John 12:20-36

John 12:20-36

[20] And  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  Jesus.  [22] Philip  cometh  and  telleth  Andrew:  and  Andrew  and  Philip  tell  Jesus.  [23] And  Jesus  answered  them,  saying,  The hour  is come,  that  the Son  of man  should be glorified.  [24] Verily,  I say  a corn  of wheat  fall  into  the ground  and die,  it  abideth  alone:  but  if  it die,  it bringeth forth  much  fruit.  [25] He that loveth  his  life  shall lose  it;  and  he that hateth  his  life  in  world  shall keep  it  unto  life  eternal.  [26] If  any man  serve  let him follow  and  where  am,  there  also  my  servant  if  any man  serve  him  my Father  honour.  [27] Now  soul  troubled;  and  what  shall I say?  Father,  save  from  hour:  but  cause  came I  unto  hour.  [28] Father,  glorify  name.  Then  came there  a voice  from  heaven,  both  glorified  it, and  will glorify  it again.  [29] The people  therefore,  that stood by,  and  heard  that it thundered:  others  An angel  spake  to him.  [30] Jesus  answered  and  said,  This  voice  came  not  because of  but  [31] Now  the judgment  world:  now  the prince  world  be cast  out.  [32] And I,  if  I be lifted up  from  the earth,  will draw  all  men unto  me.  [33] signifying  what  death  he should  die.  [34] The people  answered  him,  have heard  out of  the law  that  Christ  abideth  for  ever:  and  how  sayest  thou,  The Son  of man  must  be lifted up?  who  this  Son  of man?  [35] Then  Jesus  said  unto them,  Yet  a little  while  the light  Walk  ye have  the light,  darkness  come upon  for  he that walketh  in  darkness  knoweth  not  whither  he goeth.  [36] ye have  light,  believe  in  the light,  that  ye may be  the children  of light.  spake  Jesus,  and departed,  and  did hide himself  from  them. 

What does John 12:20-36 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

One example that Jesus was attracting people from other parts of the world follows. These individuals contrast with the Pharisees.
"This rather curious incident is rather peculiar to John. I say "rather curious" because it is unusual that we encounter Greeks in a narrative of events at Jerusalem, because the other Evangelists do not mention the incident, and because the Greeks simply say, " Sirach , we would like to see Jesus" and then disappear from the narrative. Clearly John regards their coming as significant but he does not treat their presence as important. Jesus recognizes in their coming an indication that the climax of his mission has arrived. Immediately when he hears of them he says, "The hour has come," and goes on to speak of his glorification and of death. In this Gospel we see Jesus as the world"s Savior, and evidently John means us to understand that this contact with the Greeks ushered in the climax. The fact that the Greeks had reached the point of wanting to meet Jesus showed that the time had come for him to die for the world. He no longer belongs to Judaism, which in any case has rejected him. But the world, whose Savior he Isaiah , awaits him and seeks for him." [1]