The Hour Has Come

Transition Time

Hatred of Gentiles

The nation of Israel had rejected Jesus as their Messiah. The Pharisees had declared that Jesus was not the Messiah and they wanted to get rid of them. This is important because the Pharisees represented Israel's relationship with God.

God had called Israel to be a lighthouse to the world and a gateway for people to enter into relationship with God. Unfortunately they used their religion for exclusivity rather than God’s intended purpose for inclusivity. What I mean by this is the Israelites insulated themselves to a point of racism of all other people. They hated Gentiles (all non-jewish people).

Because they were God’s chosen people, they believed that they were superior to all other people. They could not associate with a Gentile. If they went into the home of a Gentile they were considered unclean and must make themselves clean through the purification ritual.

The hatred of the Gentiles disobedience to God, and the rejection of Jesus was the nail in the coffin.

Attraction of the Greeks

Some Greeks who had come to the passover wanted to see Jesus. There are varying theories on why. Some say that these Greeks perhaps saw what Jesus did in the temple when He ran all the money changers out. Others say that the Greeks were so curious about new beliefs and they had heard about what Jesus had done that they wanted to know more about him. Still others say that they were seeking for a means of salvation for themselves. The Bible does not say why, but the fact is they wanted to see Jesus.

They came to Philip because Philip is a Greek name and Philip was from Bethsaida. Bethsaida was close to a very large Greek population. The Greeks identified with Philip so they approached Him to see Jesus. Philip didn’t know what to do so he got his brother Andrew. Andrew is know for bringing people to Jesus. John 1:40-42

John 1:40–42 NASB95

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

We presume that Andrew brought the Greeks to Jesus.

There is no place for hatred today.

We live in a fractured society that is full of hate. There is division in so many areas of our society. There is racial division in our society. There is economic division in our society. There is political division in our society. There is gender division in our society. There is religious division in our society. We have even found away to find division in athletics. Unfortunately division finds away to demonize the opposing person.

Recently, Tucker was in DC and had a chance to tour the Holocaust Museum. It opened his eyes to a level of hatred that he had never seen before. It made such an impact in his life that he is resolved to not allow any form of hatred to be a part of his life.

All forms of hated towards people is a sin. Matt. 5:21-22

Matthew 5:21–22 NASB95

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

One of the most dangerous forms of hatred is the same that the Pharisees had towards the Gentiles. This is where the church folks hate sinners. We will talk bad about them and judge them with no heart or compassion to lead them to Jesus. Folks, this is why God is removing his spirit from churches and they are closing in record numbers.

We must be a church that brings people to Jesus. We must see beyond where they are and help get them to Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:15

1 Timothy 1:15 NASB95

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

Luke 5:32 NASB95

“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus came to save sinners! We must understand that and help people get to Jesus just like Andrew did.

The Hour Has Come

Jesus makes a propound statement when he tells the Greeks and the disciples, “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” God had appointed this time for Jesus to be glorified. There were many other times in Jesus life where Jesus told people that His time had not yet come. John 2:4

John 2:4 NASB95

And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.”

John 7:6 NASB95

So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune.

John 7:30 NASB95

So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

So Jesus turning the water into wine was not the right time. Jesus being urged by his brothers to go public about him being the Messiah was not the right time. When the Jews wanted to throw him off of a cliff was not the right time. So what makes this the right time?

It is two fold. The rejection of the Jews and the acceptance of the Gentiles. John 12:19

John 12:19 NASB95

So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”

John 12:21 NASB95

these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Jesus is the reconciler for all people regardless of any earthly division we establish. He is the only answer to bring opposing forces together. Paul explains this in Romans 11:11-16

Romans 11:11–16 NASB95

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.

This was the gateway for salvation for all people. The rejection of the Jews opened the door for all people to believe in Jesus.

Jesus would be glorified in a way that many people don’t understand.

Son of Man To Be Glorified

When we think about glorifying someone we think of honoring them for some heroic achievement. For example we glorify a person who has been injured in war with a purple heart. We award a person the Nobel Peace Prize to the person who has done the most or best work to fraternity between nations. We award the best players in a game with the MVP. We may glorify a piece of art by placing it in the most prominent place in our home or museum. Typically we glorify people and things for their achievements or beauty. God was going to glorify Jesus by the cross. One may ask, “How does that glorify the Son of Man?”

The full measure of God’s love is expressed through His Son on the cross. Jesus took all of humanities sin upon himself as He hung on the cross. All could see the atrocity of sin in the willing brokenness of the Son of God and the satisfaction of God’s wrath toward humanity through the forgiveness of sin.

The cross is ever before us lest we forget the measure of God’s love. It is the highest achievement and most beautiful thing that has ever been or ever will be. As we look at the pulpit or what hangs over the baptistry, let us never forget the Son of Man being glorified!

Life In Death and Death in Life!

Jesus is the seed that must Die for all.

Jesus had to give His life so that all people would have the opportunity for eternal life. We see this in the Genesis 3. Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:15 NASB95

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

God told Satan, that ultimately his introduction of sin would be overcome by Eve’s seed. This is Jesus. He put an end to the eternal punishment for sin. 1 John 2:1-2

1 John 2:1–2 NASB95

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

We must die in order to live

Jesus says that a person who loves his life on earth will die for all eternity. Conversely a person that hates his life on earth will live eternally.

He is not saying that we are to live lives of sorrow, but instead we are to die to self and live for Christ.

We must give all of our ambitions and desires up for the sake of serving and following Jesus.

When our desire is for worldly things such as money, power, and fame we will die achieving what we believe will bring life. These things do not bring life because they do not bring peace with God.

A person that denies self and follows Jesus will live forever. Matthew 16:24

Matthew 16:24 NASB95

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

God Honors Disciples

When we serve and follow Jesus the Father honors us. So the question is how do we serve and follow Jesus? The answer is found in Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 NASB95

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

When we are making disciples, then God honors us. The way He does this is by giving us His authority to make a difference for the kingdom of God.

Jesus says that He is with us when we make disciples to the end of the age!