HOW TO SAVE YOUR LIFE – JOHN 12:20-26 July 8 & 9, 2017

TEXT: John 12:19-26 MEMORY VERSE: John 12:25

I read about a chapel on the campus of Stony Brook School on Long Island which has part of our text engraved which says, “Sir, we would see .” That is a good word for any true believer and should be our aim every time we gather together to study the Scriptures.

Verses 20-23. In this context, I think we will see Jesus when we properly understand His answer. What we are looking at could have happened within a couple of days after Jesus came to .

JESUS’ HOUR HAD COME. This was the first part of Jesus’ reply. Several times earlier He had said that His hour had not yet come. We see an example of this in 2:4. Even though Jesus would supply 120 gallons of the best wine, He was saying that the hour of His crucifixion had not yet come.

In other places, they could not seize Him because “His hour had not yet come” (7:30, 8:20). But now this suddenly changes – the hour has come – Jesus says (verse 23).

JESUS WAS TO BE GLORIFIED. Jesus’ glory would be seen in a much wider context – His glory consisted in opening the doors wider and wider, so that people from every tribe and tongue would be members of His spiritual family.

There was another sense in which Jesus would be glorified and that was by the cross. “The hour” of His death, burial, and resurrection was at hand. In all of this He was glorified. The next verses make this clear – John 12:24-25.

• It was only by dying that He could save men and thus draw us to Him.

It is only the crucified Christ dying in the place of sinners who saves – He alone can save. His example does not save. We cannot be saved by trying to follow His example. He did not preach this nor has any man ever been saved by following Jesus’ example. We are saved through faith in what He has done in His life and in His death on the cross. Jesus did not say, “I will show you the way.” He said “ the way.” Scripture makes it clear that He is “the way” and He died for His flock – The lays down His life for the sheep (Chapter 10).

HOW TO SAVE YOUR LIFE – verses 24-26. We live in a day that is conscious of the value of life – at least in some areas. We have life preservers, life rafts, lifeguards, etc. Yet in this context, Jesus’ words seem strange – verse 25. Jesus says the one who would save his life must lose it – only by losing it can he save it for the life to come.

A simple principle – (verse 24). Jesus takes the simple illustration of a grain of wheat falling into the ground. The wheat remains unfruitful so long as it is kept to itself but becomes fruitful when thrown into the ground and “buried.”

• Here is Paul’s meaning in Galatians 2:20. He died to himself in order that he might live for God. Galatians 6:14 – Paul’s identification with Christ in death made it possible for him to live for Christ in this life and not for the world and its values.

The principle is a simple one: It is only by death that life comes. We see this in many areas and Jesus demonstrated the principle by His own death and resurrection and ascension to the Father’s right hand.

How to apply this principle – verse 25. This can strike us as abstract and difficult for us to relate to it. In verse 25, Jesus makes the application to help us.

One problem we face is that verse 25 contains a contrast that is not apparent in the English translation. The word “life” appears three times in this verse but it is not the same Greek word.

• The first two words “life” are psuche, which refers to the life of the mind. We use words like “ego” to describe this. It means the human personality that thinks, plans for the future – “charting its course.” Jesus is saying that this is what must die. • The last/third word “life” is zoe which means divine life or eternal life. Every Christian has this divine/eternal life now, but the fullness of this life is seen only when the believer surrenders to Christ his desires, likes, and plans.

It is sad that many “Christians” today believe they can enjoy the fullness of God’s blessing without accepting the Lordship (fully) of the Lord Jesus Christ in their life. But this is not biblical.

• Their unhappiness is because they have not died to their own desires in order that they might live for Christ – they have not been “crucified with Christ” – Galatians 2:20. o They would claim Jesus as their Savior but do not serve Him as their Lord.

CONCLUSION. We must follow Jesus. Here is another element in Jesus’ words; Jesus said it in verse 26, If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me… If we would serve Christ, we can do it now.

How can we follow Him?

1. Cultivate some self-denial – take up your cross and follow Him. 2. John 12:26. You can follow Him in service and you can do it today – do it now. See Matthew 25:40 3. You serve Christ by pursuing holiness. If you will discipline yourself to invest time with Him daily – reading, prayer – you will see a new strength begin to develop for fighting sin and pursuing holiness.

Two promises or incentives to heed these things in verse 26.

1. Jesus promised that He would be with anyone who followed Him. 2. He promised that God would Himself honor such a believer.