John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

Three times during His ministry, the Lord Jesus said His hour had not yet come.

First to His mother at the wedding in Cana of Galilee at the start of His ministry and again to His siblings, near the end of His ministry, and the third time when He taught in the temple.

But here Christ finally said to His disciples, “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

The hour came after Lazarus had been raised from the dead, demonstrating our Lord’s authority over death.

It happened after Mary had anointed Christ’s feet with oil in preparation for His fast approaching sacrificial death, and it happened after Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey in fulfilment of prophecy… as the crowds who followed Him cheered.

It happened at the point when some devout Greeks approached the disciples, asking to see Jesus.

In verse 20, they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

Jesus responds by announcing that the hour has come for the “Son of Man to be glorified”.

Jesus seems to use “being glorified” to refer to His death, resurrection, and ascension.

In verses 23-25 paint a beautiful picture of the sacrifice of Jesus.

Unless a grain of wheat dies and is buried in the ground, it will not become a blade of wheat producing many more seeds.
Jesus had to die to pay the penalty for our sins and to show His power over death.

In verse 25 and 26, Jesus talks about two kinds of rewards.
He speaks of eternal life in v. 25, and He speaks of being honored by the Father in v. 26.

And in each case the pathway is the same.
It is the path of self-denial.

How do we gain eternal life according v. 25?
It is by hating our life in this world.

How can we put ourselves in a position to be honored by the Father?
It is by serving Jesus, according to v. 26.

And how do we serve Jesus?
By following Him.

And where is Jesus as He speaks these words?
On his way to the cross.

And that, my friends, like Jesus we must be grains of wheat who fall to the ground and die.
……..— die to self,
…. die to self-reliance,
… die to self-assertiveness,
…. die to self-centered luxuries…

In this Lent season, “The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified.”

Like for us………. “The hour has come for us to follow Jesus to Calvary that we too may share His glory.”

May the Holy Spirit enable us to serve and follow Him wholeheartedly.

Jooley Mathew Z
🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

They shall never perish john 10:28

Just as a shepherd protects his sheep ,Jesus protects His people from eternal harm.while believers can expect to suffer on earth,satan cannot harm their souls or take away their eternal life from God.There are many reasons to be afraid here on earth because it is devil’s domain. (1 Peter 5:8) If we chose to follow Jesus ,He will give you everlasting safety.

This is the promise given to the weakest sheep who follow and listen to the good shepherd.

Cynthia Sathiaraj
Chennai