Most of the people who went to Jerusalem for the feasts were Jews, but at that last feast when the Lord Jesus was there, some men who were Greeks came. The Greeks once ruled that land and their language was known to many, but their people did not worship God.
Yet these men had learned of Him and wanted to honor Him. They heard of Jesus, perhaps from the people who were telling one another of the raising of Lazarus from dead, and they wished to see Him. They came to one of the disciples, Philip, and said to him, “Sir, we would see Jesus.”
Philip told another disciple and together they told Jesus. It seems the disciples were afraid to let others know where Jesus was, or hesitated because they were not of that nation. But we read, “Jesus answered them,” and the next words seem especially for them, although said in front of others who stood by.
A Grain of Wheat
He told them of His own death. He spoke about a grain of wheat, which men of every nation, even boys and girls, would know, He said, “Except a corn (a grain or kernel) of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”
A grain of wheat is put in the ground, it decays, or dies, and from it a plant springs up which bears many grains, all having their life from the one grain. But that kernel could be kept ever so long, and if not planted and did not “die”, no further grain would grow and it would be “alone”.
Jesus was telling those men that except He die, none others could live, before God. He was to suffer death because of sin, but from His death many would have life in Him. He knew how very soon He would suffer, and He felt sorrow. Yet He said He had come for that time or “hour” and called it for the glory, praise and honor of God’s name.
It seemed Jesus would have those Greeks, too, know that He was from God, and He prayed God the Father to give glory to His Name.
“Then came there a voice from Heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
A Clear Prophecy
Jesus also told plainly what death He should die. He said He would “be lifted up from the earth.” Death on a cross was then a most common death for men who were despised, or enemies, or criminals.
It must have been strange to those men that this great person was to die such a death. Yet they must have felt how true His words were, when He so soon after died on the cross. They knew by His own words that He suffered for them, and that there was no other way for any person to come, or be “drawn” to Him, but by His death.
Further Meditation:
1. What did Jesus mean when He said that a corn of wheat would abide alone if it didn’t die?
2. Has anyone else ever known exactly when and how they would die?
3. The Cross, the Blood and the Death of Jesus Christ by G. V. Wigram gives a detailed look at every reference to these subjects in the New Testament. It is quite a book to wade through, but if you make it you will have a much deeper appreciation for the cross of Christ that this section of John refers to.