Read John 12:9-36.

Introduction⤒🔗

One of the most spectacular shows of nature is the eruption of a volcano. Huge, fiery plumes arch up into the air. Silver lava oozes down slopes, slowly, relentlessly, consuming everything in its path. When the drama is finished, what is left behind is a landscape devoid of life: Utter, total death for every living thing in the lava’s path.

But in bringing death to the surrounding land, the lava also brings new life. The lava forms new land that will eventually become green and productive. Within a year after the eruption, algae, ferns, and moss start to grow in small cracks and crevices. Soon after, seeds start sprouting, broadening the cracks and slowly breaking the lava into soil. The death brought by the fiery lava is turned back into life; life more abundant because there is more land. Without the initial death caused by the lava, there would be no Hawaiian Islands, no Indonesia, and no West Indies.¹

Here in the twelfth chapter of the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus likewise reminds us of the paradoxical, but normal, course of things in the natural world: “I tell you the truth, Unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (Jn. 12:24). There is the necessity of death; but by means of death, abundant life is produced.

We must appreciate the fact that God’s chosen method of operation is to bring life out of death.

Jesus goes on to inform us that what is paradoxical, but normal, in the realm of nature, is also applicable to His own life: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. ³³He said this to show the kind of death he was about to die” (Jn. 12:32-33). Jesus here informs us that His death on the cross, (His “being lifted up”), is the necessary event that makes possible and ultimately results in His exaltation, (His “drawing all men to Himself”).

Furthermore, the Lord Jesus indicates that what holds true for His own life must also hold true for your life and mine if we would be identified with Him and have a part in His salvation: “He who loves his life shall lose it; but he who hates his life in this world shall preserve it for eternal life. ²⁶If any man would serve me, let him follow me” (Jn. 12:25-26a).

If we would experience the life of God, we must acknowledge the centrality of the cross and submit ourselves to Christ and His cross.

We Must Submit to the Cross, because It Is the Means of Victory←⤒🔗

John 12:1-8 describes the Lord Jesus attending a great banquet held in His honor in the village of Bethany, located just outside of Jerusalem. The next day, word quickly spread that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem; He has left the village of Bethany and is making His way toward the holy city. It is the first Palm Sunday.

Upon hearing this report of Jesus’ approach, a great multitude, filled with excitement and expectation, prepare to greet their long-awaited Messiah: They cut off branches from the palm trees. With palm branches in hand, they run out to meet Jesus. They will form part of His entourage; they will show their support and solidarity; they will unite behind their Messiah.

As the multitude goes out to meet Jesus, and as they make way for His triumphal entry, they are heard crying out, “Hosanna,” [meaning, “Save, we pray!”] “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!” These words reveal the crowd's messianic expectation; they hail Jesus as the long-expected Messiah promised by the LORD through the Old Testament prophets. Indeed, the crowds are welcoming the One whom they acknowledge to be “the King of Israel.” On an earlier occasion, when Jesus had miraculously fed the multitude in the wilderness, (an incident that occurred shortly before another Passover observance), John reported that the people “were about to come and take him by force, to make him king” (Jn. 6:15). Now the people are convinced that the appointed hour has come and they welcome their King with great expectation.

But if the crowd had been careful to observe the manner of Jesus’ arrival, they would have observed a significant difference between their view of a triumphal entry (and triumphal king) and Christ’s view. Jesus entered Jerusalem riding upon a young donkey; not mounted upon a white charger, commanding a legion of soldiers. The manner in which He entered the city of Jerusalem was in fulfillment of the Old Testament Scripture of Zechariah 9:9,

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. See, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and [is bringing] salvation; he is humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt the foal of a donkey.

Jesus is, indeed, the conquering Messiah; but His conquest is not with a sword. On the contrary, it is by means of the cross.

The testimony was there, but the message was ignored in the frenzy of excitement and misconceived expectations. But when Jesus finally addresses the crowd, He makes clear that the pathway to triumph is the way of the cross: “Now has come the judgment of this world; now the prince of this world shall be cast out” (vs. 31). Jesus assures the crowd that the hour of triumph has arrived, but the triumph of which He speaks is far greater than the triumph they envisioned. Jesus speaks of His triumph over the devil and all the forces of evil.

