Jesus Spoke Publicly He Was There to Die- John 12

Jesus knew why he had ridden into Jerusalem. He knew he was there to die for us to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus knew the plan all along and long before he rode into Jerusalem. Jesus speaking of the time has not come or the hour has not come is a theme thread in John. After Jesus rode into Jerusalem, he proclaimed.

The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified

We explored that last week in- What Do We Choose Regarding Jesus?

Jesus did not relish going to the cross, the torture he would endure. In Hebrews 12 we see how Jesus felt.

Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus went to the cross because of his immense love for us, but he despised the shame and did not look forward to the pain and torture. It is so understandable that he would look to God the Father which we see in John 12.

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”

Then something happened that got the attention of everyone there. God the Father spoke.

Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

The reaction of those around?

Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”

The purpose of the voice from heaven was to confirm who Jesus is which Jesus spoke to.

This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake

Jesus spoke of two results of his crucifixion. Satan would be judged and stripped of authority in this world and Jesus would draw people to himself.

 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am  lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.

The people needed no explanation for what lifted up meant. They had seen people crucified and left on crosses. It was a practice of the Romans to intimidate people by leaving bodies on crosses to cause fear. The people were confused. They thought perhaps Jesus was the Messiah and there is a promise about the Messiah being on David’s throne forever. But they did not consider Isaiah 53 and the suffering servant.

He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;

In response to the people openly wondering about why Jesus would say he would be lifted up, Jesus exhorted them

You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may

He was calling them to make a choice. We also need to make a choice regarding Jesus. Will we believe in him, ask him for forgiveness and follow him or will we reject him?

What does it mean to you that even though Jesus despised the shame of the cross, he went there because the joy set before him was anyone who believes in him having eternal life?

Thank you for reading. God Bless.