What Death He Should Die

The Seekers (Vss. 20-21)

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.

Note: “The Greek was the man with the seeking mind

1 Corinthians 1:22 “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom

A Spontaneous Request (V21)

Note: The Lord’s life on earth began with a visit of gentiles from the east and drew to a close with a visit of gentiles from the west.

They approach Philip (A Jew with a gentile name) and desire to meet with Jesus. 

Maybe they came to Phillip because he spoke Greek.  Whatever, the case. 

Philip referred the question to Andrew. 

(V22) Both of them went to see Jesus.

A Specific Reply (v22-23)

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

Note: As far as we know.  From the Bible, the request from the Greeks was never granted.

Note: Some have suggested that the Greeks did not need to see Jesus.  They could see Lazarus.

Note: The life that Lazarus was living was an impossible life, made possible because it was an imparted life.

Paul put the Christian life this way: “I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me”

The Lord Glorified

In these Gentiles he saw the first few of a vast flock of “Other Sheep” 

He could see his name being exalted and glorified in the gentile world, 
churches being established for his worship in all parts of the earth.

John 10:16 “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

The Lord Crucified (V24) 

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.

Jesus would die on a cross.

By His death, HE would bring life.

The Lord Multiplied (V24)

“but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

The visit of these Greeks enabled the Lord to see the harvest

A Paradox

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

The Paradox is that death is the way to life.

A Principle

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.

A person must determine with world they are going to live for.

Eternity will RICH for those that serve the Lord Jesus Christ. 

THE SAVIOUR (V27-29)

I Hope that we understand the tenderness of this Scripture.

As Jesus is speaking. 

The Focus is on His Death.  

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. 
28  Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 
29  The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

Note: All of this stemmed from a visit of Greek Seekers

The mind of the Saviour now heads toward – Golgotha – Calvary

The Lord’s Desire (Vs. 28)

Jesus burst into prayer. (V28) 

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

We see the desire of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To Bring Glory to the Father. 

In His obedience to the death of the Cross.

The Lord’s Declaration (Vss. 29-30)

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

Note: The Prince of this world is Satan

1 John 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

THE SALVATION (Vss. 32-33)

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.

It was a selfless Death 

It was a substitutionary death

It was a Saving Death

Note: The Cross brings men to a decision that they must make.

Luke 23:38-43
38  And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 
39  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 
41  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 
42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 
43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Note: In the garden of Eden, Adam became a thief and was kicked from Paradise. 

Note: At the cross, a thief, put his faith in Jesus, and entered into Paradise.

  • Everyone is drawn to the cross. 
  • Everyone has to decide on which side of the cross to stand—Jew and gentile, rich and poor, good and bad, religious and ungodly, Greeks and barbarians.
  • The Cross draws all men to a place of decision in their life.

 “ At the old rugged cross we see man at his worst, but God at his best”

“He died for you! He died for me,
His blood bath atoned for our race; 
O wonderful love! He came from above
To suffer and die in our place.”—L. G. Broughton

If you were to look at Rembrandt’s painting of The Three Crosses, your attention would be drawn first to the center cross on which Jesus died. Then as you would look at the crowd gathered around the foot of that cross, you’d be impressed by the various facial expressions and actions of the people involved in the awful crime of crucifying the Son of God. 

Finally, your eyes would drift to the edge of the painting and catch sight of another figure, almost hidden in the shadows. Art critics say this is a representation of Rembrandt himself, for he recognized that by his sins he helped nail Jesus to the cross.

What a wonderful Saviour. 



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