Sir, We Would See Jesus

Temple Baptist Church - 12-6-2023

John 12:15-26

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Last week, we saw the final “straw” that turned the Nation of Israel to reject Christ.

 

1.  They hated Him for who He said that He was: the great I AMTHAT I AM.

 

2.  They  hated Him for what He did:  miracle after miracle that showed that He came from God.  Nicodemus – chapter 3

 

3.  They hated Him for what He said: Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God gave the Jews the verbal Word of God.  He spoke gracious but authoritative words.

 

4.  They hated Him because of what He did not do: they wanted Him to overthrow the Roman rule and set up His earthly kingdom.  Instead, He came as a Lamb for sacrifice, not as a King that was sovereign.

 

B.  I find verses 19-21 interesting in light of Israel’s impending national rejection of Christ Jesus, the Messiah, withing a few days.

 

1.  Paul stated that the Gospel was to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

2.  The Nation of Israel rejected the Messiah on the week of Passover, one of the three feasts that all males were required to attend.  Thus, there were not only Jews in Jerusalem, but there were also “Greeks” or Gentiles from all over the world: Jewish Proselytes: Gentiles who had converted to Judaism. 

 

3.  As the Jewish Nation rejects their Messiah, in verses 19-21, we find two things.

 

a)  The statement of the Pharisees in verse 19, the Pharisees said, “The world is gone after Him.”  “The World” covers both Jew and Gentile.  They acknowledged the obvious conversion of both Jews and Gentiles through their acceptance of Christ Jesus.

 

John 12:19  The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

 

“All their wise schemes and crafty councils signified nothing; the commands they enjoined the people not to follow him, or to apprehend him, or to show them where he was, were disregarded; their threatenings to put out of the synagogue such as should confess him, were taken no notice of; their promises of reward were slighted; their examples were not followed; and all their artifice and cunning, backed with power and authority, did not succeed.” ~ Nonnus – A 5^th Century Greek Poet.

 

b)  In verse 20, we find the mention of “certain Greeks”.  Many of the converted Gentiles followed the leading of Israel’s spiritual leadership, especially the Pharisees, but there were some Gentiles that were believers. 

 

John 12:20  And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

 

c)  In verse 21, we find these “certain Greeks” seeking Jesus, their Messiah.  Their statement of Phillip says it all, “Sir, we would see Jesus!”  They were here in obedience to the command of the Law but, by coming to the feast, they found their “Passover”, Christ Jesus.

 

d)  They evidently heard the commotion and conversations caused by the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem.

 

C.  These Greeks found Phillip and said, “Sir, we would see Jesus.”  The Jewish nation along with most of the religious hierarchy had rejected Him (John 1:11), but the Gentiles now sought and found Him.  We find this referenced in Romans, chapter 11.

 

Romans 11:22-25  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.  (23)  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.  (24)  For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?  (25)  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

 

D.  Phillip found Andrew and told him.  Then Phillip and Andrew went and told Christ.  By the request of the Greeks, I would imagine that they either followed or were led by these two men to Christ.

 

E.  Now, we find the discourse generated by Christ concerning Greeks also seeking Him.  Jesus now identifies:

 

1.  Verse 23.  The Period of Salvation.  “The hour is come”

 

2 Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 

2.  Verse 23.  The Person of Salvation”  “that the Son of Man should be glorified”  Jesus.

 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

3.  Verse 24.  The Purchase of Salvation.  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone:”

 

4.  Verse 24.  The Product of Salvation.  “but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

 

John 15:8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

 

5.  Verse 25.    The Prerogative of Salvation.  “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

 

Matthew 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

6.  Verse 26.   The Path of Salvation.  “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be:”

 

7.  Verse 26.  The Prize of Salvation.  “if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”