Day 1089: If anyone serves Me - John 12 vs 12 - 26

12-13 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14-16 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.

17-19 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

20-22 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. 23-25 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. 26 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 honour him. John 12:12-26 English Standard Version

What was the main reason the crowds flocked to see Jesus as He entered Jerusalem that day? (vs 17-19)

Those who had witnessed the raising of Lazarus told others. Expectation was high that Jesus was the coming king. Crowds flocked to see him. We're told the disciples realized later that a prophesy had been fulfilled. The prophecy is from Zechariah 9 vs 9. The next verse also explains the Saviours mission. It says “I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.”

And this is what happened. We read in vs 20-22 that there were some Greeks who had gone up to worship God at Jerusalem. These were converts to the Jewish faith. They may have approached Philip because his name was familiar among Greeks. But he told Andrew, and together they told Jesus. We don't know much about Philip, but he was the disciple who introduced Nathanael to Jesus, and Nathanael became a follower too. (John 1:44-50) Now Philip was instrumental in bringing Greeks to Christ.

But this led to Jesus describing His mission, which He likens to a grain of wheat. He declares that His glory would come through dying. “If it dies, it bears much fruit.” But Jesus doesn't stop there. He applies His work of redemption to ANYONE who seeks to know Him, and to serve Him.

He speaks of 'hating ones life' in this world. That is equal to the call to repentance. We are to renounce ourselves, and our selfish pursuits. And, If we are to follow Christ, we need to go where He leads. Luke tells us how “large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 'If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, even their own life - such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.'” (Luke 14:25-27)

Indeed, the gospel is for all – but it comes with a cost. He lay down His life for us, are we prepared to lay down our life to serve Him?