Lesson 220 - Senior
Memory Verse
"And if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:3).
Cross References
I The Greeks' Desire
1. Certain Greeks came to the feast, and desired to see Jesus, [JHN:12:20-21]; [JHN:6:40]; [MAK:7:25-30]; [ACT:16:1]; [ROM:1:16].
2. They came to Philip with their request; Philip told Andrew, and together they told Jesus, [JHN:12:21-22].
II Christ's Sufferings and Resulting Glory
1. The hour that the Son of Man should be glorified was at hand, [JHN:12:23]; [JHN:17:1-5]; [ISA:49:6-7].
2. Jesus indicated that He must suffer death and burial before that eternal triumph, [JHN:12:24-25], [JHN:12:27]; [ISA:53:10-12]; [1CO:15:36-38]; [HEB:2:9-10].
3. Those who serve Jesus must follow Jesus, [JHN:12:26]; [JHN:10:26]; [JHN:13:16]; [JHN:14:15]; [EPH:5:1-2]; [1TS:4:16-17].
4. The Father's voice was heard in answer to Jesus' prayer, [JHN:12:28-30]; [MAT:3:17]; [MAT:17:5]; [2PE:1:17].
III The Great Magnet
1. Jesus foretold the ultimate and absolute defeat of Satan, [JHN:12:31] [GEN:3:15]; [ISA:14:12-15]; [REV:12:9-11]; [REV:20:2-3].
2. The lifting up of Jesus would result in drawing the human family unto Himself, [JHN:12:32]; [JHN:3:14-15]; [ROM:5:17-19]; [1TM:2:3-6]; [2TM:1:9].
3. The people heard Jesus' saying, but did not discern His meaning, [JHN:12:33-34]; [JHN:8:53]; [MAT:16:13-14].
4. Jesus plainly showed the value of walking in the light, [JHN:12:35-36]; [JHN:1:9]; [JHN:8:12]; [JHN:11:10]; [PRO:4:19]; [1JN:2:8-11].
Notes
The Hour of Glorification
The Triumphal Entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem had caused great excitement among the people, much to the dismay of the chief priests and Pharisees. The Feast of the Passover was naturally a time of national expectancy among the Jewish people. Many of them felt that Jesus was the Messiah, the Prophesied One; and only a spark was needed to set aflame the tinder of their demands that Jesus set up His Kingdom and overthrow the oppressive yoke of the Roman government. The Pharisees were fearful that Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and the people's acclamation of Him had it provided that spark. They became more resolute than ever in their plan to put the Son of God to death.
On nearly every occasion previous to this time, Jesus had discouraged the thronging multitudes that requested Him to be their king. Now Jesus knew that His hour was at hand, and it seems that the Son of God was so willing to pay the price of redemption for man that He almost hastened the hour to its fulfillment.
Jesus knew full well that His riding the lowly ass into the pity of Zion would be recognised as the application unto Himself of that Scripture, "Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass" (Zechariah 9:9). Jesus also knew the effect this act would have upon the Pharisees and chief rulers of the Jews, but He was no longer careful for His blessed life. Jesus knew that the Scriptures must be fulfilled in every detail, and He went calmly and meekly about His Father's business. How thankful the Christian should be that Jesus was willing to pay the supreme price for his redemption!
The Greeks' Homage
While the Pharisees were scheming to put Jesus to death, another incident took place that might seem trivial on the surface, but nothing is trivial with the Son of God. A few Greeks who were with those who came to worship at the Feast of the Passover, heard about the fame of Jesus. They came to Philip with the request, "Sir, we would see Jesus." Philip did not know what to do about the request, so he took the matter to Andrew, another of Jesus' disciples. The two of them then brought the request to Jesus. It is needful for Christ's disciples to work together in the bringing of souls to the Master.
Philip and Andrew did not know what attitude Jesus would have toward the request of these Greeks. No doubt they remembered the time when the Syrophenician woman, also a Greek, came to Jesus for help. He had answered at that time, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24); but they also remembered that the woman importuned in her prayer, and Jesus had given her the desire of her heart. Philip and Andrew might have discussed between them the best course to take, and then brought the request to the Son of God. It does help, many times, to talk over a problem with a minister, but that should not keep anyone from bringing his problem to Jesus as well. In unity there is strength. The only reason that anyone should tell his problem to another is to enlist the aid of his brother in bringing the matter to Jesus, for in Him is the answer to all problems.
An audience must have been granted to these Greeks, for the answer that Jesus gave seems to be directed to them. The Son of God could see in these men the harbingers of the Gospel dispensation and its myriads of Gentiles who would answer the call of Christ and redemption. These Greeks may have come in much the same spirit as most of the Jews, desiring to see the man who would soon set up an earthly throne; but Jesus revealed to them in a few words the true secret of His mission to this earth.
