Lent 5 Bible Study

John 12:20-33 (NIV) 12:20  Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21  They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22  Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23  Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25  The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26  Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27  "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28  Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29  The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30  Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32  But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." 33  He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

Relate to the class a book or movie that you watched that broached the subject of death? Perhaps your favorite character died or there was story about the tragic deaths of a number of people? Maybe it was a murder mystery and you tried to figure out “Who done it?”

Death is not a subject we enjoy for obvious reasons. And yet it is very common. The Bible often talks about death. The word “death” is found in the NIV 461 times. The word “die” 608 times. The first mention of death or die is in Genesis 2:17. The last in Revelation 21:8.

The word “life” is found 569 times and “living” 1389 times.

So the bible has much to say about life and death.

Jesus often taught about life and death and did not shrink from talking about his own impending death. Our discussion today is about how he taught the Greeks who came to see him during the Feast about his death later that week.

The Greeks did not just come up to Jesus but asked his disciples first. It may have been because they were humble or because they were treating Jesus like a celebrity. Share with the class your experiences with celebrities. Were you ever able to get up close and personal with them or did you just admire them from a distance. My cousin, Mitch Christian, used to be on Harrison Ford’s security team when that famous actor came to the EAA in Oshkosh.

Jesus told the Greeks “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

What are some examples you have of when “the hour has come”?

What may have some people assumed when Jesus said that he was about to be glorified?

What did he really mean?

Jesus used the example of a seed dying in order to produce life. He was going to sacrifice himself in death so that we could have eternal life.

Give some examples of how people might sacrifice themselves so that others can live?

Notice how John teaches us to lay down our lives for others. Do we have to go so far as to die for them?

1 John 3:16–18 NIV

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

What are ways we can give material possessions to those in need?

What is the balance in the congregation between this and offering people the message of Christ crucified?

Every once in awhile I get a phone call from a complete stranger asking for help with rent money. What assumption are they making? Should I feel guilty when I tell them “No”?

Jesus asked the rhetorical question if he should try to escape death on the cross. John 12:27–28 (NIV)

27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

Jesus was fully aware of the purpose of his life and of his death. In the sermon illustration of the Sonderkommandos, what was their purpose in the final months of their lives? What grim purpose did their death serve?

Jesus’ death was the most purposeful in history. Our death may not have a specific purpose but our lives do. What is our purpose in life.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 NIV

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.