The Hour Has Come: Glorifying God When It Hurts
John 12:20–50
📖 SECTION 1: Verses 20–26
“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
Some Greeks — Gentiles — come seeking Jesus. They don’t even get to speak directly to Him. Instead, Jesus gives a response that reveals the cosmic shift about to happen.
“The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified… unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies…”
This isn’t just a sermon — it’s a warning and an invitation.
Glory is coming — but it will come through death.
💭 Are we prepared to follow Jesus when it costs us everything?
📖 SECTION 2: Verses 27–36
"Now My soul is troubled… Father, glorify Your name."
Jesus is honest — He’s troubled.
But He doesn’t ask to escape. He asks the Father to be glorified.
And heaven responds:
“I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
The crowd hears thunder — some think it's an angel. But Jesus says it was for them, not for Him.
Then He says:
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.”
This speaks of the crucifixion — but it also speaks of salvation for the world.
💭 Sometimes God’s glory is loud to those who are listening… and just noise to those who aren’t.
📖 SECTION 3: Verses 37–43
They would not believe.
Despite all the signs, many still rejected Him.
John quotes Isaiah to explain: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts.”
But look at verse 42:
“Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him... for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
Ouch.
Believing in private. Silent in public.
💭 Do I fear what people will say more than I fear grieving the Lord?
📖 SECTION 4: Verses 44–50
Final public plea.
Jesus cries out:
“He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me…”
“I have come as a light into the world…”
“I did not come to judge the world but to save the world…”
But He’s also clear: rejecting His Word = judgment in the last day.
🙏 Devotional Reflection:
Jesus stood in front of a crowd with eyes blinded and hearts hardened… and still cried out for them.
Even knowing they wouldn’t believe. Even knowing many would never confess Him publicly.
He still lifted His voice.
Because the cross wasn’t only about the moment — it was about the mission.
Sometimes we love God in silence. Other times, God calls us to speak through the silence.
📓 Journal Prompts:
What “grain of wheat” needs to die in you so God can bear new fruit?
Have you ever loved the approval of people more than God's?
Is there someone in your life who needs to hear what you've been keeping quiet?
🙏 Prayer Prompt:
Lord, You didn’t hide from the hour You were called to. Help me not to hide from mine.
Glorify Your name in me — even when it costs. Even when it hurts. Even when I’m the grain that must fall. In Jesus name, Amen.