He then proceeds to reveal the means of this ultimate triumph: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (vs. 32). John explains, “He said this to show the kind of death he was about to die” (vs. 33). The Apostle Paul elaborates on this triumph by means of the cross when he declares, “having disarmed the principalities and the powers, [Christ] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by [the cross]” (Col. 2:15).

The cross was the means of victory. It was the means by which our Lord Jesus achieved victory over the devil and all the spiritual forces of darkness. It was the means by which He procured forgiveness and new spiritual life with God for all those who come to Him. But the Lord Jesus makes it clear, that the invitation to come to Him involves a participation in His cross.

He solemnly testifies: “He who loves his life shall lose it; but he who hates his life in this world shall preserve it for eternal life. ²⁶If any man would serve me, let him follow me” (vs. 25-26a). Let us bear in mind that the Lord Jesus issues this call as He anticipates the cross that loomed before Him.

True faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is two-dimensional: passively trusting in the Savior’s death upon the cross of Calvary as the payment for all your sins, and actively entrusting yourself to Him, becoming spiritually joined with Him in His death, so that you may also partake of His resurrection life. The Apostle Paul testifies, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ living in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

We must submit to the cross of Christ because it is the means of victory over guilt and condemnation. Rather than futilely trying to atone for our sins, we must accept the payment for sin Christ made upon the cross of Calvary:

...he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment was laid upon him for our peace, and by his wounds we are healed. ⁶We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has laid upon him the iniquity of us all. Isa. 53:5-6

We must submit to the cross of Christ because it is the means of victory over our old sinful nature. The cross of Christ is the only way by which our sinful nature can be put to death and we can become united to Christ in His resurrection life:

³...do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ...⁶knowing this, that our old man [i.e. our old sinful nature] was crucified with him...⁸Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him...¹¹consider yourselves to be dead, indeed, to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.Rom. 6:3,6,8,11

We Must Submit to the Cross, because It Is Mandatory, Not Optional←⤒🔗

Jesus recognizes that the course He must take leads through the cross to fruitfulness and glory: “Now my soul is troubled; and what shall I say? [Shall I say], “Father, save me from this hour”? But it is for this reason that I have come to this hour” (vs. 27). The inevitability of the cross, the absolute necessity of the cross, is even more clearly revealed in Jesus’ prayer as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. In the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His betrayal, the Lord Jesus prayed: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39).

Already at an earlier date in His ministry, the Lord Jesus made it emphatically clear that the cross was not optional, it was mandatory: “he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed” (Mk. 8:31). He also expressed His willing acceptance of this necessity and His determination to allow nothing to deter Him from fully accomplishing His Father’s will: “he spoke these things publicly. So Peter took him [aside] and began to rebuke him. ³³But [Jesus], turning around and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, Get behind me, Satan; for your mind is not focused the things of God, but on the things of men” (vs. 32-33). But note, too, that our Lord was fully aware that His endurance of the cross would ultimately result in triumph: He not only foretold His sufferings and rejection, culminating in the cross, He also revealed what lie beyond the cross, “the Son of man must suffer many things...and after three days rise again” (vs. 31).

But the Lord Jesus, on that previous occasion, also made it clear that the cross was mandatory for the Christian as well:

³⁴Then he called to himself the [whole] crowd [along] with his disciples, and said to them, If any man desires to be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ³⁵Whoever wants to save his life, will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the [sake of] the gospel shall save it. ³⁶What profit is it for a man to gain the whole world, but to forfeit his life? ³⁷What can a man give in exchange for his life? Mk. 8:34-37

Notice that the words of Mark 8:34-37 are very similar to our Lord’s teaching here in the twelfth chapter of John: “He who loves his life shall lose it; but he who hates his life in this world shall preserve it for eternal life” (Jn. 12:25).

The Lord Jesus makes clear that if we would have a part in His life, then the experience of the cross is a necessity. Jesus is saying, “If anyone would follow Me into the kingdom of God, then let him follow Me to the cross; let him, by means of my cross, become dead to the world and alive unto God.”

As the Lord Jesus points out (Mk. 8:35), paradoxically, the course that appears to be safe and sensible, the course that appeals to the self-centered, self-preserving soul, in fact leads to disaster; while the course of surrendering our life to Christ, submitting ourselves to Him in His crucifixion, leads to life, participation in Christ’s resurrection life: ”Whoever wants to save his life, will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the [sake of] the gospel shall save it.”

