Purpose
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Today we are studying John 12:20-50. It is important to know the setting when studying any passage, so while you are turning there in your own bibles, does anyone remembers what was happening? We saw the context last week in John 12:12-19. What was the context? What was the situation in which we saw Jesus?
Last week was when Jesus was entering Jerusalem on the way to the Passover Festival. Jesus found a donkey and came riding to Jerusalem as the people were coming out to receive Him saying, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!”
Jesus was coming as their King to bring them peace.
The people were rejoicing, but the religous leaders, the Pharisees were not pleased. As it says in John 12:19,
So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
That really sets us up for what comes next in John 12:20. Once Jesus was in Jerusalem, this is one of the things that took place.
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival.
As we get into this passage, we are going to see that, indeed, the whole world, Jews and Greeks (or, non-Jews), were going after Jesus. He had something they wanted. He had something they needed. So they were seeking Him.
I think they were looking for purpose in life. We’ll get into that in a bit. But, how important is purpose in life?
Without purpose, without vision we as people flounder. We wander. We are anxious. We grow depressed. Purpose and Motivation is extremely important to us. That explains why the motivational speaker business booms.
Aim for nothing and you are sure to hit it.
Or, as a verse in the King James says,
Where there is no vision the people perish.
Vision. Motivation. Purpose. In life, this is crucial for us to have. Let’s ask God to speak to us today, that we might have correct purpose.
Prayer
Let’s read the first few verses together to see the context, and then dig into it.
We will read John 12:20-26.
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival.
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”
Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
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.
Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
The Greeks
The Greeks
When you read the Bible, ask questions. Ask Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
Who were these people? The Greeks? What were they doing going to the festival? Why would they celebrate the Passover?
Who were they? They were non-Jews. Being Greek they would have come from a culture that had a lot of different gods. They would have grown up hearing about their gods, and worshipping idols in temples.
But one thing about the Greek gods is that in Greek mythology, the gods didn’t really care about people. You could try to curry their favor, but the gods were capricious, and aloof. The things they did often did not make sense. Inf fact, Greek mythology was accepted, but because of logic and study many were disallusioned. Many went through the motions of worship, but were lost. Their religion did not give them the purpose they needed for life.
They were also likely to have been influenced by Emporer worship. The Roman rulers, the Caesars started to look at themselves as gods. Emperor worship spread across the Roman empire, because it was demanded. But again, unless you were known and favored by Caesar, it was a lot of ritual, but was missing something. Looking to Caesar of the government did not give the motivation and purpose people needed.
The Greeks often followed the gods, but as they developed their schools and logic, reason became their real god. Philosophies and teachers and schools became the real influence in their lives.
They were seeking...
They were seeking...
But still, many were still searching. That is why later in Acts we find that when Paul went to Athens, it says that the people there liked to listen to the latest traveling teachers as they came through. They were searching. They were looking for something more than they had. They were looking for real answers...
I believe that is who these Greeks were. They had tried to find answers for life in their own gods. They had tried to find answers for life in the rituals they grew up with. They had tried to find answers in the government. They had tried to find answers in philosophy, logic, and reason… But they were still missing it. They were longing for real answers.
They wanted answers to life. They wanted what people today still want. They wanted peace, inner peace.
They wanted to find answers to the big question of life…
What is my purpose?
What is my purpose?
Why? What is my purpose? There has got to be a reason for this? Give me something to live for! Give me something to make living worth it!
People today still want that. People today are still looking for Peace. People today are still looking for Purpose. Without it, they are lost. Without it they are anxious and depressed.
At some point these Greeks came into contact with teaching about the one True God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. They came across His teachings, and it drew them in. They sought more, and they came to Jerusalem, the the festival of Passover to learn, and they heard about Jesus.
No doubt, they heard about his teaching with authority. No doubt, they heard about his wisdom. No doubt, they heard about his power as people were still talking about how He raised Lazarus from the dead a couple weeks before. They heard those things and they sought out Jesus. This is the one. He must have the answers. He must know the purpose of life.
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”
We would like to see Jesus
We would like to see Jesus
This is truly a key verse for this passage. They were seeking answers. They found Philip, one of Jesus’ disciples.
In the past, Jesus gave his disciples authority to go out and teach. Before, Jesus’ disciples did try to handle some of the questions people had, like when the man brought his son to be healed while Jesus was up on the mountain with Peter, James and John.
They could have asked Philip their questions. “Philip, you know what Jesus has taught. What is the purpose? What purpose is there to my life?”
