The Hour of Decision
4TH and 1
The Hour of Decision
The
Humble King Has Come (12:12-19)
The crowds were excited for Jesus’ arrival in
Jerusalem during the Passover celebrations. They were hoping that He would
deliver them from their enemies and establish an everlasting Kingdom. Jesus’
recent actions and the holiday season served to heighten their hopes.
Rather than embrace the pomp and circumstance,
Jesus entered on a donkey. He was coming as a humble and peaceful King. Even
still, Jesus’ growing popularity provoked the Pharisees even more.
The
Hour Has Come (12:20-36)
A request by some Gentiles to meet Jesus
prompted Him to declare that the ‘hour’ (2:4, 4:21, 23, 5:25, 7:30, 8:20) had
finally arrived. This ‘hour’ represented the events of Jesus
death/resurrection. Jesus had come to die and His death would produce great results
(future life for Him/others, driving out of Satan, etc). The Father verbally
affirmed Jesus’ willingness to die.
Jesus’ statements about death confused the
crowd. What kind of Messiah dies on a Roman cross? But the time for dialogue
and debate was coming to a close. They needed to make a decision about Jesus
before it was too late. Jesus departure would make it harder, not easier, for
them to believe.
Reasons
for Rejection (12:37-43)
Despite Jesus’ beautiful teachings and
miraculous ministry, it seems the majority of His own people ultimately
rejected Him. Why? The author of the 4th Gospel provides some
explanations:
First, the author argues that a general
rejection of God’s Messenger should not have been surprising. Israel had
routinely rejected God’s message despite the presence of miracles. God’s plans
were not thwarted.
Second, the author suggests that God Himself
played a role in their blindness. Such has been understood in a number of ways,
but all explanations should account for both Divine sovereignty and human
responsibility.
Third, the author makes mention of some who
believe, but dare not publicly confess. They were ultimately more concerned
with their reputation in the eyes of others than in the eyes of God.
Final
Speech to the Public (12:44-50)
Without providing context, the author records
Jesus making one final plea to the public:
Believing in Jesus is believing in the Father.
Seeing Jesus is seeing the Father. Rejecting Jesus is rejecting the Father.
Jesus and the Father are in absolute unity. Their decision about Jesus is their
decision about God.
Questions for Conversation
1.
In 12:31 it says ‘now is the time for
judgement on this world.’ Isn’t Judgment Day supposed to be at the end of the
world?
2.
In 12:31 it also says ‘now the prince of
this world will be driven out.’ Isn’t that something that will only happen at
the end of the world too?
3.
In 12:32 Jesus says that when He is
lifted up from the earth, He will draw ‘all men’ to Himself. Does this verse
teach that all people will be saved?
4.
Why did God come to Israel to begin with?
5.
How should believers view Jews & Israel
today?
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