The Gospel of John 12:20-33
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say— ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
Let us Pray: Everlasting God, your son chose twelve disciples to work together to spread the good news of the gospel, help us as we work together for the common good. May we delight in sharing in each other’s spiritual gifts and enabling everyone to make their own contribution however small. May we always be ready to labor and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do your will. This we pray in your Name. Amen
In the Epistle for this Sunday, Paul’s letter to the Hebrews Paul conveys the same scene as John. Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” (1) Hebrews 5:5-6
In our lives all of us have had that time something quite significant happened to us. Someone said something or did something that had a profound impact on our lives, for good or for bad! Or it may have been some sudden realization we had about ourselves that changed our lives forever. In this Gospel there was a significant moment in the life of Jesus. You may say that every moment of His life was significant because He was the Messiah and the Son of God who had come to earth. But He saw something that happened as an incredibly significant moment in His life and ministry. The significant moment for Jesus happened like this, “Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. Nothing significant there you might think. Some Greeks as gentiles wanted to see Jesus. Didn’t everyone? But this was different. However now the Gentiles themselves were taking the initiative in wanting to see meet Him. They wanted to have a deeper experience of Him, to know Him more intimately, to converse with Him. With the Greeks wanting to see Jesus, the story shows Jesus’ ministry spreading beyond the borders of Israel. Like when the Magi from the East sought the infant in Bethlehem, here somehow the Spirit has nudged these Greeks to seek Jesus. Since that moment in the gospel showed the Spirit was out into the world then and still out in the world and is what brings us into the faith. Showing us the glory of God shines most brightly when someone comes to know Jesus face to face. Maybe there is something to ponder: When people are face to face with Jesus, seeking to see him and listen to him, God’s voice speaks from heaven. Maybe it’s always like that. But we can’t see it. They couldn’t see it then either. Some thought it was a peal of thunder. Some thought maybe an angel. But Jesus knew, and so did John. God spoke from heaven and most everybody missed it. I suspect it still happens all the time.
Let us Pray: Loving God as we go forth into the world, help us to remember that you do infinitely more for us than we can ask or imagine. Hear us as we pray for all your creation and gather us in the embrace of your abundant and life-giving Spirit. In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
- (1)Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah spoken of as “a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek” (Ps. 110:4), and so Jesus plays the role of the king-priest once and for all. According to the Book of Mormon, the prophet Melchizedek preached repentance to the people of a wicked city, and established peace in the land. Melchizedek’s efforts earned him the title “the prince of peace”. Of particular importance is the parallel Hebrew meaning of “prince of peace” and “king of Salem”, another of Melchizedek’s titles, and his association with the organizational patterns of response to the problems and opportunities it encounters like Jesus Christ, who is also called the Prince of Peace, as well as the Great High Priest.
Reflections by Bob 