John 12:23-24

DISCOURSE: 1671
OUR LORD’S VIEWS OF HIS OWN DEATH

John 12:23. 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.

THE nearer our Lord’s death approached, the more he delighted to speak of it. So far from regarding it as an object of terror, he was longing for its accomplishment. To his Disciples he had frequently declared the precise manner of it, together with all its antecedent indignities; and now he declares it to some strangers, whom curiosity had led to visit him.
Whether those strangers were Jews or heathens, is not agreed: but from the general use of the term which we translate “Greeks,” and from the difficulty which the Disciples felt about introducing them to Jesus, we apprehend that they were heathens, who had been proselyted to the worship of the true God, but were not become Jews by circumcision. Jesus had forbidden his Disciples to enter into any cities of the Gentiles, when he sent them out to preach his Gospel; and therefore they might well doubt the propriety of introducing Gentiles to him; which Philip did not venture to do, till he had conferred with Andrew, and consulted Jesus himself also on the point. When, however, they were brought to him, he advertised them of his approaching death, which he represented as a source of honour to himself, and of benefit to man. In these two views we shall consider it,

I. As a source of honour to himself—

He speaks not of being crucified, but glorified: for his death was indeed a glory to him:

1. As atoning for the sins of the whole world—

[This is the true light wherein to view his death: it was a sacrifice for sin, for the sins of all mankind: and it perfectly satisfied all the demands of law and justice, so that “God may be just and yet the justifier of all who believe in Jesus” — — — View the death of Christ in this light, and say whether his crown of thorns were not his brightest diadem; and the cross on which he expired, his most glorious throne? Men indeed saw nothing but shame in his crucifixion; but God and angels beheld it replete with glory [Note: John 13:31.] — — —]

2. As opening a way for the salvation of all mankind—

[Being “lifted up, he was to draw all men unto him [Note: ver. 32.].” He was the true “Shiloh, unto whom the gathering of the people should be.” Had he been the Saviour of Jews only, it had been comparatively a light matter; but being God’s salvation to the ends of the earth, he was most glorious in the eyes of God himself [Note: Isaiah 49:5.]. Behold, now already was he reaping the first-fruits of that harvest which was soon to be gathered in: the solicitude of these Greeks to be made acquainted with him was an earnest of that more extended dominion which he was speedily to possess. And who can reflect on “his erecting thus his standard to the nations,” and not acknowledge “his rest to be glorious [Note: Isaiah 11:10.]?” Indeed this gathering of the people to him is represented by the prophets as constituting the summit of his glory [Note: Isaiah 55:5; Isaiah 60:8.] — — — and he himself is “satisfied with all the travail of his soul, when he reaps this as its appointed fruit.” But the songs of the redeemed in heaven are the best evidence of this unquestionable truth [Note: Revelation 7:9.]

Our Lord next speaks of his death,

II.

As a source of benefit to man—

The illustration here used is familiar to all: every one knows that a grain of wheat, if left exposed upon a rock will be unproductive; but that if buried in the earth, it will corrupt, and vegetate, and bring forth fruit. Now to this our Lord compares his death.
If he had not died, he would not have proved a Saviour to any—
[If he had not died, there would have been no atonement made, no sin forgiven, no soul of man delivered. There was no other way in which God could have been reconciled to his sinful creatures, consistently with his justice, holiness, and truth — — — In vain would Christ himself have become incarnate, if he had not died: in vain would he have fulfilled the law himself, and set us a perfect example of obedience: if he had not completed the work by his death, the demands of law and justice had been still unsatisfied, and every child of Adam must have perished. As for any attempt on our part to supply the deficiency, either by repentance or amendment, it would have answered no purpose; it would have left us under the curses of the broken law — — —]
But by his death millions obtain life—
[It is not thirty, or sixty, or a hundredfold, that that grain of corn produces, but millions, innumerable as the sands upon the sea-shore: “the fruit of it shall shake like Lebanon, and they that spring up from it in the city, shall be as the piles of grass upon the earth [Note: Psalms 72:16.]. Think of the fruit produced by it in the apostolic age, and that which is yet growing from it in every quarter of the globe, and that which will arise in the Millennium, when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea: truly it will at last be a multitude, which no man can number, out of every kindred, and nation, and tongue, and people; all growing upon his root, all deriving life from his stem, all assimilated to his image, and all treasured up at last in the same garner! And is one single soul of such value, that the whole world is as nothing in comparison of it? What then is the benefit arising to mankind from the death of Christ! how vast! how extensive! how incalculable!]

Address—
1.

Those who are inquiring after Jesus—

[If any are saying, like these Greeks, “Sir, we would see Jesus,” we bless God who has put that desire into their hearts: and we shall be glad to be instrumental in any respect in introducing them to him. Of one thing we can confidently assure them, that there no longer exists any barrier to their admission to his presence, provided they desire in sincerity of heart to devote themselves to his service: whatever be their nation, their profession, their character, they are alike welcome, if they come with penitence and faith; and may be assured, that “he will in no wise cast them out.” Would they know what he would principally commend to their attention? we answer, he would direct them to consider his death as the most stupendous display of his love, and an inexhaustible source of blessings to their souls. Reflect then, ye inquiring people, on the Saviour’s love, and give him the glory due unto his name.]

2. Those who profess themselves his followers—

[As Jesus had frequently told his own Disciples that they must be ready to lay down their lives for him, so he now declared to these strangers, that these were the only terms on which he would accept them as his people. The wheat must resemble that from which it sprang; and the Disciples be conformed to the image of their Lord. Nor must they only be willing to suffer like him, but must account those sufferings their glory. This was the practice of the Apostles; and must be the practice of all who would adorn the Gospel [Note: Acts 5:41.]. We should feel no difficulty in pronouncing him honoured and glorified, who should be irradiated with a glory, like Moses, or have the Holy Ghost lighting visibly on him, as once he did on the Apostles: with equal confidence then may we pronounce him glorified, who bears his cross after Jesus; for “the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon him [Note: 1 Peter 4:12.].” Remember then, brethren, that these are the terms on which Christ acknowledges you as his; and “arm yourselves with the mind that was in him.” Be content to “suffer with him; and then you shall also be glorified together.”]