John 12:20–36 - 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26 “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. 27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. 31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” 33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. 34 The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.
What does today’s passage say?
In today's passage, some Greek visitors at the Passover festival asked Philip if they could meet Jesus. When Andrew and Philip told Jesus about their request, He explained that His death would soon open the way for people everywhere to find eternal life. Using the example of a seed, Jesus said it must be buried and die before it can grow into a plant that produces many new seeds (vv. 20-26). Though Jesus felt deep distress about His coming death, He stayed focused on God's plan to use His sacrifice to defeat Satan and draw all people to Himself (vv. 27-33). Jesus urged the crowd to accept His message while they could still see its truth clearly, warning them that those who keep refusing His light would end up lost in spiritual darkness (vv. 34-36a).
How can I apply John 12:20-36 to my life?
In the middle of Passover week, some Greeks came seeking Jesus, marking a turning point as His message began reaching beyond the Jewish people. Their request to see Jesus led Him to explain a powerful truth using an image everyone could understand - a seed that must die to produce new life. Like that seed, Jesus knew His death would unlock eternal life for people of all nations who believe in Him. This passage gives us three clear ways to apply Jesus's teaching to our daily lives. First, God calls us to die to our own plans so His purposes can grow. Next, He shows us how to trust Him during hard times that feel dark and confusing. Finally, He urges us to act on His truth while we still see His light clearly. These teachings touch every part of following Jesus - from how we handle daily choices to how we face major life challenges. They push us past surface-level faith toward deeper trust that produces lasting impact. The lessons in this passage matter for anyone who wants their life to count for God's kingdom. Here are some basic principles from this passage that we should apply to our lives:
1. Die to Self to Produce Eternal Fruit (vv. 20-26): Jesus used the picture of a seed dying in the ground to show how His death would bring new life to many people. Following Jesus demands hard choices that go against our natural desire for comfort and control. Like a seed that must be buried before it can sprout, our self-focused agendas need to die so God's purposes can grow through us. This means making decisions that might look foolish to others - giving sacrificially to support missions when we could buy something new, spending time discipling others instead of pursuing hobbies, or changing career plans to serve God's kingdom. These choices often bring temporary discomfort or loss, but they carry eternal impact. When we place our own desires last, God's power flows more freely through our lives to touch others with His truth and love. Our willingness to decrease so Christ can increase opens new paths for people to find Jesus. The fruit of these sacrifices multiplies across generations as those we impact go on to lead others to Christ. God promises that what looks like loss in earthly terms becomes eternal gain in His kingdom economy. Each time we choose God's way over our own, we plant seeds that will yield a harvest of souls long after our time on earth ends (Matthew 16:24-25; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21).
Food for Thought: What areas of your life are you protecting from dying to self that could produce eternal fruit if surrendered to God? How has God used your past sacrifices for Him to bring spiritual life to others?
2. Trust God's Purpose in Life's Dark Moments (vv. 27-33): Jesus spoke openly about His troubled soul while staying fixed on His Father's purpose for His life. Life brings seasons of darkness that shake our faith and test our trust in God's bigger plan. These hard times often cause us to question if following God is worth the cost. The pain of broken relationships, failing health, career setbacks, or family problems can push us toward taking control instead of trusting God's path forward. Yet Jesus shows us how to face our fears and doubts while keeping our hearts anchored in God's purposes. When problems crowd in, we need to copy Jesus by telling God exactly how we feel while choosing to stay on His path. Sometimes God's plan includes letting us experience difficulties so others can see His power at work in our weakness. Our struggles become platforms for God to show His glory and draw people to Himself. When we stay faithful during trials, people notice the difference Jesus makes. They see hope worth having and a God worth trusting. By keeping our eyes on God's purposes instead of our problems, we turn our dark valleys into opportunities for others to find the light of Christ. Every challenge we face with faith becomes a testimony that points others toward Jesus and proves God's faithfulness. The very situations that threaten to defeat us can become the means God uses to defeat darkness in others' lives (2 Corinthians 4:7-10; Romans 8:28; James 1:2-4).
Food for Thought: How have your deepest struggles become platforms for showing others the reality of Jesus? What current difficulty could God be using to display His glory through your life?
3. Walk in Jesus's Light Before Eternal Darkness Falls (vv. 34-36a): Jesus warned the crowd that His light would not stay with them forever. The choice to follow Jesus cannot be put off until a more convenient time because opportunities to respond to His truth do not last forever. God gives each person a limited window to turn from spiritual darkness toward His saving light. Some wait too long, thinking they will deal with spiritual matters after finishing school, establishing their career, raising children, or retiring. Others allow doubts, fears, or the opinions of friends and family to keep them from taking a clear stand for Jesus. The constant noise and distractions of modern life can make it easy to drift through days without acting on what we know about God. Every person who delays following Jesus risks having their heart grow harder to His truth. Those who keep pushing away God's light will eventually find themselves unable to see or respond to it at all. The same warning applies to Christians who know specific ways God wants them to grow or serve but keep finding reasons to delay. Spiritual passivity leads to darkened understanding and missed opportunities to impact others for Christ. People who sense God calling them to share their faith, serve in ministry, give to missions, or make changes in their lifestyle need to act while His light shows them the way. Taking action to follow Jesus opens the door for His power to work through us, while hesitation gradually dims our spiritual vision and weakens our influence on others. The longer we wait to follow God's leading, the harder it becomes to take that step of obedience (Ephesians 5:15-16; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Hebrews 3:7-8).
Food for Thought: What specific prompting from God have you been postponing that requires action today? How could waiting to follow God's leading cause you to miss opportunities to influence others for Christ?
The image of a dying seed producing abundant fruit stands as one of Jesus's most powerful teachings. His words push beyond surface-level faith into the deeper realities of following Him. True discipleship involves dying to our own plans, trusting God in dark seasons, and acting promptly on His truth. Each of these choices creates ripple effects that touch lives far beyond our own sphere of influence. The path Jesus described looks costly in earthly terms but unlocks spiritual fruit that lasts forever. His call to lose our life to find it makes sense only from an eternal perspective. When we release control and trust His purposes, even our struggles become platforms for displaying His glory. The Greeks who sought Jesus that day received much more than a simple meeting - they heard truth that still transforms lives today. The same light that drew people to Jesus two thousand years ago keeps drawing people now. Yet the window for responding stays limited. Following Jesus demands action in the present moment. The seed that dies today brings forth life tomorrow, but unused opportunities fade into darkness. God gives each person a choice - stay comfortable or die to self, avoid pain or trust His purpose, delay action or walk in His light.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that You would give me the courage to follow Jesus's example of dying to self. Help me to loosen my grip on my own plans, desires, and comforts so Your purposes can grow through my life.
I pray that You would open my eyes to see the eternal value of choices that look like losses in earthly terms. When darkness closes in and troubles shake my faith, I pray that You would anchor my heart in Your bigger purposes. Give me strength to stay faithful during hard times so others can see Your power at work in my weakness. Like Jesus, help me to tell You honestly about my fears while keeping my feet on Your path.
I pray that You would make me sensitive to Your light and quick to act on what You show me. Guard me from the trap of delaying obedience until a more convenient time. Show me specific areas where I need to respond to Your truth today. Use my life as a seed that dies to produce lasting fruit for Your kingdom. Give me an eternal perspective that values Your purposes above temporary comfort or safety.
I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.
John 12:24 - “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
With His Blessings,
Pastor Corby
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