Read & explore together
Jesus Speaks about His Coming Death
Some visitors ask to see Jesus, and his answer turns to his coming death, the call to follow him, and the urgent need to believe while the light is still with the people.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
In this part of John, Greeks come during the feast and ask for Jesus. Jesus speaks about his hour, a voice from heaven answers him, the crowd questions his words, John reflects on unbelief, and Jesus ends by crying out about belief, light, and the Father who sent him.
John 12:20–50Main takeaway
Jesus presents his death as fruitful, calls people to follow and believe him, and says his words carry the Father’s life-giving authority.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The hour and the grain of wheatWhen Greeks ask to see Jesus, he answers that the Son of Man’s time has come. He uses a grain of wheat to show that dying leads to much fruit instead of remaining alone.
Explanation
When Greeks ask to see Jesus, he answers that the Son of Man’s time has come. He uses a grain of wheat to show that dying leads to much fruit instead of remaining alone. He then says serving him means following him, and the Father will honour that servant.
02Trouble, glory, and being lifted upJesus says his soul is troubled, yet he has come for this very time, so he asks the Father to glorify his name.
Explanation
Jesus says his soul is troubled, yet he has come for this very time, so he asks the Father to glorify his name. A voice answers from heaven, and Jesus says it is for the crowd’s sake. He then speaks of judgment and says being lifted up points to his death.
03Walk while you have the lightThe crowd asks how the Son of Man can be lifted up if they have heard that the Christ remains forever.
Explanation
The crowd asks how the Son of Man can be lifted up if they have heard that the Christ remains forever. Jesus answers by urging them to walk while they have the light. They are to believe in the light so darkness does not overtake them and they may become children of light.
04Unbelief, hidden belief, and Jesus’ final cryThough Jesus had done many signs, many did not believe, and John quotes Isaiah in this reflection.
Explanation
Though Jesus had done many signs, many did not believe, and John quotes Isaiah in this reflection. Some rulers did believe, but did not confess him because they valued people’s praise. Jesus then cries out that to believe him is to believe the One who sent him, and his words will judge those who reject them.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the grain of wheat picture teach about Jesus’ coming death?
Notice the contrast between remaining alone and bearing much fruit, and connect it to Jesus saying his hour has come.
02Why does Jesus tell the crowd to walk while they have the light?
Use Jesus’ words about darkness overtaking a person and not knowing where he is going, then include his call to believe in the light.
03How does the passage contrast believing Jesus with rejecting his words?
Compare Jesus’ purpose to save with his warning that his spoken word will judge, and remember he says the Father commanded what he should speak.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
John 12:20–50
20Now there were certain Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast.
21Therefore, these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
22Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus.
23Jesus answered them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24Most certainly I tell 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.
25He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.
26If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
27“Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this time’? But I came to this time for this cause.
28Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came out of the sky, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
29Therefore the multitude who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
30Jesus answered, “This voice hasn’t come for my sake, but for your sakes.
31Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.
32And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
33But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die.
34The multitude answered him, “We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever. How do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’ ? Who is this Son of Man?”
35Jesus therefore said to them, “Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going.
36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.” Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.
37But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him,
38that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39For this cause they couldn’t believe, for Isaiah said again:
40“He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them.”
41Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.
42Nevertheless, even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue,
43for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.
44Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me.
45He who sees me sees him who sent me.
46I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.
47If anyone listens to my sayings and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke will judge him in the last day.
49For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak.
50I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”