Jesus declares that our life and soul are of far greater importance than all the world has to offer: “What profit is it for a man to gain the whole world, but to forfeit his life? ³⁷What can a man give in exchange for his life?” (Mk. 8:36-37) Jesus is concerned about the eternal welfare of our soul, and the only place of safekeeping is to place our life and soul into Christ’s hands, even though it means joining with Him in His crucifixion, for that also means joining with Him in His resurrection life.

Thus, we are confronted with the fact that the cross is mandatory, not optional. It was mandatory for our Lord, if He would be faithful to His Father and fulfill the work the Father gave Him to do. It is also mandatory for anyone who would share in the life of Christ and be the recipient of the salvation only He can offer.

We Must Submit to the Cross, in order to Receive the Promised Blessing←⤒🔗

The Lord Jesus makes this demand: “If any man would serve me, let him follow me” (vs. 26a). To serve Christ means to become His disciple. Jesus is telling us that if we would enter into a saving relationship with Him, it must be on His terms: we must submit ourselves to Him, placing ourselves in the subservient position. We must recognize that Christ is not our Servant, He is the Lord and Master.

The relationship into which Christ invites us is one in which He calls us to follow Him. Again, bear in mind that our Lord speaks these words as the cross looms before Him. We are confronted with the centrality of the cross, both for our Lord Himself and for each individual who would partake of the salvation He alone provides. The cross is central to becoming a Christian: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ living in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

Not only is the cross central to becoming a Christian, it is also a central part of the Christian life. “[Jesus] said to all of them, ‘If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Lk. 9:23). This daily cross-bearing pertains to the process of sanctification, the process whereby, in reliance on the Holy Spirit, the Christian is engaged in “putting to death” the old lifestyle with its sinful practices and attitudes, and replacing such things with the new life of godliness:

⁵...put to death your members that are on the earth [i.e. the remnants of our old sinful nature]: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry...⁸you must also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹Do not lie to one another...¹²Therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; ¹³bearing with one another, and forgiving one another...even as Christ forgave you...Col. 3:5,8-9,12-13

Taking up the cross also includes encountering the hostility and hatred the world harbors against Christ, the Holy One of God:

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you. ¹⁹If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰Remember what I told you, A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. ²¹But they will do all these things to you for my name’s sake, because they do not know the one who sent me. Jn. 15:18-21

Note: When Jesus says that the world “does not know” God His Father, (i.e. “the one who sent me”), He is bringing out the fact that the world does not have a relationship with the Father in which they love Him and submit to His law; due to their sinful hearts, they are in rebellion against Him.

Although the cross of Christ stands at the heart of the Christian life, the Christian is not left to bear that cross alone. Our risen Lord is faithful to stand beside us and supply us with His aid. He extends to us the invitation, indeed, the command, “Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved” (Psl. 55:22). Furthermore, we have the assurance that He will bestow upon us His eternal blessing: “our light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor. 4:17). This brings us to a consideration of the latter part of John 12:26.

In the first half of John 12:26 the Lord Jesus issues a call to discipleship, an invitation to come under His discipline, to enter into His life. In the latter half of the verse He makes this promise to all those who accept His invitation: “where I am, there shall my servant also be. If any man serves me, the Father will honor him.” It is the promise of being in the Lord’s very presence and sharing with Him the honor bestowed upon Him by the Father:

To him that overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. Rev. 3:21

...[God] called you...for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. 2:14

On behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul gives the assurance: “If we died with [Christ], we shall also live with him. ¹²If we endure, we shall also reign with him.” Paul asserts, “This is a faithful [i.e. trustworthy] saying” (2 Tim. 2:11-12a).

Conclusion←⤒🔗

We must appreciate that it is God’s chosen method of operation to bring forth life out of death. If we would experience the life of God, both now and in eternity, we must personally submit to the Lord Jesus Christ and His cross.

