John 12:21 is a much more important verse than we may perceive. At first blush, there is no mention of the Greeks being successful in seeing Christ. It almost reads as if Christ dismissed them. Verses 23 through 36 contain Christ’s response, concluding with His departure and hiding Himself.
Given this reading, it would be all too easy to dismiss the Greeks’ request. What does John mean by “Greeks”? And why were they at the Passover? Greeks represented Gentiles, and the temple contained a Court of Gentiles. While the Gentiles were not permitted full access to the temple, they were granted the privilege of coming to the temple to worship. Those of the Gentiles represented here would have inclined their hearts to God.
John omits Christ overturning the tables of the money changers and cleansing the temple. Between the multitude praising God and the stir in the temple, there can be no doubt that the Greeks had their curiosity peaked. However, we should not dismiss this scene as mere curiosity.
The inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s plan of redemption had long been foretold. Acts and Romans also connect Old Testament evangelistic prophecies to having been fulfilled through Christ. Deuteronomy 32:43, Isaiah 11:10, 42:6, 49:6, 60:3, Psalms 18:50, 117:1, Acts 13:47, Romans 15:10-12
Salvation had come to the Gentiles, and God’s plan of redemption to include the Gentiles was about to find its culmination in the cross. Therefore, Christ rejoices in the glory of God soon to be revealed. The plan of redemption long prophesied was being fulfilled!
Christ pronounces the great truth of surrender in verses 24 through 26. Christ is speaking of His own life being given up. However, He applies this same principle to all who would serve and follow Him. Laying down and hating our lives may involve martyrdom, however, this surrender does not necessarily refer to physical death.
Recall, for example, Christ’s parable in Luke 12:15-21. Giving up our own desires and placing Christ first is a form of hating our own desires and our own life. Our natural desires persistently wish to place our own interests first. Christ requires that we surrender our own aspirations and desires to Him and to put Him first in all things.
How this exactly translates into action is unique to every individual. For Judas, it would have been to give up his love of money and surrender those desires to place Christ first. For the Pharisees, it would have been to surrender their pride and desire to be noticed.
What is it for you? What is the Lord asking that you surrender to Him?
In John 12:27-31, we have a glimpse into Christ’s humanity, God’s response in strength, and the aim of the cross. This scene is different from the Garden of Gethsemane. In the garden, I do not believe it represents Christ’s humanity. But here in John, Christ says that to shirk back from the cross is human. There was a certain plan of redemption that could only unfold if Christ was faithful unto death.
But God; God did not leave Christ alone. God audibly responds in triumph and strength. Afterward, Christ foretells what will happen upon the completion of His death. The companion to verse 31 is Revelation 12:1-12. Several truths become apparent if we stop here to dwell on verse 31 for a moment:
1. Satan was a created being, having been created by God. Satan fell through sin but remained in heaven. Thus, there was sin in heaven.
2. In Christ’s death, He became the once-for-all sacrifice to bring cleansing for sin. In ascending back into heaven, Christ brought a blood sacrifice into heaven, cleansing heaven from sin. The rejoicing we see surrounding the birth of Christ is rejoicing over the cleansing of sin’s stain.
3. During Christ’s death and time in the tomb, He conquered sin and death. This we read in the Apostle’s Creed, that Christ descended into hell where He was victorious over sin and death. Ephesians 4:9
4. Christ’s shed blood on the cross and ultimate death had the effect of waging war with Satan and casting him out of heaven. This casting out necessarily means that Satan’s end is sure and that he no longer has power to reign. Satan’s power is limited.
Satan was cast out of heaven. Satan was not cast out of the world at this time, but that he would be cast out completely in the future represents his broken power. The one who tempted Eve and led the human race into sin and separation from God now has that power broken. Satan and the power of sin are cast out of everyone’s life who believes on Christ.
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