Example of Fred Ore and his wife in Brazil (John 13:7 & 12:24)
Men who are not Jews are coming to the Passover feast
They want to see Jesus
Jesus responds 'the hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified'
Only in this way could the Gentiles see Him
What were their motives?
Jesus had previously cleansed the temple (the Gentile court)
The Gentiles would have heard about it
The Gentiles would likely have heard about the Jews plans to do away with Jesus
The Gentiles may also have heard about their plans to do away with Lazarus
The Gentiles had probably heard about the miracles Jesus had performed
Perhaps the came because of curiosity
No body knows the motive for why people have come to worship
Maybe it is because of a calendar event
Others have a desire to be among the people of God
The Gentiles didn't feel they could come to Jesus directly
They came via Philip who went to Andrew
They two disciples bring the Gentiles to Jesus
'We want to see Jesus'
Their request is noble and wonderful
Some are fascinated with Jesus' teachings (e.g. the beatitudes)
Gandhi was interested in Jesus' teachings but not historical truth
Some are interested in the morality that Jesus teaches (e.g. the family, marriage, work)
Some like the example of a selfless life
God knows what your motives are
Whether your motives are true
Whether you really understand the cross of Christ
Whether you have come for the teachings, morality or example of Jesus
The Gentile were stirred by God to come
Maybe God is stirring you to come to church also
What about the many who do not come to church?
Does it mean that all the people outside of the church have no interest at all?
There is a huge disinterest in the things of God
However, there are some people asking questions
Some people have dismissed church but have not dismissed Jesus Christ
We need to pray that we show people the true Christ and the true Gospel message
What did Jesus' response mean?
"The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified" (v23)
For a long time Jesus had said My time has not yet come
On the eve of the Passover He announces that His time has now come
It is to be the hour of His death, the hour of His exaltation, the hour He will return to His Father, the hour when He will be glorified
It is the time that we might be reconciled and restored to God
Jesus endured terrible physical pain on the cross
The spiritual suffering was worse
Darkness came on the land for 3 hours - midday became midnight
Jesus became sin for us
Jesus hated sin
He was absolutely pure
He was utterly Holy
An awful terrible moment - He cried out 'My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?'
This was amazing love
Jesus was our substitute
He took our place upon the cross
He cried out 'It is finished'
Glory was brought to Jesus Christ (v31)
It was an awful contemplation for Christ
"Now My soul is troubled" (v27)
He wanted to do only the Father's will
The Father glorifies Jesus - "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again" (v28)
The Father gives comfort to the Son
Jesus states these words were for our sake (v30)
"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain" (v24)
Jesus was often a lonely man
He had the twelve disciples but they fled from Him, He went to the cross alone
Jesus would not remain alone
Much fruit would come forth from Jesus' death
Men came from the East at Jesus' birth and men came from the West at the cross
Jesus would draw all men to Himself
Have you been drawn to Jesus?
Have you seen Him lifted up from the earth?
Have you come to Him?
What does it all mean for us?
"He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."(v25-26)
The tendency of the human race is to hold on to what we have (life, money, etc)
We live for the physical world
Matt 10:37 - "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me."
Do not love your family more than Christ
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."
Christ is calling us to utter submission to Him
Matt 16:26 - "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
How foolish it is to live for the things of the world
Value your soul
Are you prepared to lose your life and find it in Jesus Christ
It is not enough to know the truth but you must give yourself to Jesus Christ
