Approaching Jesus: Humility, the Cross, and Discipleship

 

Summary

In the passage from John 12:20-41, we encounter a profound moment where certain Greeks express a desire to see Jesus. This request, however, is not granted, which is surprising given Jesus' usual readiness to receive all who come to Him. This incident invites us to reflect on the reasons behind Jesus' refusal and what it reveals about the nature of true discipleship and faith.

The Greeks, known for their philosophical pursuits and polytheistic beliefs, represent a broader human quest for meaning and truth. Despite their intellectual achievements and religious explorations, they remain unsatisfied, seeking something more in Jesus. Yet, their approach is flawed. They come with curiosity and a desire to assess Jesus, rather than with a recognition of their own need for salvation. This highlights a critical lesson: the approach to Jesus must be one of humility and recognition of His divine nature, not merely as a great teacher or philosopher.

Jesus emphasizes the necessity of His death, likening Himself to a grain of wheat that must die to produce much fruit. His death is essential for salvation, as it addresses the judgment of God upon sin and the defeat of Satan's power. The Greeks' failure to understand this underscores the importance of recognizing the centrality of the cross in the Christian faith. It is through His sacrificial death that Jesus draws all people to Himself, transcending cultural and national boundaries.

To truly know Jesus, one must approach Him with a heart that acknowledges the gravity of sin and the need for redemption. This involves a willingness to surrender one's life, recognizing the eternal value of the soul over worldly pursuits. True discipleship is marked by a commitment to follow Jesus, even unto death, as demonstrated by the early Christians who faced persecution with unwavering faith.

Key Takeaways:

- Approach with Humility: The Greeks' polite yet misguided approach to Jesus serves as a reminder that true discipleship begins with humility and a recognition of our need for salvation. We must come to Jesus not as equals seeking to assess Him, but as sinners in need of His grace. [16:40]

- Centrality of the Cross: Jesus' refusal to see the Greeks underscores the necessity of His death on the cross. It is through His sacrificial death that He addresses the judgment of God upon sin and defeats the power of Satan, drawing all people to Himself. [29:39]

- Value of the Soul: The passage challenges us to consider the eternal value of our souls over worldly pursuits. True discipleship involves a willingness to surrender our lives to Jesus, recognizing that the salvation of our souls is of utmost importance. [50:28]

- Commitment to Follow: True faith is marked by a commitment to follow Jesus, even in the face of persecution or death. The early Christians' unwavering faith serves as an example of the depth of commitment required to truly know Jesus as Savior and Lord. [54:06]

- Recognizing Jesus' Divinity: To receive the benefits of knowing Jesus, we must recognize His divine nature as the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Approaching Him merely as a great teacher or philosopher will not suffice. [26:37]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:08] - Introduction to John 12:20-41
- [01:03] - The Greeks' Request
- [02:46] - Jesus' Surprising Refusal
- [03:53] - Modern Parallels to the Greeks
- [06:38] - Understanding the Greeks
- [09:35] - Dissatisfaction with Religion
- [11:57] - The Quest for Satisfaction
- [14:34] - The Right Approach to Jesus
- [18:22] - Motives Behind Seeking Jesus
- [23:27] - Jesus' Unique Claim
- [28:37] - The Necessity of the Cross
- [33:59] - The Meaning of Jesus' Death
- [41:09] - Deliverance from Judgment and Satan
- [49:06] - The True Nature of Life and Discipleship

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 12:20-41

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the request made by the Greeks, and how did Jesus respond to it? Why is this response surprising given Jesus' usual openness to meeting people? [01:03]

2. How does Jesus describe His impending death, and what metaphor does He use to explain its necessity? [32:42]

3. What does Jesus mean when He says, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified"? How does this relate to His mission? [23:27]

4. What are the two main reasons Jesus gives for the necessity of His death on the cross? [35:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why might the Greeks' approach to Jesus have been considered flawed, and what does this reveal about the nature of true discipleship? [18:22]

