After the crowds welcomed Jesus into the city, they were certainly expecting to witness some dramatic events that would eventually lead to the overthrow of Rome, allowing the people to “get their country back,” so to speak. It appears, however, that after this huge welcoming party, Jesus wanted to have some “alone time” with His disciples. Among the crowd of “welcomers” were some Greeks who wanted to see Jesus.

Now these Greeks were undoubtedly “proselytes,” that is, Gentiles who had adopted the “religion” of the Jews, and met regularly in the synagogue with other Jews in their hometown. These Greek proselytes were going to the Temple to worship on Passover, but unlike other times when they came to Jerusalem, this time they wanted to see Jesus. And let’s remember that Greeks were known to be seekers after wisdom, as their ancestors Plato and Aristotle taught them. In short, they wanted to know truth, and they came seeking the right person, Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

John records that first, they came to Philip asking to see Jesus, and Philip then went to Andrew, and then both Philip and Andrew came and told Jesus about the Greeks who wanted to see Him. The text is unclear as to whether the Greeks actually made it to Jesus, or whether Jesus was simply informed that some Greeks wanted to see Him. I believe that Jesus used this private moment to speak with His disciples apart from the crowds and even the Greeks who were seeking Him. Here is what He said:

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:23-24).

On many other occasions, Jesus said that “the time had not yet come,” but this time, He let His disciples know that it indeed the time had come. Jesus spoke of being “glorified,” a word in the Greek that means to be recognized and acknowledged, that is, to have ones’ dignity and worth recognized and affirmed. Such recognition would have to wait until Easter Sunday when His glory would be realized after His resurrection.

And Jesus explains to His disciple why this needed to happen, and He used an illustration from the realm of agriculture. A seed must fall into the earth, be buried, and die in order for it to sprout and eventually bear fruit. And so, rather than speaking plainly saying, “I’m going to die,” Jesus chose to use something for them to relate to, to chew on, so to speak. That’s why He used metaphors so often to get us thinking about life and the meaning of it. And then Jesus continued:

He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal (John 12:25).

Again, Jesus is using dramatic contrast to drive home His point, and the contrast is between loving and hating. He is saying that if we love this life more than anything else, we will “lose” it by never finding true joy or meaning; but if we “hate” our life (using hyperbole, meaning to “lose,” our life) we will find it and experience life eternal. And then Jesus said:

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him (John 12:26).

So now, Jesus is answering the unspoken question of the disciples: “How do we ‘lose’ our lives so that we will “find it?” Jesus gave the answer, and that is to “follow Me.” Jesus is saying that even after I die, just as I told you I would, you must continue to follow Me. It’s not about following My teaching alone, but it’s about listening for My voice and then following wherever I lead you. Let Me lead, and you follow. If you serve Me, Jesus said, then My father will honor you.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, and I pray that you will be one who welcomes Jesus and then seeks to know more about Him and then to follow Him. He invites us all to find real life by losing our own agenda in favor of His agenda. It’s about listening for His voice, and then following Him wherever He leads. May each of us learn the secret of finding real life – It’s found in Jesus, the One who gives us life, and then in following Him, always allowing His life to lead and guide us. If you haven’t already started doing this, maybe it’s time for you to do so.

May the Lord bless and keep you in His care. Praying that you enjoy Palm Sunday.