John 12:20–36 - Cameron Jungels - Eastside Baptist/Sunday AM/October 26, 2014

“Life through Death” (John 12:20–36)

Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist/Sunday AM/October 26, 2014

 

John 12:20–36 (NIV)

²⁰ Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. ²³ Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. ²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. ³⁰ Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. ³¹ Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. ³² And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ³³ He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. ³⁴ The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” ³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶ Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. 

 

1.       Jesus gave his life to save the lives of many others.

a.      Jesus’ death was the fulfillment of God’s redemptive purpose.

b.      Jesus’ death brought glory to God and to himself.

c.       Jesus’ death was an essential step on the path to glorification.

d.      Jesus’ death was sacrificial and substitutionary: it was given on behalf of many others to secure their lives.

e.      Though Jesus’ death is unique, it also serves a model of self-sacrifice for all of his disciples: the path to life is through death.

 

2.      A disciple gives his life in the saving of his own.

a.      Jesus set the example of self-sacrifice: he gave his life only to take it up again, and he did it on behalf of others to secure their salvation.

b.      The model is established then for Jesus’ followers: the path to resurrection and eternal life is through believing, serving, self-sacrificing discipleship.

c.       We do not earn our salvation. Jesus merits our salvation through his substitutionary sacrifice in death.

d.      Our dying to ourselves now in this life is an expression of our God-given faith and our allegiance to the Lord who gave himself for us and bought us and made us his own.

e.      While we do not earn our salvation through our merits or even through our self-sacrifice; be assured that there is no eternal life for the one who does not give himself in discipleship to Jesus.

f.        A disciple of Jesus follows him wherever that path may lead, through comfort and sacrifice.

g.      The one who in faith serves Christ, receives life and honor.

 

Main Idea: The path to Life is through Death. Jesus meritoriously gave his life in death to earn eternal life for his people. Jesus’ disciples give their lives in loving, thankful service to him in demonstration of their faith on the way to eternal life.