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. As Jesus makes His way into Jerusalem, how is He greeted by the crowds? See Jn. 12:12-13. What did the crowd anticipate? Note Jn. 6:14-15. But how is the coming king described in the prophecy of Zechariah? See Jn. 12:14-15/Zech. 9:9. In Revelation, how is the Lord Jesus described, what two images are used, what is the relationship between them? See Rev. 5:5-6;/Matt. 26:39. What application does this have for our lives as Christ’s disciples? Note Zech. 4:6,

The next day, a great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. ¹³They cut branches from the palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD, the King of Israel! Jn. 12:12-13

¹⁴Now when the people saw the sign that he had performed, they said, Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world. ¹⁵Jesus, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force in order to make him king, withdrew again into the hills by himself.Jn. 6:14-15

Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, ¹⁵Fear not, O daughter of Zion. Behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt. Jn. 12:4-15

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your king comes to you; he is just, and bringing salvation; humble, and riding upon a donkey, upon a colt the foal of a donkey.Zech. 9:9

Then one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.' ^6aThen I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne. Rev. 5:5-6a

My Father, if it be possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. Matt. 26:39

Christ’s conquest was achieved by submission to His Father’s will (like a lamb), rather than by the self-assertion of His own will (like a lion).

This is the word of the LORD... 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.' Zech. 4:6

2. What are we told about the disciples as they witness this event (cf. Jn. 12:16a)? What things had they done for Jesus? See Mk. 11:1-3. Are there times when, like the disciples, we do not understand the purpose for what is happening in our lives or in the world; for what attitude need we to pray at such times? See Psl. 131:2 and Psl. 46:10a. When did the disciples get a clear understanding of these things (cf. Jn. 12:16b)? What assurance does the Apostle Paul give us? See 1 Cor. 13:12,

At first, his disciples did not understand all this. But after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. Jn. 12:16

As they approached Jerusalem, coming to Bethphage and Bethany by the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples ahead of him. ²He gave them the instructions, Go to the village that is ahead of you. When you enter it you will immediately find a colt tied there, which no man has ever ridden. Untie him and bring him here. ³If anyone asks you, Why are you doing this? say to them, The Lord needs him; and immediately he will send him back here. Mk. 11:1-3

Surely, I have calmed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psl. 131:2

Be still, and know that I am God... Psl. 46:10a

At present, we see an obscure image in a mirror, but then [we will see] face to face. At present, I know [things] partially; but then I will know fully, just as I am fully known.1 Cor. 13:12

3. When the Pharisees witness the crowds flocking to Jesus, what is their reaction? See Jn. 12:19. Is this, too, a prophetic statement, as was Caiaphas’ previous statement (Jn. 11:49-52)? What do they testify about their efforts to oppose Jesus (cf. Jn. 12:19a; note, Prov. 21:30)? Despite what we may encounter in this present world, as Christ’s disciples, what assurance do we have? See Rom. 8:37; Note Mic. 7:8,

Consequently, the Pharisees said among themselves, See how you are achieving nothing at all! The [whole] world has become his disciples.Jn. 12:19

There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD. Prov. 21:30

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Rom. 8:37

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise, when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.Mic. 7:8

4. When Jesus is told that certain Greek proselytes want to see Him, what does He say? See Jn. 12:23. What promise did the Father make to the Son of man in His capacity as the Servant of the LORD? See Isa. 49:6/Isa. 11:10. What does John behold when he is granted a vision of the redeemed in the kingdom of God? See Rev. 7:9. As Christians, dare we ever prejudicially refrain from fellowshipping with fellow believers of different ethnicities or cultures? Note Col. 3:11,

Jesus responded by saying, The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Jn. 12:23

...indeed, he says, It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and to bring back those of Israel whom I have preserved. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth. Isa. 49:6

With regard to the Messiah, Isaiah prophesies,

On that day, the Root of Jesse will stand as a signal for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.Isa. 11:10

After this, I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation and from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were dressed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. Rev. 7:9

In the fellowship of the redeemed,

there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Col. 3:11

5. What must Jesus do to receive the glory the Father promised to bestow upon Him? See Jn. 12:24, 32-33. By submitting to the Father’s will, what is Jesus doing? See Jn. 12:27-28a. Even as Jesus Christ is the very epitome of the man who honors the LORD—being the very Son of God who honors the Father—what does He require of us as His disciples (cf. Jn. 12:26a), and of what does He assure us (cf. Jn. 12:26b c)?

²⁴I tell you the truth, Unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit... ³²And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. ³³He said this to show the kind of death he was about to die. Jn. 12:24, 32-33

Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? [Shall I say], 'Father, save me from this hour'? But it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. ^28'Father, glorify your name.' Jn. 12:27­-28a

If any man would serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant also be. If any man serves me, the Father will honor him. Jn. 12:26