seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 12:20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 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 Very truly I tell you, 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 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their 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 soul 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 And I, when I am lifted up[g] from the earth, will draw all people 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 Messiah 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. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Wow... what a cool little story hidden in thunder and light. When I read the Bible and run into a name I can't pronounce.... I figure it out the best I can... or make up a name to use in its stead so I don't loose the story. Here Jesus gets really heavy into seeds and light and there is "thunder".... so it looks confusing. I can't just pin a fake name on it and go on..... because I'll miss the cool little story hidden here.
In the days of Jesus.... not everyone got to go to the chapel. The only ones allowed in what we would call the chapel [or main meeting room] were the male descendants of Jacob who could pay their own bills. The ones who could not pay their bills were "slaves". They couldn't worship in the chapel with the other "good men". Women and slaves met in another part of the Temple. And Gentiles [Greeks, Romans and others] who believed in God would meet in still another room further from the main meeting room or chapel [as we call it in our churches today].
When Jesus brought Lazarus back to life.... well everyone just had to talk about it.... and the word was spreading everywhere. This brought people from everywhere. The people were going to the Temple to get a glimpse of the man who brought Lazarus.... four days stinky in the grave.... back to life... and then had dinner with his family. There were people trying to find Jesus everywhere.... but the majority of them would have hung out near the Temple to get a peek.
Now.... that must have really enraged the Temple leaders. Passover was almost here... there was a lot of work to do... and those crowds trying to get a glimpse of Jesus who brings back dead people.... were not only in the way... they were drawing the attention of Rome... and that was never good.
One more little tidbit.... there were a lot of people in those days who thought that when the Messiah came to earth... It would be like King David [that great warrior that took on a giant to start his career] that would never ever die. So they weren't sure how that part would work.... but they wanted to see the guy who could bring a man back from the tomb..... Jesus had become a carnival side show that was being hunted by the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
It must have depressed Jesus greatly to be searched out but unable to answer. He couldn't draw attention to Himself yet... there were a few more days to get through. The human Jesus was facing the fact He was going to be arrested and beaten and hung on a cross and then left in a dark tomb. He was human. He knew fear and dread and depression and woe as well as He knew laughter and love. These were real fears Jesus was dealing with ... and He was on a timeline... He had to be left alone in that tomb..... He had to be in there over a three day holiday.... Passover and Sabbath were about to merge... His time was close....
In this story... a Greek man asked a disciple where he could find Jesus. The disciple had to ask another disciple.... who had to ask Jesus if the man could come to see Him. This reminds me of one of those crime boss movies where the gunman protect the door..... not letting just anyone in. Jesus was in hiding.
Here's where the thunder comes in. Everyone and anyone was looking for Jesus... because He brought a man back from death. Jesus used a story to show them that seeking out a carnival sideshow is human. They are curious. This is new. But now they are confused because according to the Books written by Moses.... and the prophets.... the Messiah would live forever. Jesus is on His way to die on the cross. That did not compute.
Jesus told them... a dried up seed is "dead" and then we plant it and it produces a shoot... and a plant... and then there are more seeds....
Jesus told them.... I've come here to die. They didn't think that was what Moses had been telling them.... they didn't see how Jesus of Nazareth could be the Messiah and worried about dying. They wanted to hear that cleared up by God.... and then.... God responded to them all.... some heard thunder instead of the words... they were probably the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the others who refused to Believe..... while others... the Believers... heard actual words and as if an Angel was whispering in their ear.
Now... here's the light part.... Back in the days of Jesus.... a girl couldn't just flip a switch and light up a dark room. People didn't work at night... because they didn't have the light. Time was measured by the sun. The day lasted from Sun Up to Sun Down [a day]... Or sun down to sun up [a night]... or sun down to sun down [a full day]. Everyone understood working in the sunshine.
Jesus was saying...He's like that light they depend on... There's only a limited amount of time for them to enjoy His company.
People would put their lives on hold to go to Jerusalem for Passover and Purim. They would sew money in their clothes in order to purchase a lamb or two for sacrifice... or they would gather up their fold and head off to Jerusalem. The crops in the field would have been either newly planted or newly harvested... the time was always right for a trip to worship God.
Anyone who stayed away from Jerusalem during those holidays.... loved their life more than they loved God. They are the ones who Jesus was describing when He says "anyone who loves their life".
Jesus left and went into hiding again.... I don't know if He spoke to the Greek who wanted to see the man who could bring the "dead" back to life. All I know is it wasn't time yet and Jesus just blended back into the crowd.
The ones that Believed in Jesus... they are the ones that heard an Angel whispering in their ear.
The ones that were there for the carnival side show.... heard thunder.
Do you hear thunder? Or Angels?