2. How does the metaphor of the grain of wheat dying to produce fruit help us understand the significance of Jesus' death? [32:58]

3. In what ways does Jesus' refusal to see the Greeks highlight the centrality of the cross in the Christian faith? [25:39]

4. How does recognizing Jesus' divine nature as the Son of God change the way one approaches Him compared to seeing Him merely as a teacher or philosopher? [26:37]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own approach to Jesus. Do you come to Him with humility and a recognition of your need for salvation, or do you sometimes approach Him as an equal seeking to assess Him? How can you cultivate a more humble approach? [16:40]

2. The sermon emphasizes the centrality of the cross. How does this understanding impact your daily life and decisions? Are there areas where you need to refocus on the significance of Jesus' sacrificial death? [29:39]

3. Consider the eternal value of your soul over worldly pursuits. What are some worldly pursuits that might be distracting you from fully surrendering your life to Jesus? How can you prioritize your spiritual well-being? [50:28]

4. True discipleship involves a commitment to follow Jesus, even in the face of persecution or death. How can you strengthen your commitment to follow Jesus in your current circumstances? [54:06]

5. Recognizing Jesus' divinity is crucial to receiving the benefits of knowing Him. How does this recognition influence your relationship with Him? Are there specific ways you can deepen your understanding of His divine nature? [26:37]

6. Reflect on a time when you approached Jesus with a specific need or question. How did your understanding of His nature and mission influence the outcome of that encounter? [21:33]

7. Identify one person in your life who might be seeking meaning and truth like the Greeks. How can you engage them in a conversation about the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection this week? [13:33]

Devotional

Day 1: Humility as the Gateway to Discipleship
Approaching Jesus requires humility and an acknowledgment of our need for salvation. The Greeks in John 12:20-41 approached Jesus with curiosity and a desire to evaluate Him, rather than recognizing their own need for redemption. This serves as a reminder that true discipleship begins with humility. We must come to Jesus not as equals seeking to assess Him, but as sinners in need of His grace. This humility opens the door to a deeper relationship with Christ, where we can truly understand His divine nature and our need for His saving grace. [16:40]

"For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'" (Isaiah 57:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find it difficult to approach Jesus with humility? How can you practice acknowledging your need for His grace today?


Day 2: The Cross as the Center of Faith
The refusal of Jesus to meet the Greeks highlights the necessity of His death on the cross. It is through His sacrificial death that He addresses the judgment of God upon sin and defeats the power of Satan, drawing all people to Himself. This centrality of the cross is crucial to understanding the Christian faith. Without the cross, there is no salvation, no victory over sin, and no hope for eternal life. Recognizing the importance of the cross helps us to appreciate the depth of Jesus' love and the magnitude of His sacrifice for humanity. [29:39]

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)

Reflection: How does the centrality of the cross influence your daily walk with Christ? What steps can you take to keep the significance of the cross at the forefront of your faith journey?


Day 3: The Eternal Value of the Soul
The passage challenges us to consider the eternal value of our souls over worldly pursuits. True discipleship involves a willingness to surrender our lives to Jesus, recognizing that the salvation of our souls is of utmost importance. This means prioritizing spiritual growth and eternal values over temporary, worldly gains. By focusing on the eternal, we align our lives with God's purposes and find true fulfillment in Him. [50:28]

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26, ESV)

Reflection: What worldly pursuits are currently taking precedence over your spiritual growth? How can you realign your priorities to reflect the eternal value of your soul?


Day 4: Commitment in the Face of Persecution
True faith is marked by a commitment to follow Jesus, even in the face of persecution or death. The early Christians' unwavering faith serves as an example of the depth of commitment required to truly know Jesus as Savior and Lord. This commitment involves a willingness to endure hardships and remain steadfast in faith, trusting in God's promises and His ultimate victory. By following the example of early believers, we can strengthen our own faith and be prepared to face challenges with courage and conviction. [54:06]

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: How do you respond to challenges or opposition in your faith journey? What practical steps can you take to strengthen your commitment to follow Jesus, even in difficult times?


