Daily a new Bible text for devotion - EZBB

John 12:24

Although Jesus had spoken of his hour many times before this, this is the first time that he says, "the hour has come," which He speaks in v23. THE HOUR HAS COME FOR THE SON OF MAN TO BE GLORIFIED. The purpose of his hour is His glorification. His glorification consists of those events which we may call "the complex of his passion." To those who heard Him, Jesus' words were all the more exciting because the people understood "glorified" to mean "The subjugated kingdom on earth would humble itself at the feet of the conqueror; but by the term GLORIFIED He meant CRUCIFIED.

Unless a corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. There could be no clearer allusion to His own death, burial, and resurrection. Likewise, He was saying that "the true disciples of the Son of God do not cling to life with passionate affection - that is unproductive and permanent death - rather, they hate life in this world, and by the paradox of God's law they preserve it forever." Jesus expanded the obvious meaning of the parable by other paradoxes. To love one's life, psyche, is equivalent to losing it, while one who hates (loves) less), his life, will keep it for eternal life. SELFISHNESS IS ALWAYS THE DEATH OF MAN'S TRUE LIFE. In the same way, when a person has to make a decision between Christ and the most beloved things in his life, the contrast is so great that he hates the latter. Thus, the believer is a servant, a follower, for whom the guarantee is reserved: WHERE I AM, THERE WILL MY SERVANT BE ALSO. Thus, the cross is the symbol not only of man's salvation, but also of the Christian way of life.

This sermon on His hour brought Jesus face to face with the harsh reality of suffering and death.
Verse 27 NOW IS MY SOUL TROUBLED; AND WHAT SHALL I SAY? FATHER, SAVE ME FROM THIS HOUR? NO, FOR THIS PURPOSE I HAVE COME TO THIS HOUR! FATHER, GLORIFY THY NAME! As a real man facing death, this was a completely natural and necessary prayer.