I'm confused

There are several passages in the Gospels where Jesus says or does something that I find hard to understand:

John 12:20-26 (ESV) Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Now I understand completely (I think) what Jesus was saying; clearly he was talking about his coming death. What I don't understand is what the relevance of these statements was to being told that some Greeks wished to see him; it appears to be a complete non sequiter.

This is hardly an isolated incident. I have frequently read passages in the Gospels which caused me some difficulty in determining what the connection was between the surrounding events and what Christ was saying.

I don't really have a point here; I just wanted to get that off my chest while I was thinking about it.

Comments

[Kristin]

The verse before the Pharisees are complaining that the whole world is going after Jesus and then John brings up these Greeks as if to prove the Pharisees point. Just a thought.

[Guy]

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/webcommentary?language=english&version=niv&book=john&chapter=12
I wasn't able to make the link; but, check it out. John MacArthur has some interesting comments on this passage.

[Lars Walker, Minneapolis, MN]

When studying Bible in college, it was pointed out to me that this passage marks a transition in John's narrative. Once Jesus hears that the Greeks want to meet Him (we aren't told if He actually went to see them or not; one assumes He did), Jesus suddenly changes the focus of his teaching. He starts talking about dying to live again, and begins to prepare his disciples for His coming death and resurrection. My instructor's opinion was that the interest of these Greeks was a sign to Jesus. Since He was now drawing attention outside the Jewish community, it was time to begin the final stage of His work.

[David W. Robertson]

I'm glad that I'm not the only person to be confused by the aforementioned Bible passage.

[Allen Steadham]

The problem is in the ESV translation. It makes more sense (to me, at least) in the King James Version:

"And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

The Greeks represent the non-Jews that Jesus was now reaching out to, they wanted to know what Jesus was preaching about. This was brand new at the time, formerly salvation had only been for the Jews.

Jesus went to the cross to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world and to make the way for reconciliation with God through the sending of His Holy Spirit after His resurrection. Jesus set the example Christians are to follow.

In Matthew 16: 24-25, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

And in II Timothy 2: 11-12, regarding Jesus:
"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:"

So in John, Jesus clearly said "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

To become more like Christ and follow His example, Christians must deny themselves and let the Holy Spirit show them how to set themselves apart from this world and become more spiritual, living free from sin.

Romans 6: 11-18
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

Have a great day!

Best Wishes,
Allen