Bible notes
For those working with children and young people
Gospel John 12.20-33
Present the passage as an occasion when Jesus speaks about his God-given mission. It is a mission to free many people from the power of ‘the ruler of this world’ and lead them into eternal life — a mission to bring glory to his heavenly Father and not to himself — a mission in which we, his followers, share.
We see Jesus’ obedience here. He admits it would be wrong to ask his father to save him from the cross. He would be putting an end to God’s plan that was central to the fulfilment of God’s promise to the world. Twice we are told this kind of obedience brings glory to God (v. 23 and v. 28).
The saying concerning the grain of wheat (falling to the ground and dying if it is to bear fruit in v. 24) shows it was necessary for Jesus to die. By his death God reveals his power over evil and the constancy of his love despite the worst that human beings can do to him. God also shows that the gift of eternal life is stronger than any kind of death we might be forced to endure. Jesus warns us that something similar is true for anyone who would become his disciple. The more you try to take control of your life, the more likely you are to lose it. Those who follow Christ must follow wherever he may lead, even to the point of death.
We depend upon God’s grace to receive the forgiveness we need. By grace — ‘God doing it for us’ — we are granted undeserved forgiveness and God restores us to communion with him. Just as the establishment of the covenant has always been at God’s initiative so, when the promise is broken, the restoration is always by God’s grace. As we contemplate Christ’s passion we cannot avoid being caught up in the glory of God’s love.