The Corn of Wheat
"Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12:24). Jesus used an illustration from nature to bring to light the hidden truths of God. When a kernel of grain is put into the soil, with proper conditions, the blade will soon spring up, "first the blade, then the ear, after that the fun corn in the ear" (Mark 4:28). Jesus used a grain of wheat to illustrate the mystery of His mission, because wheat contains the germ of life within itself. Just so Jesus had everlasting life within Himself.
Jesus is the only person who dwelt on earth of whom it could be written, "In him was life" (John 1:4). God truly breathed the breath of life into the first man, Adam. He became a living soul, and had the imparted life within him; but Jesus had inherent life. Had Adam remained in the sinless condition in which he was created, he would have lived on and on; but sin brought death. God's edict was, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:17). Adam disobeyed God and ate the fruit of the forbidden tree. He died spiritually that day, and later he died physically as well. The element of eternal life that God had imparted to man was lost in Adam's sin, and sinful man came under the sentence of eternal death.
The Great Mystery
Not all men have sinned "after the similitude of Adam's transgression" (Romans 5:14); nevertheless, "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The sin principle has been born into man from Adam's downfall to the present day. As soon as man reaches the age of accountability when he knows the difference between good and evil, sin is his inevitable choice. "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). It is impossible for man to save himself from sin and, therefore, from eternal destruction; it takes the Blood of the Lamb and the power of God to bring about this marvellous transformation.
Herein is the great mystery of Jesus' mission to earth made clear. The Son of God gave His life's Blood to make atonement for the sinful human family. Jesus' body was placed in the grave, but that inherent life could not be destroyed. Soon it came forth in resurrection out of the grave to bring forth much fruit. Great provision was made that man could share in this triumph of the ages. When a man will repent of his sins and believe on the Son of God with all his heart and soul, that man will be saved from eternal destruction and be made partaker of everlasting life through the merits of his Saviour.
This is the only way that man can again gain a measure of that eternal life that was lost in the Garden of Eden -- by coming in contact with the Life Giver through the Blood of the Lamb. "Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (I Corinthians 15:20-22). To rise triumphantly to eternal life on that resurrection morning, man must have had that everlasting life imparted to him before he passes out of this world.
Serving Jesus
Jesus brought out another thought very clearly here: that, in order to love and serve Christ, a Christian must follow Christ. Nothing could be more logical; but people can be found everywhere who claim to be servants of Christ while their works and actions deny their testimony. Jesus' path upon earth led to the cross. If any man expects to arrive at Jesus' destination, he will necessarily have to follow the same way that his Master travelled; for Jesus said, "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour" (John 12:26). Too many people want to go to Heaven without taking up Christ's cross.
What does it mean to follow Christ? Does it mean that men must be nailed literally to the cross as was their Saviour? Many of the early martyrs found this to be true, but the disciples of Christ in this country have not yet been called upon to die for their faith. However, Jesus taught that His love for men and the utter self-sacrifice of His person was the secret of His influence over men. "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord" (Matthew 10:24, 25).
Any man who expects to do anything or be anything for his Master must have that willingness in his heart to die, either literally or by the less difficult route of self-denial and suppression of worldly ambitions and plans. No man can be a fruit-bearing Christian unless he sacrifices himself. "But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
All Gain
The unenlightened man might say that the way of the Cross is all loss and no gain, but actually nothing could be more untrue. All other ways, except the way of the Cross, are loss. Jesus said, "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:25). Jesus leads the way to a life that will continue throughout the countless, ceaseless ages of eternity. No other code or system of living can give that assurance. "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" (I Timothy 4:8).
Jesus leads each Christian by love -- and how glorious is the way! The Son of God found the way of the Cross was bearable, because that was His Father's will and that was the way that led to His glorification. With the same certainty in the hearts of Jesus' servants, the true Christian enjoys every step of the road that his Master followed. The song writer has aptly expressed the Christian's attitude:
"And the toils of the road will seem nothing
When I get to the end of the way."
Jesus could see that in His death lay the complete victory over Satan. The Son of God upon the cross would be the great Magnet who would draw men. Men are drawn by love. They may be driven by other means, but only love will draw men. The Christ on the cross is the noblest, the greatest manifestation of love that the world has ever witnessed, because He went there of His own free will to pay for the world's redemption!
Questions
1. Who came seeking for Jesus during the Feast of the Passover?
2. Whom did these people tell that they wanted to see Jesus?
3. What answer did Jesus give these men?
4. How is it possible to obtain eternal life?
5. If a man truly serves Jesus, what must that man be willing to do?
6. What happened at this time when Jesus prayed to His Father?
7. Who is the great Magnet of the world? Why?
8. Name the great benefits of walking in the light.
9. What will happen to the people who walk in darkness?