Sermon John 12:20-36 – It Is Time To Be Glorified

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Sermon John 12:20-36 – It Is Time To Be Glorified
Beaver Dam and Pitts Creek churches
February 28, 2010

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This morning I am continuing with my series of sermons drawn from the Gospel of John. These texts are traditionally read by the church during Holy Week as we move from Palm Sunday, to the Last Supper, to Good Friday and finally to the glorious events on Easter morning. But I have chosen to bring these texts to you for Lent so that we may look at them in more detail and use this period as a way of preparing ourselves for the coming of Holy Week.

Last week we joined with Martha, Lazarus, Mary and Judas as they hosted Jesus at their home for dinner a week before the beginning of Passover. We watched as Mary tenderly anointed Jesus’ body with expensive perfume. And with the warrant out for Jesus’ arrest we heard him interpret Mary’s actions as a preparation for his death. This infuriated Judas who expected that Jesus would be anointed as king, and caused him to lose his faith in Jesus.

This story was followed in John by Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. We will talk about donkeys and palm branches in a few weeks when we get to Palm Sunday. But today we will look at what happened after Jesus entered the city. As soon as Jesus arrived in Jerusalem two gentiles, non-Jewish God Fearers, who had come to worship God at the Passover festival, approached one of Jesus’ disciples, Phillip, for help in meeting Jesus. This triggered an extraordinary series of events as Jesus realized that his hour had come. So what was it about this visit of a couple of foreigners that convinced Jesus that his glorification was near? Before we get to this question please pray with me. “Grant unto us, O Lord, to be occupied in the mysteries of thy Heavenly wisdom, with true progress in piety, to thy glory and our own edification. Amen.” (John Calvin)

John 12:20-36 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. 34 The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?" 35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Jesus realized that his hour had come when he was told by Phillip and Andrew that some Gentiles had come to see him. Early in his ministry when Jesus’ mother suggested that he do something when the wine ran out at a wedding, Jesus told her that his time had not yet come. And later after arguments with the Pharisees they tried to arrest him, but could not because his time had not yet come. But when Gentiles came to see him, Jesus realized that his hour had finally come. This hour was the time of his glorification when he would be crucified, rise from the dead, and ascends to the Father. But why would this hour be triggered by some Gentiles coming to see Jesus?

In John’s theology seeing is the same as believing. People see Jesus’ signs and then believe in him. Jesus put it this way:

John 6:40 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

So the gentiles who came to see Jesus were also coming as believers hoping for the blessing of eternal life. Up to this point in the Gospel of John, Jesus’ ministry had always been to the Jews. But now, non-Jewish believers in God were coming to faith in Jesus. And this fulfilled Jesus’ mission on earth to bring all people to faith. Consider the following story from the Gospel of John:

John 10:11-16 (Jesus said,)11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-- and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

So Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was not here just for the Jews. He came to earth as the Good Shepherd for everyone, Jew and non-Jew alike. So when the Gentiles came to see and believe, Jesus knew that his hour had come because his mission had been fulfilled. All people were coming to faith. So it was time for Jesus’ glorification, his death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. And through this glorification the gate would be open for all people on earth to find God.

The key to church growth is the glorification of Jesus Christ. His death on a cross,
resurrection to new life, and ascension to the right hand of the Father is the seed that grows into the church. And each of us is called to follow Jesus on this pathway. We are called to death, resurrection and ascension to new life in Jesus Christ. This is the purpose of our lives – our own glorification. And our glorification is the seed that builds up the church.

I am not a farmer, and have never been a farmer. And with many farmers in the congregation it is a little intimidating trying to explain a parable from Jesus about farming. So I ask for you indulgence, and if I get some of the details wrong please forgive me. Suppose that a farmer has a barn full of corn. And all spring and summer he eats the corn. The next year he notices that he has less corn in the barn than the year before, but he continues eating it never planting any. This goes on year after year until there is no more corn in the barn. The farmer then complains about his bad luck and has to sell the farm. What would you call a farmer like that? You would probably call him a fool for doing such a foolish thing. Seed should not be eaten. Seeds should be planted and with the right soil, moisture, temperature and sunlight, all provided by God, they will grow into abundance.

Now suppose that someone comes to church and notices that there are fewer people in the pews than the year before. “There must be something wrong”, he thinks. But nothing is done about it. The next year he sees even fewer people in the pews and grows a little more concerned, but does nothing. After many years the congregation is too small and is merged with another church and the building sold, and he still does nothing. What would you call such a person as this?

Several years ago I was the Multicultural Intern at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. A young man from Korea came to an International Student Ministry my wife Grace and I had started. Daniel was a talented musician and loved worship. While taking English classes at Cal State LA he started a small group Bible study in his dorm room for other Korean students. He encouraged the students to come with him to our ministry by giving them rides, and encouraging them to sing and play instruments in the praise band he established for us. Through Daniel’s work we soon had over 40 students at the church every Saturday night. Daniel was a seed which God planted in Pasadena CA to bear fruit for ministry and church growth.

You are the seeds that God has planted here in Pocomoke to bear fruit in this church. The time has come when, with our glorification, all of Pocomoke will come to faith. Now is our hour when we, by our actions, show the love of Christ to our neighbors and friends. Now is our time to testify to others about how God has blessed us so richly. The hour has come when we need to be fruitful seeds by inviting our families and friends to come, see and believe in Jesus.

Of course inviting people to come to church is hard. People lead busy lives. We don’t want to interfere with their lives or add to their burdens. And inviting people who are different from us, “gentiles”, here in Pocomoke is even harder. The devil would like nothing better than to stop us right here and now. But remember that it is God who glorifies us. It is God who wants the church to grow. And it is God who strengthens us to accomplish His will that everyone be brought to faith. Remember these words from God to Isaiah that you heard earlier:

Isaiah 49:6 "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

So with God’s strength behind us we cannot fail. With Christ’s glorification the Devil has no power to stop us. With confidence in your own glorification go into the world and bring the people of Pocomoke to faith in Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for the gift of your death, resurrection and ascension. You glory has been the light of the church for two thousand years. We ask that you use us as seeds to grow this church. Make this a place of prayer for all people. Amen.