Search Tools

John 12:20

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.

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.

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.

25

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

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.

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.

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.

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. °

34

The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

35

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

36

While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

37

But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

38

That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

39

Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

40

He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

41

These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

42

Nevertheless ° among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

43

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

44

Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

45

And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

46

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

47

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

48

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

49

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

50

And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

John 12:23

12:23 hour is come. Previously, Jesus had frequently responded to certain pressures merely by saying that His hour had not yet come (e.g., John 2:4; 7:6). Now, however, this was His final week, and He proceeded to stress that fact.

John 12:24

12:24 die. Before He could be glorified, however, Christ must die, be buried, then rise again. This is similar to a corn of wheat planted and seeming to die before springing up from the ground to produce life-giving bread.

John 12:25

12:25 shall lose it. The importance of this principle is indicated by the fact that Christ cites it probably more than any other of His teachings. See also Matthew 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 17:33. In slightly different form, it is also enunciated frequently by Paul (Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 5:14-15; 6:9-10; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:5-11; II Timothy 2:11-12).

John 12:26

12:26 where I am. And where is Jesus? “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Such an assembly would usually (but not necessarily) be in an organized local church.

John 12:26

12:26 my servant. In this verse, the two occurrences of “serve” should be read in the sense of “minister to.” The word “servant, however, means “bondslave.”

John 12:26

12:26 my father honour. That is, when Christ returns. Note I Peter 1:7.

John 12:28

12:28 voice from heaven. The Father had also spoken audibly from heaven in behalf of the Son at His baptism and on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 3:17; 17:5).

John 12:31

12:31 prince of this world. The “prince of this world” is Satan (John 14:30; 16:11). See also II Corinthians 4:4; I John 5:18; Ephesians 2:2. The “now” of which Christ speaks refers to the assurance of ultimate victory over Satan that would be won at the cross (Colossians 2:14-15) and empty tomb (Revelation 1:18; Matthew 16:18).

John 12:32

12:32 draw all men. Here is another amazing claim (as in Matthew 24:35; John 8:12) that seems absurd, yet has been a remarkably fulfilled prophecy. How could “all kinds of men” (literal meaning) be drawn to a local, relatively unknown itinerant teacher, who was crucified as a criminal on a Roman cross? Yet that is exactly what has been happening for the almost two thousand years since He died.

John 12:33

12:33 what death. Although His initial hearers did not at first comprehend the meaning of His phrase “lifted up from the earth,” He clearly was referring to His imminent crucifixion (see also John 3:14).

John 12:34

12:34 Christ abideth for ever. Indeed He shall, for “His name shall endure for ever” (Psalm 72:17). His kingdom shall endure “with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever” (Isaiah 9:7). But first He must be “lifted up” and then “the Son of man should be glorified” (John 12:23), through His sacrificial death and victory over death.

John 12:37

12:37 believed not. Some believed, of course (John 12:11), but most did not, especially the Jewish leaders. Not even such mighty miracles of creation as described in John’s gospel will persuade those who prefer not to believe. Note Luke 16:31. Even Christ’s own bodily resurrection will not convince those who do not want to submit to Him.

John 12:41

12:41 These things said Esaias. This unbelief in Christ was not surprising, for it had been prophesied long before. In John 12:38, John cites Isaiah 53:1, and in John 12:40 he cites Isaiah 6:10. It was in connection with the latter prophecy that Isaiah “saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1), in a glorious theophany.

John 12:42

12:42 did not confess him. A mental belief in the facts concerning Christ is not sufficient for salvation. Open confession is an evidence of saving faith (Romans 10:9-10).

John 12:43

12:43 praise of men. This comment is an indictment of many modern professed evangelicals, who often are so enamored of acceptance and prestige among their “peers” that they will dilute Biblical standards of doctrine and practice to attain and keep their standing in the world.

John 12:48

12:48 the word. The vital and eternal importance of the written Word of God (which is, to all intents and purposes, the word spoken by Christ) is thus indicated by the Lord Jesus. The response of men to the Word will be the basis on which they are judged (note John 5:24; Revelation 20:12,15; etc.).

The Institute for Creation Research

New Defender's Study Bible Notes

ICR Menu