INTRODUCTION:
A paradox is defined as a figure of speech or a statement that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains a kernel of truth. I like pastor Warren Wiersbe’s definition: “A paradox is a statement that attracts attention because it seems to be contradictory. This arouses curiosity and we are puzzled. But as we meditate on the statement, we go deeper into some important facet of life and learn something new. Paradoxes are marvelous instructors.”
The Bible contains many spiritual paradoxes. The Lord Jesus sometimes used paradoxes as a means of communicating truth. He said, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be last of all, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35). In another situation, Jesus said, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11). In the passage of scripture we are now studying, John 12:20-26, Jesus once again uses a paradox to communicate truth. Before we examine this paradox, let’s look at the circumstances leading up to it.
- THE BACKGROUND AND SETTING (verses 20)
The feast of the Passover, the greatest feast on the Jewish calendar, was near, and verse 20 says that certain Greeks were going to Jerusalem to worship at the feast. These Greeks were probably proselytes – a term used for those who were not Jews by birth but became converts to the Jewish religion. Another example of a proselyte was Cornelius, the Roman Centurian in Acts 10 and 11. These Gentile converts must have found Judaism to be much more meaningful than their pagan religions. Have you ever studied Greek and Roman mythology? If you have, you’ve probably noted that those gods and goddesses were more corrupt and immoral than the people who worshipped them By contrast, the God of Israel was a God who was holy and worthy of their worship.
II, THE REQUEST (verse 21)
Notice, in verse 21, that these Greeks approached Philip and said to him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Why such boldness? How did they know that Jesus would be interested in talking to them? We can find the answer to that question in Mark’s Gospel. Between verse 19 and verse 20 of John 12, a day or two may have elapsed, and Mark 11:15-17 describes what happened: “And they [Jesus and His disciples] came to Jerusalem. And He [Jesus] entered the temple and began to cast out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. And He began to teach and say to them, ‘Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.’
Jesus cast out the traders and the moneychangers from the outer court of the temple to fulfill the prophecy in Isaiah 56:7, which says, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” This outer court is called “the Court of the Gentiles” because that was the only place in the temple where Gentile converts could come and worship. Those Greeks may have been in the temple at that time or may have heard about it, and they must have realized that when Jesus cleansed their courtyard, He did it for their benefit, so that they could worship in peace. Therefore Jesus was interested in them and could be approached confidently. They wanted to have a conversation with Jesus and get to know Him better.
Henry Bosch shares an illustration that uses this verse of Scripture. A brilliant young preacher, with several degrees after his name, once accepted a call to pastor a large congregation. The people were pleased with his oratory and learning, but something seemed to be missing from his sermons. One day, when entering the pulpit, he saw a note addressed to him, bearing the following words: “SIR, WE WOULD SEE JESUS!” The Holy Spirit spoke to his heart. Throwing aside his superficiality and his scholarly rhetoric, he became an ambassador for Christ, pleading with the people to be reconciled to God through the blood of Christ. Those who came to be entertained by his message remained to pray and repent of their sins. On a later Sunday, the young minister found another note pinned to the pulpit. On it was written a Scripture that summarized the feelings of his now well-fed congregation. It read, “THEN WERE THE DISCIPLES GLAD WHEN THEY SAW THE LORD!”.
Going back to John 12, we read in verse 21 that they came to Philip. Why did they choose Philip? Possibly it was because of his name. Philip is a Greek name. It means “lover of horses”. Therefore He would probably understand their language and their ways of thinking. Their choice of Philip was a good one because Philip himself was an inquirer The first time he is mentioned in the Gospels is in John 1:43-46. Philip expressed faith in Jesus and then immediately he went out to bring others to Christ. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. . . . Come and see.”
III. PHILIP’S RESPONSE (verse 22)
John 12:22 says, “Philip came and told Andrew.” Why did Philip tell Andrew? Why not take these Greeks directly to Jesus? He may have been seeking Andrew’s advice. These Greeks were Gentiles and Philip may not have trusted his own judgment. So he presents the situation to Andrew to get his reaction. The result is that both of them come and tell Jesus about the request.
IV. JESUS’ RESPONSE (verses 23-26)
Jesus’ heart must have been filled with joy as He exclaims, in verse 23, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Jesus had been rejected, for the most part, by His own people, but now He sees the assurance that He will be received and accepted as Savior and Lord by the Gentile nations.
In verse 24, Jesus states that there is only one way in which He could be glorified: “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies . . . ” Jesus had to die in order to become a source of life to the world. It’s only when a grain of wheat falls to the ground, is buried, and begins to rot, that new life comes up from it. The Lord Jesus is applying this illustration to Himself and to all believers. If Jesus did not die, “He would remain by Himself alone.” There would be no saved sinners to share His glory. But Jesus did die, and Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now, in Christ Jesus, you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” The kingdom of heaven is now open to all believers. In the case of Jesus, He would die and He would produce fruit, but His body would not experience decay, in fulfillment of prophecy (Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:27). After Jesus’ death and resurrection, we see the tremendous fruitfulness of the Gospel. In Acts 2, three thousand people were saved and baptized in one day! Shortly thereafter, 5000 more came to the Lord. Then addition became multiplication. The New Testament church was growing by leaps and bounds.
In 1881 a Scotchman in Minnesota put those words of Jesus to the test. He planted one grain of wheat. This grain produced twenty-two stalks bearing 560 grains of wheat. In 1882 he planted the 560 grains and received a fifth of a bushel of wheat. In 1883 the fifth of a bushel produced 17 bushels. In 1884 the seventeen bushels produced over a hundred bushels, and in 1885 the hundred bushels produced 2,800 bushels or four boxcar loads of wheat. That’s the principle of multiplication.
After applying His principle of death and fruitfulness to Himself, in verses 23-24, Jesus then applies it to His disciples and to us as well. in verses 25-26. He begins by saying, “He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.” Only by death to oneself comes new life in Christ and fruitfulness for God. The Lord Jesus carries that principle a step further when He says, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” There will be rewards for faithful service and we will cast those crowns of righteousness at our Savior’s feet as an act of worship to Him. But the greatest joy and honor will be the privilege of enjoying His presence and fellowship for eternity.
A man by the name of C.T. Studd was such a grain of wheat. He and his wife went first to China, then to India. In 1913 they were compelled to return to England with broken health. But the fires of God still burned in his soul. He was called a fool and a fanatic when he decided to go to Africa with neither health nor money. His reply was, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”
Studd poured himself out for the Congolese for sixteen years, then went to be with the Lord in 1931 In the fifty years since he went to Africa, the one mission field had grown to forty, and the one missionary had become more than a thousand missionaries working under the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade. C.T. Studd willingly and joyfully died to himself in order that he might know and do the will of God, and God used him abundantly. The fruits of his labors are continuing to multiply.
Are you and I such a grain of wheat? The Lord Jesus Christ is only asking us to do, on a small scale, what He did for us on a grand scale by coming to this earth and paying the penalty that our sins deserved in our place. Are we willing to follow Him completely and unreservedly? If we want something bad enough, we are willing to make almost any sacrifice to get it, aren’t we? Jesus Christ has provided the greatest gift. He has made the greatest possible sacrifice to order to do so. The greatest joy in this life comes when we submit our wills to the will of God and become a vessel that is emptied of self, filled and controlled by the Spirit of God, and useful to Him for His honor and glory.
CONSTRUCTION SITE: COMPLETED
I hope to see you next door as I begin a new construction project at this new address: John 12:27-36.