Inclusive

Context

Jesus is in Jerusalem for the Passover festival. Passover celebrated God’s deliverance of Israel from bondage in Egypt, under the leadership of Moses in the 15th BCE.

Jesus has just arrived with great fanfare. We will celebrate his arrival next Sunday on Palm Sunday.

Most of the pilgrims to Jersualem were Jews from around the Roman Empire, but not all. Some were Gentiles. The Jewish religion then, as now, attracted converts to the one true God.

In today’s lesson, some Greeks approach Jesus’ disciples in the hopes of getting to meet Jesus.

John 12:20–33 ESV

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose 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 that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

Exegesis 1 - Greeks approach disciples

Some that went up to Jerusalem were Greeks.

Gentile converts.

Interested in meeting the famed Jesus. Teacher. Miracle worker. Rumored to be the Christ.

but how?

From the north like themselves, even though he was surrounded by the elite teachers.

They approach Philip.

He was from Bethsaida in Galilee: a Jew-Gentile mixed area.

There was ann accent, way of dressing, etc. that would cue residents of that area to recognize each other in contras to those who lived in Jerusalem. (Accent noticed in the courtyard Matt. 26:73).

We wish to see Jesus.

One notably friendly to those on the margins.

Women, children, sick, demoniacs. Gentiles.

Will he see us?

Philip gets Andrew, and together they go to Jesus and tell him.

Philip and Andrew are Greek names.

Why did he get his fellow-disciple? A sign of hierarchy in the band of disciples? Andrew is the brother of Simon-Peter. It was Andrew who brought Peter to Jesus. Andrew one of the earliest disciples, originally of John the Baptist (John 1:40).

Philip and Andrew are the only two in the gospel who are recorded as bringing other disciples to Jesus. Andrew brought Simon; Philip brought Nathaniel. These two also played a key role in the multiplication of the loaves (John 6:1-15). The crowds (mixed) were about to take him by force and make him king.

These two could connect with the Greeks.

Jesus also had a tax collector, fishermen, a zealot. Women who were not apostles but followed with him. They could connect with others.

Not sure what Jesus would do. But they went to him for the Greeks.

Implication 1 - We are called into inclusivity

Jesus is attractive to all kinds of people. Six figures or $16/hr. Male, female…

How to get to him? Bible. TV. But what about getting to him.

How about connect with someone who knows him.

That can and should be you and me.

You will be my witnesses.

Interface. We know Jesus. We know them. We have points of contact with them.

The people in my interest groups.

in the hospital. In education. In labor services. In interest/hobby groups.

THEREFORE A POC to Jesus.

We all in our diversity reach out to different segments, but all funnel toward Jesus.

Andrew and Philip are proto-evangelists. We are the disciples now.

I know a guy…Ice capade tickets.

Cultivate a habit of mind: they want to see Jesus.

We are called into inclusivity by association with Jesus, magnet. 🧲

Exegesis 2 - Jesus states his inclusive mission

When notified of the Greeks, Jesus says, the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

It is time for his glory on the cross, death, resurrection.

Now is the time.

at the wedding in Cana, it was not time. (John 2:4)

When his brothers wanted him to come up to the festivals to reveal himself, it was not time. (John 7:8)

When the authorities tried to arrest him for claiming to be sent from God (John 7:30)

When the authorities tried to arrest him for claiming to be the Son of God (John 8:20)

Now it is time. This is his plan. The Gentiles are coming to him.

God so loved the WORLD…SENT HIS SON.

I have sheep of another fold. I lay down my life for my own. And I have others.. (John 10:16)

Gather them all through his DEATH.

He uses the image of a seed. — one will become many.

He refers to the cross. — the one will draw all.

A moment of STEELING himself.

THIS is why I have come. Amazing focus. The meaning of the cross known to Jesus before it happens. It has universal importance. Not just then and there, but everywhere and everywhen.

Radically INCLUSIVE. It is a benefit to ALL people.

All of this signified at the PASSOVER.

The first Passover was to free the Jews from Egypt. The Gentiles, just like the Jews, want to be saved.

The new Passover is to deliver all people — humankind — from Ruler of the World, Satan.

Jesus’ death is a new passover. It is inclusive of all people, everywhere, all the time.

Implication 2: Christ includes all

We live in an amazingly diverse world.

races, religions, creeds, cultures, genders, economic classes.

As humans we often tend to divide and separate and conflict.

Jesus is radically inclusive. DRAW IN.

He died for everyone. He rose for everyone.

Jesus cross frame of reference for idea of inclusivity.

There is not much in my life that is universal in its application. Male/female, this color/that color, orientation/that orientation, financial bracket, part of the world, language.

But there is one thing. Jesus Christ. At the foot of the cross, the ground is level. It is for all people, all kinds of people.

Romans 3:21–24 (ESV)

…there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

At the most essential point, I am not different than everyone else; but the SAME. Share is the same condition!!

A pet owner in grief…a shared exp.

an experience of aging…shared exp.

The gospel brings humility and connection/inclusion because we are all included. We are all loved and saved human beings in Christ.

radical message!

this is why we are here!

Exegesis 3: We are included in the mission

A radical action of God taking back from the division of satan, the world.

Father glorify your name.

like Jesus’ prayer: Not my will but yours be done.

I have glorified it and will glorify it again.

God has glorified his name in Christ’s birth. His baptism. His transfiguration

AND WILL: His cross and resurrection.

and will through his disciples later ministry.

The people hear the voice. Some say it was thunder, some an angel.

your benefit: to call his disciples into the same ministry.

It is what his disciples must also be ready to do: suffer to extend inclusion to those who do not yet believe in Christ.

My servants must follow this pattern.

NB: Not just to suffer for no point. But to suffer so that others can be produce much fruit: Other believers.

Hate this life, for the sake of loving eternal life, for self and for others.

Peter: to the Gentile Centurion, all who repent and believe!

Paul: to the Jews and the Gentiles, you who were far off now brought near!

suffered and glory shown. Clay pots!.

God is being glorified as people are saved.

So the disciples could remember that this was a divine order to take back all people from the clutches of evil

part of the most inclusive act in all of history!

Implication 3

Jesus was for others. He was willing to suffer for others for their sakes, to bring them to God. He commandment the same of his disiciples. That command is our today.

We should be FOR ALL.

The clearest way for us to be for all is to give glory to God for Jesus.

path of glory and suffering are the same:

is to speak up for him.

To invite to church.

To share the gospel message.

That means a spiritual battle.

Take back from Satan and the world without a fight. Without suffering.

But we have to steel ourselves. What are we really here for? Why have we come into this world? To enter into eternal life. Same is true for all people. So we can be part of them finding their true path.

We suffer along with Jesus, not just for suffering sake, not FROM them, but FOR the redemption of others.

This results in God’s glory…HOW LOVONG AND PATIENT AND JUST and he shares it with us.

Our prayer has to be — Father, glorify your name.

I HAVE AND I WILL!

the most inclusive action in history!

Conclusion