The Mission of Jesus

Delivered in Spanish - April 12th, 2025

Passage

John 12:20–35 CSB

20 Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 27 “Now my soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for me, but for you. 31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die. 34 Then the crowd replied to him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah will remain forever. So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going.

John 12:20–35 NBLA

20 Había unos griegos entre los que subían a adorar en la fiesta; 21 estos fueron a Felipe, que era de Betsaida de Galilea, y le rogaban: «Señor, queremos ver a Jesús» 22 Felipe fue* y se lo dijo* a Andrés; Andrés y Felipe fueron* y se lo dijeron* a Jesús. 23 Jesús les respondió*: «Ha llegado la hora para que el Hijo del Hombre sea glorificado. 24 »En verdad les digo que si el grano de trigo no cae en tierra y muere, se queda solo; pero si muere, produce mucho fruto. 25 »El que ama su vida la pierde; y el que aborrece su vida en este mundo, la conservará para vida eterna. 26 »Si alguien me sirve, que me siga; y donde Yo estoy, allí también estará Mi servidor; si alguien me sirve, el Padre lo honrará. 27 »Ahora Mi alma se ha angustiado; y ¿qué diré: “Padre, sálvame de esta hora”? Pero para esto he llegado a esta hora. 28 »Padre, glorifica Tu nombre». Entonces vino una voz del cielo: «Y lo he glorificado, y de nuevo lo glorificaré». 29 Por eso la multitud que estaba allí y oyó la voz, decía que había sido un trueno; otros decían: «Un ángel le ha hablado» 30 Jesús les dijo: «Esta voz no ha venido por causa Mía, sino por causa de ustedes. 31 »Ya está aquí el juicio de este mundo; ahora el príncipe de este mundo será echado fuera. 32 »Pero Yo, si soy levantado de la tierra, atraeré a todos a Mí mismo». 33 Pero Él decía esto para indicar la clase de muerte que iba a morir. 34 Entonces la multitud le respondió: «Hemos oído en la ley que el Cristo permanecerá para siempre; ¿y cómo dices Tú: “El Hijo del Hombre tiene que ser levantado”? ¿Quién es este Hijo del Hombre?». 35 Jesús entonces les dijo: «Todavía, por un poco de tiempo, la Luz estará entre ustedes. Caminen mientras tengan la Luz, para que no los sorprendan las tinieblas; el que anda en la oscuridad no sabe adónde va

Introduction

With consecration week coming up, and the celebration of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, this passage is to help us meditate throughout this week about that great sacrifice.

Jesus in this passage, after having entered the city of Jerusalem and was glorified, advised his disciples and those who were listening that the hour was near.

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified (v20-23).

After the sacrifice, have we forfeited our lives to Jesus? (v24-26)

The crucial need for sacrifice and how it will happen. (v27-33)

Walk in the light. (v34-36)

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified (v20-23).

After the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, and after all those who proclaimed “Hossana”, there were now people from other parts of the world who have come to see him.

Some Greeks wanted to see Jesus

This highlights the fame and power of Jesus, since his birth and near death. At his birth, wise men from the “East” came to see and witness the newborn Messiah who was born in a stable.

Now men from “The West” have come to see Jesus. All now, in today’s day, in any orientation, have been witness to Jesus. And still, more and more come to his presence.

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 12

The approach of some Greeks signaled that Jesus’s mission was approaching the climax in which he would die and thus reach all nations.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Second Edition) 12:12–22: The World Follows

The announcement of verse 21 prompts Jesus’ knowledge that his hour has arrived (v. 23); his mission has begun to touch the whole “world.”

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 12

“These men from the west represent, at the end of Christ’s life, what the wise men from the east represented at its beginning; but those come to the cross of the King, even as these to His manger” [STIER].

The death of Jesus on the cross meant that he was going to be glorified.

Glorification is featured in God’s work of judgement, salvation, and blessing.

After the sacrifice, have we forfeited our lives to Jesus? (v24-26)

Jesus compares himself to a grain of wheat. A grain of wheat is not valuable unless it becomes something else.

His death produced life for many. The necessity of his death was to bring life.

For any other random thing, after death nothing comes. But in this case, death is essential for further life.

Since he brought life for us, we either accept or don’t. (This part speaks mostly for the unbelievers).

We either hate our life (deny all the wordly things within us)

Or we love our life (we love the wordly things. we love or possessions, or desires more than a relationship with God)

“Where I am, my servant also will be” This doesn’t only mean we will be blessed and honoured here on Earth, but also in Heaven were Jesus is.

The crucial need for sacrifice and how it will happen. (27-33)

In a human perspective, it was natural that Jesus felt a bit troubled from his imminent death, but he knew he had a mission. His death was necessary to fulfill the will of the Father to save people from their sins. This is a related supplication from the prayer at Gethsemane.

There are three times where God speaks out loud.

During the baptism of Christ

Here

The transfiguration

This highlights the importance of this moment. Only Jesus understood it.

The voice was not for Jesus, for him to be encouraged and persevere in carrying out God’s will, but to the people to believe in Him.

The devil will be cast out. Defeated.

John 12:32 CSB

32 As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”

Lifted up meaning he will be crucified, but at the same time exalted.

In older times, being crucified was like being shamed. But for Jesus it was his time of Glory and exaltation.

Isaiah 52:13 CSB

13 See, my servant will be successful; he will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted.

Nowadays, you see a cross and you think of Jesus. In churches that were built, the highest point was the cross.

Walk in the light. (v34-36)

They asked “how can the Messiah die?”. Jesus does not directly answer their question, but gives them a warning instead.

This warning extends to us in the present day. We must walk in the light until the hour come.

His death was imminent at that time, and they had little opportunity to accept him.

His coming is imminent, and we have little time to remain in his path, until our hour or his.