Scripture
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very 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. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Reflection
If you know something about the ministry of Jesus on the earth prior to his resurrection, you know that Jesus made a priority of reaching the Jewish people, i.e. “to the Jew first”. In this scene as the feast of Passover is about to unfold, this Passover will be unlike any other before or after because the “once and for all” Passover lamb is going to be sacrificed. There will never again be a need to make a sacrifice for sin; Jesus is more than enough. The “Greeks” who have come with their request are not Jews but they want to know about Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. The good news about the Kingdom of God was always going to be good news for everyone. It wasn’t going to be limited to the Jewish people any more than old wineskins can hold new wine. Perhaps Jesus, hearing about how the rest of the world was already asking for him, received this as an encouragement. In other words, it was time for Jesus to plant the seed of his life into the ground because once he did, then men like these Greeks will become seeds themselves. In the same way that you and I have become seeds to “fall to the ground and die to ourselves” producing a harvest thirty, sixty or one hundred fold (Ps. Dale).
Thoughts for the day
- What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus and people?
- What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
- What is one way you can apply this truth to your life today?
- Who can you encourage with this story/message?
Prayer
Pray for the people around you. Take a minute to pray for those you can see; or those who immediately spring to mind.