Day 5: Recognizing Jesus' Divine Nature
To receive the benefits of knowing Jesus, we must recognize His divine nature as the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Approaching Him merely as a great teacher or philosopher will not suffice. Understanding and acknowledging His divinity is essential for a true relationship with Him. This recognition transforms our perspective, allowing us to fully embrace His teachings and the salvation He offers. By seeing Jesus for who He truly is, we can experience the fullness of life that He promises. [26:37]

"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." (Colossians 2:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you limited your understanding of Jesus to that of a teacher or philosopher? How can you deepen your recognition of His divine nature in your daily life?

Quotes

To truly know Jesus, one must approach Him with a heart that acknowledges the gravity of sin and the need for redemption. This involves a willingness to surrender one's life, recognizing the eternal value of the soul over worldly pursuits. True discipleship is marked by a commitment to follow Jesus, even unto death, as demonstrated by the early Christians who faced persecution with unwavering faith. [00:00:00]

The Greeks come Desiring to see him, but he didn't see them. He didn't receive them. Now I say here is something that should surely cause us to stop for a moment and to think and to ponder why did our Lord behave like this on this occasion and very fortunately for us he gives the answers to our question himself. [00:02:46]

There are many people today who, because of the whole state of the world and perhaps because of their own personal problems, are becoming interested in this Jesus. Everything else seems to have failed, so they turn to him and they look to him, and in their way they make their request to see him, feeling that he has something to give. [00:03:53]

The Greeks were interested in thought, in life. The Greek wasn't a man who was content just to eat and drink and have a good time and not think. No, no, he wanted to know what it was all about. He wanted to understand the world. He wanted to understand life. He asked his questions. [00:06:38]

The Greeks come to him as a philosopher and as a Jewish Messiah, political leader, and they're interested. No, no, he says I can't save you that way. I'm like the corn of wheat. I've got to die, got to be buried in the ground. I've come for that. It must happen. [00:28:37]

The first thing that I find him saying is this in verse 31: now is the Judgment of this world. Now his death, what's just about to happen to him, he being lifted up on the cross, that, he says, is in connection with the Judgment of this world. What's he mean? Why is his death absolutely essential? [00:33:59]

The world ever since men fell into sin has been in the power of the devil. Up until this very time with which we are, there was only one single race and nation in the world that rarely believed in the only true God, and that was the Jews. All the other nations of the world believed in their various gods and demons. [00:41:09]

The two great problems facing mankind, you see, are these: the Judgment of God upon sin. We've all sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no, not one. We none of us have loved God as we ought. We've none of us served him. We've all done things that are utterly reprehensible. [00:49:06]

The Greeks hadn't known anything about this. They were standing on their feet with their politeness, sir, we would see Jesus, but a woman in the depths of sin and in the gutter knows she's lost, and she clings to him. He is the only one who can cleanse me, and so with all of them. [00:50:28]

The Greeks knew nothing about any one of them. Do you? There's only one way to know him as your savior, Redeemer, and Lord, and to enjoy the benefits and the blessings, to be a partaker of that much fruit of which he speaks. It is this: that you just fall helplessly at his feet in the agony of your soul. [00:54:06]

The Greeks come to him as a philosopher and as a Jewish Messiah, political leader, and they're interested. No, no, he says I can't save you that way. I'm like the corn of wheat. I've got to die, got to be buried in the ground. I've come for that. It must happen. [00:28:37]

The Greeks come to him as a philosopher and as a Jewish Messiah, political leader, and they're interested. No, no, he says I can't save you that way. I'm like the corn of wheat. I've got to die, got to be buried in the ground. I've come for that. It must happen. [00:28:37]

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Transcript
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