THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

~John 12:20-33~

Dr. Barbara Melancon, Associate Minister

²⁰Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²²Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.²³Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴Very 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. ²⁵Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶Whoever 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. ²⁸Father, glorify your name!”Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.³⁰Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. ³¹Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. ³²And I, when I am lifted up^[a] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ³³He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

John 12:20-33

Jesus was at Jerusalem attending the feast of Passover celebration. There were some people of Greek origin who came up to worship at the feast and they wanted to see Jesus. So they spoke to Philip and Philip told Andrew and they told Jesus.

Consider what it means that Jesus is the light of the world.  

Jesus stated that His hour had come. That He, the Son of Man should be glorified. Glorify means to be highly honored and praised, also shining and beaming like the sun. Further, Jesus said, "just like a corn of wheat, except it falls into the ground and die, it brings forth much fruit."

Consider what it means to be like a seed planted in the soil that dies

to itself and brings forth fruit in abundance from its demise. 

Jesus was speaking of His own death. He died so that you I and many more souls will be saved. In other words, Jesus' death made it possible for us to be saved. In John 11:25, 26 - Jesus said, I am the resurrection, and the life, he that believes in me, though were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Jesus used the corn of wheat as an illustration of His own death. Just like the sun gives us day light when it rises each day, Jesus gives us the light of life, each day of our life on this earth. The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:25

Eternal life can only come to those who accept Jesus as God's son, repent, and follow Jesus.

Consider what it means that Jesus came to give his life to save us from

the destruction we cause ourselves by burying us in him and him in us

until we become what the Lord intended us to be.  

Jesus said if any man serves me let him follow me. Now, this is reward. Jesus said where I am there shall also my servant be. If anyone serves Jesus, God will honor. God answer your prayers, protects, blesses and keeps you. You are to serve by producing the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Galatians 5: 22-23). And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Consider what it means to serve Jesus fruit and produce the fruit

of the spirit, love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness,

faith, meekness and temperance. 

Jesus' soul got troubled and He asked this question, "what shall I say", Father save from this hour, but no, for this cause came I unto this hour. What hour, the hour to be glorified by His Father God. In that hour darkness, trouble, our sin was upon. For he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. You can be healed by accepting Christ into your life, you can be healed from your sickness, heart aches, pain and suffering. Do you want to be made whole? (John 5:6) for your hour has come. Jesus said, "Father, glorify thy name", then came the voice from heaven stated I have glorified it and I will glorify it again. God answers us when we call upon His name, when we give our prayer petitions to him. Jesus said the voice for the people's sake. John 12:30

Jesus is saying to you today that God hears your prayers.

Consider what it means that Jesus with His life atoned for our failures, sinfulness, and weaknesses so that Christ could be formed in us

to replicate Jesus’ life in the world.  

Jesus said now is judgement of this world: now the prince of this world be cast out. God had already judged the prince of this world, Satan. Satan was cast out so that we know the force by all evil and weakness.

Consider what it means that Jesus brings judgement on the prince of the world and all of the evil that is perpetrated by him.  

Jesus said, if he is lifted from the earth that he will draw all men unto Him.

Jesus was talking about His death. He was crucified, lifted up on a Roman cross, there he gave up the Ghost. Jesus said, no man takes my life from me, I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father (John 10:18). Jesus said, greater love have no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friend. You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you. John (15:13-14). This my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you (15:12).

Consider what it means that lifting up Jesus on the cross has drawn

humanity to Him and the salvation that comes with believing in Him

as the Savior of the world.