But they didn’t need Philip and Philip’s thoughts. They needed Jesus. They sought Jesus.
Philip could have tried to handle this himself, but he did the right thing. He went to get them an audience with Jesus.
People today need to see Jesus. He has the answers. Jesus alone can give true inner peace. Jesus alone can truly give us the answers we seek.
Why am I here? What is the purpose in life?
They were seeking those answers. They were seeking Jesus.
Philip worked to get them to see Jesus. And that is what we need to do today.
Too often when people come with problems, and questioning life, we try to give them answers ourselves. What they really need, is to see Jesus, and get His answers.
Philip did that. He worked to get them to see Jesus.
Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
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.
Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
“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.
Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
Jesus replied...
Jesus replied...
This is actually quite the statement. But, it doesn’t seem to fit the request at first does it?
“Jesus, there are some Greeks that want to see you.”
What would you expect as an answer? “Oh. Okay. Show them in.”
That’s not what Jesus says. His reply is completely different. Unexpected. Why?
I imagine these guys were there with Philip and Andrew.
I imagine that just like when Jesus met with Nicodemus and knew what he wanted before he started talking, so too, Jesus knew what these Greeks wanted before they even started.
“Will he accept us? Will he give us the answers we need? What is our purpose?”
I believe Jesus knew their hearts and their questions, and just started right in answering them.
First, he answered them by his own example...
Jesus’ example
Jesus’ example
In Jesus’ reply we find that he found strength and resolve to face life because He knew His purpose.
Notice that His reply begins and ends with glory?
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
Jesus Purpose: To be glorified and To Glorify
Jesus Purpose: To be glorified and To Glorify
Jesus’ purpose—which is what He is talking about here in response to their seeking Him out—is to be glorified, and to glorify the Father.
What does it mean to be glorified, and to glorify?
Glory has to do with ones opinion of another. For you to receive glory means that others have such an opinion of you, that they honor you. They speak well of, and praise you.
It was time for Jesus to be glorified. But wait. This is the final week of Jesus. And why would Jesus, at the hour he was to be glorified say,
“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.
The NASB says, for this very “purpose” I came.
Why would Jesus be troubled in his soul now that people praised him and gave him honor? Why would he be troubled with the Greeks came seeking Him out? His purpose was being fulfilled wasn’t it?
It was time for Jesus to be glorified. But not by the masses. Jesus’ purpose was not to receive praise from men. In fact, as we saw in John 5:44, Jesus condemned people for seeking glory from other men...
How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
Jesus really wasn’t after the praise of men, which really is fleeting isn’t it? Today they praised Him and sought Him out. In a few days, they would be shouting, “Crucify Him!”
Seeking after glory from people really is not a good purpose in life. It is hard to get, and even harder to keep.
No, Jesus’ purpose was not to be glorified by men. Well then, if not by men, by whom?
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
Jesus wanted the Father to glorify Him. He was more concerned about what the Father thought of Him than what people were saying, or would say. He was more concerned about receiving glory and praise from His Father. That was His purpose.
That sounds good doesn’t it? Then why,
“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.
Why was Jesus troubled by being glorified by the Father?
Jesus had the right purpose, the right motivation. But that does not mean that what he was going to be doing was pleasant.
Jesus was going to be glorified by the Father for walking in obedience and going through with the plans God had for Him.
Jesus was going to be glorified by the Father for walking in obedience and going through with the plans God had for Him.
God knew the hearts of man. That is why He sent Jesus. God knew mankind was rebellious, not wanting to live under His authority. He knew that mankind was destined for damnation because of this, being eternally separated from Him, their loving Creator for all eternity.
But God loved the world and sent His Son into the world to save the world. He knew that they would abuse and kill His Son, because their hearts were wicked.
But God was going to use their abuse of His Son to work the salvation of many!
Jesus knew it was going to be hard. He knew that evil men were going to do horrible things to Him. That is why Jesus said,
“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.
Jesus did not say, what shall I do? Purpose is not what must be done. He knew what had to be done. He said, “What shall I say?”
Jesus knew he had to focus on His purpose, not what He was about to do. Jesus knew that God had a plan to use the hard times, the horrible things that were coming in His life, the suffering He was about to go through, to produce a lot of good fruit!
Focusing on the purpose rather than what He had to do gave Him strength, even though it was going to be hard.
He knew exactly what He was about to endure. That is why He was troubled. And, that is why after saying it was time for Him to be glorified Jesus said,
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.
Jesus was speaking of his life. His purpose was to die and be buried in the ground. Because He knew God would use His obedience, His suffering to produce much fruit! God would use it to save the souls of so many people!
