Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Here we are on the verge of the start of Vacation Bible School and I hope you are excited!

Why should we be excited you ask?

We should be excited because we have one of the greatest opportunities of our life.

We get the joy of telling children about Jesus.

And this starts today, this afternoon we will start getting everything finished and tomorrow afternoon VBS starts.

New children will be there, and some children we have seen in years past will be here...

And the truth remains, more children come to faith in Christ through VBS than any other activity.

So we have the joy of being used of God over the next 5 days, and the children must see and hear who Jesus in and through our lives.

So with that being said, I want us to look at the Gospel of John, and we will see chapter 12 today.

Look there with me… verses 20-26

What a beautiful passage, this occurs right after the raising of Lazarus from the dead, and we know it is right after His triumphal entry into the city (John 12-19), we are just days away from the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

But this day we notice something wonderful my friends.

Jesus is up in the Temple complex, they are worshipping, others are there to worship and Jesus will be teaching…

And as all this is happening, Jesus and his disciples are approached by some who were called Greeks.

Now we know something about these Greeks, they are not Grecian Jews, instead they are Greeks, God fearers who are proselytes, to the Jewish faith.

They have come to worship during the up-coming passover celebrations.

But this day something remarkable happens...

So here is my first thought today....

1.

People Want to See Jesus...

Here is a true statement, people then and people now desire to see and know the risen Savior.

Now thinking of the day we are looking at here, I am certain of this truth, the Greeks had heard about Jesus.

They had heard the stories, the miracles and His teaching… Jesus is becoming more and more popular with the people.

Now I remind you this is not a popularity contest, but Jesus is gaining more and more followers.

And even today, people still follow Jesus… new believers are born into the kingdom of God each day.

People are looking, searching and longing for something greater than they have seen or experienced before....

They move through life and are disappointed by this group or another, by this religion or another and they are left empty and sad… they are looking for the truth, they are looking for what is real.. they are looking for Jesus.

Now look back at the text....

Here is where something precious happens…

Greek speaking, Greek leaders and others are coming out to see Jesus.

They have seen Jesus, they want to meet him.

These Greeks knew who Jesus disciples were and they asked them to help introduce them to Jesus, they wanted to see Jesus.

Here is a great thought, they knew who followed Jesus and so they approached them hoping to see Jesus.

Let me ask you a question....

Do people know, can they tell you are His disciple?

Are they hoping you can tell them how to meet Jesus, how to have eternal life.

It seemed pretty clear in this passage, they could tell, even in the busy Temple area who were His disciples.

My point here is simple, the world should be able to tell by our words, our actions and our life that we are the followers of Jesus, a royal priesthood serving and living for Him.

You cannot be a secret disciple of Jesus, you will either live for him or not… and the world should be able to tell by your actions.

So which is it?

You know right now......

The Holy Spirit has spoke to you ....

I am certain of this.... Why?

Because the Father speaks to His children daily… Amen.

People wanted to see Jesus.

Can they see Jesus in you… Will they receive it,

Now this brings us to my second thought of the day...

2. Jesus is Glorified

The central theme of this passage is this thought right here, ...“The Glory of God.”

These Greek men, they wanted a meeting with Jesus to see Him and know Him.

And just as we have already talked about this morning, they approached Phillip inquiring if they could meet Jesus.

Phillip goes then and shares the news with Andrew and finally, finally they approach Jesus with the request… “We wish to see Jesus.....”

So what can I tell you here ...

I believe in the omniscient nature of Jesus, He knew these men were there, but Jesus did not approach them… He waited for them to come and ask.

Why do you think Jesus did this?

Here is what I think .... my speculation here based on the passage, later in this passage Jesus speaks about the cost of discipleship… One must be willing to lay down his life.

It was dangerous to be seen with Jesus, it was dangerous to be his disciple.

Earlier in this chapter we see the religious leaders seek to kill Jesus and Lazarus whom Jesus raised form the dead.

In fact if you look at verses 9-11 the religious leaders make their mind up about Jesus and Lazarus

John 12

The Jews sought not only to Kill Jesus but to kill Lazarus because many believed on Jesus because of what happened in His life.

What a wonderful statement we see in verse 11...

In this, God is glorified… God is glorified my friends in the truth that people are coming to see Jesus, coming to know Him as Lord and Savior.

God is glorified and heaven rejoices, … listen tot Luke 15:7

Jesus came to die, to give his life as a ransom for sin, He is glorified and in turn God receives glory as well.

My friends, our lives should bring honor and glory to Jesus.

Our words, our actions and our very lives are to be lived not for us but for Jesus in the hope, the expectation that others would see Jesus in us....

And if we live life unto our self, where is His glory?

He deserves the glory, the honor and the praise my friends… listen, this week there is no better way to honor Jesus than to serve Him in VBS.

He is glorified....as we lay down life and serve Him

Now just one last thought,

3. Now just one last thought,

3. Bear the Fruit you were called to Bear...

Bear fruit my friends, that is our responsibility, as a child of God we are called to bear fruit.

In Christ we grow and we produce of the nature we have inherited from our heavenly Father.

Just as our physical nature produces Physical children so our Spiritual nature should produce.

Jesus came to bear fruit, and he called others to do the same as well.

Lets go back to our text one more time....

Look closely at what Jesus says…

Truly, Truly....The hour has come, Jesus is speaking about his upcoming death, burial and resurrection.

That truly, truly is important… it is like “Hey, listen I am about to tell you something profound.”

Pay attention!!!!!!!

My time is come - Jesus has never said this before… He has traditionally said “… my time has not yet come.”

But here in this setting Jesus signals to the world, My time has come!!!!

And listen to what He says....

Unless a wheat kernel falls to the earth and dies, literally falls to the earth, deies and is buried =, it cannot bring forth new life… hence bear fruit , a seed is planted and it will bring forth a plant that produces more and more.... it will bear fruit.

Jesus knew his death would change everything.

Jesus time has come, the cross is near, He will die, be buried in the earth and on the third day will rise from the dead… Alive for evermore....

His death would bear fruit and bring glory and honor to the Father and himself.

it would bear fruit and bring glory and honor to the Father and himself.

And for those who follow , well if they choose Him over this world, they would have not only eternal life but their life would bear fruit as well.

In this they are honored.

The hour has come friends....

We are on the verge of VBS, children will come not knowing what to expect or what it will be like, who they will see and what will they learn.

Our greatest hope is that they would see Jesus.

In Jesus there is life and life eternal.

But unless they see Jesus… they will not be changed and they will not bring honor and glory to God.

Let everyone see Jesus in you each day and every day

john 12

They Long for Something Greater