when the light penetrated the darkness
and unmasked it (3:19; 5:24; 9:39).
Satan, the ruler of this world, is the
architect of darkness, corrupter of the
world, and promoter of death. Although
Satan’s final demise lies in the future,
the work of Christ unraveled Satan’s
domain (see Luke 10:17-18; Mark 3:27).
Christ is now enthroned as ruler in
heaven (Acts 7:55-56; Eph 1:19-22).
12:32-34 when I am lifted up from the
earth (see 3:14; 8:28): The crowd did
not understand what Jesus meant. The
Greek verb refers to being exalted (Matt
23:12) or honored (Luke 10:15). In John,
the cross was not a place of shame and
disgrace for Jesus, but the place where
Jesus’ true glory was shown.
12:34 from Scripture: Literally from
the law. Popular Judaism believed
that the Messiah would live forever
and triumph over his foes. Jesus’ point
of view seemed incomprehensible.