And ultimately, that would bring Glory to the Father, the salvation of many!
Jesus showed these Greeks that He lived with true purpose and motivation, and that gave Him the strength to endure even the hardest circumstances of life. That is what these men were looking for, true purpose that would give them the strength to get through life. It is easier to endure hardship when you have a purpose.
Example of Cross-country and the movie Overcomer
Jesus demonstrated true purpose, and the resolve it gives in His own life. Then, he went on to challenge those Greeks, and us concerning our purpose.
Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
What is my purpose?
What is my purpose?
We need the right purpose in life. Without the right purpose, we will get off track. We will be frustrated. We will be anxious, angry and depressed.
Too often, our purpose tends to be wrapped up in our focus on ourselves. We focus on our money, our reputations, our pleasures. My purpose is to make a lot of money. My purpose is to have a good reputation. My purpose is to enjoy life. This is all focused on ourselves, and honestly, are things that are going to leave us empty.
How much money is enough? And when you get it, it goes away.
You will never be able to please everyone. and We all make mistakes. Our reputations will be tarnished with other people.
Live is full of pain. Anyone who says otherwise i trying to sell something. Living life for the purpose of pleasure will leave you disappointed.
All of these things have a purpose that is self-focused. Living for ourselves.
Jesus says whoever loves their life, makes living for themselves in any way their purpose, will lose their life. They will live in disappointment, guilt, anger, depression, and loss.
Read what Jesus said, again.
Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Instead, the right purpose is to hate our life and find that we will keep it.
Hating their life? What does it mean to hate our life?
It means to not live for self. It means to deny self. It means to have a purpose that is other than selfish, and is willing to do whatever it takes, even giving up the ‘good things’ in life that please ourselves in other to fulfill our purpose.
Isn’t that what Jesus did? He did not live for Himself. He did not live to get money or things. He did not live to have pleasure in this life. He did not live to please Himself. And He was willing to give up His time. He was willing to give up His possessions. He was willling to give up His ‘rights’ to serve others.
He described hating our lives this way...
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
If we will serve Jesus instead of ourselves; if we will do what Jesus did and die to self, we will find real life.
If we make serving and following Jesus our purpose, instead of just seeking after ourselves, that will lead to fulfillment in life.
Serving and following Jesus, glorifying Him.
Serving and following Jesus, glorifying Him.
This has to be our purpose in life. To Serve and follow Jesus, to bring Him glory.
We don’t go to church, give to church, give to other ministries, serve in different capacities, and try to do the things that He says to bring glory to ourselves. Some do, and they’re lives are still empty.
We do what Jesus would do. We follow His example, so that when people see what we do, we can point them to Jesus.
Why are you doing this? Because Jesus would do this. He is my example. You should see Him!
When we have this purpose in life, it changes everything we do.
Now we still have the same circumstances in life. We may still have the same job. We have the same family. We have the same coworkers. We have the same neighbors. We have the same chores, bills, and duties. But if we have the purpose of following and serving Jesus, all that we do has a different motivation than just paying the bills, supporting the family, and surviving life. We have a higher motivation. And the motivation or purpose behind things changes everything.
When running, if you have the purpose of just surviving you will run differently than if you are running to get a prize!
When living, if you have the purpose of pleasing people you will stop when people don’t respond well.
But if you serve Jesus, you will find that
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
The Father will honor you!!
You will get a prize! You will get praise from the One who truly matters. You can stand with proper pride before Him who knows and sees you inside and out. He will lift you up!
No matter what happens, nor what you go through, you need to have this motivation.
Here is a video clip to help us make this a little more applicable.
One Intentional Moment at a Time
Have the purpose of Jesus this week, and know His strength
Have the purpose of Jesus this week, and know His strength
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Homework:
Read John 12:20-28. Consider for yourself why Jesus replied to the request the way He did. How does Jesus reply speak to His motivation, His purpose in life? Does following God always bring blessing and easy life? How did Jesus’ purpose and motivation give Him strength for what He was going to face?
Read Romans 8:29. What does this verse tell us about our purpose? In what ways do you need to be conformed? How can you take steps toward being more like Jesus?
Read Galatians 2:20. How does this verse give you purpose and motivation today?
Read Colossians 3:23-24. How does this verse give you purpose and motivation? What will you be doing today and tomorrow? List it out? How can you do each one of those things for Jesus?
Read Isaiah 43:7, Ephesians 1:11-14, 1 Corinthians 10:31. How can you do all things, today, for the glory of God?