Love and Hate

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April 6, 2003 - John 12:20-33

Open It

  1. Who or what in life encourages you to be self-centered?

  2. When have you set aside your own needs temporarily to meet the needs of other people?

Explore It

  1. What did the group of Greeks ask Philip? (12:20-22)

  2. What did Jesus say had come? (12:23)

  3. What did Jesus say about a kernel of wheat? (12:24)

  4. What did Jesus say about loving and hating life? (12:25)

  5. What did Jesus say about the person who wants to serve Him? (12:26)

  6. How did Jesus feel? (12:27)

  7. What was Jesus' attitude? (12:27)

  8. Why didn't Jesus ask the Father to save Him? (12:27)

  9. What did Jesus ask the Father to do? (12:28)

  10. How did the crowd react to God's voice? (12:29)

  11. What time did Jesus say it was? (12:31)

  12. What did Jesus say would happen when He was lifted up? (12:32)

Get It

  1. How do we love our own lives?

  2. How does Jesus want us to hate our lives?

  3. When and why is it difficult for you to serve and follow Jesus?

  4. What does it mean for us to "walk in the light"?

  5. What tempts you to wander in the darkness rather than walk in the light?

  6. What example has Jesus set for us to follow?

Apply It

  1. What is one change you can make in your life to become more attentive to the needs of others over your own?

  2. To whom can you be helpful today? How?

NOTES

These Greeks probably were converts to the Jewish faith. They may have gone to Philip because, though he was a Jew, he had a Greek name.

This is a beautiful picture of the necessary sacrifice of Jesus. Unless a kernel of wheat is buried in the ground, it will not become a blade of wheat producing many more seeds. Jesus had to die to pay the penalty for our sin, but also to show his power over death. His resurrection proves he has eternal life.

We must be so committed to living for Christ that we "hate" our lives by comparison. This does not mean that we long to die or that we are careless or destructive with the life God has given, but that we are willing to die if doing so will glorify Christ. We must disown the tyrannical rule of our own self-centeredness. By laying aside our striving for advantage, security, and pleasure, we can serve God lovingly and freely. Releasing control of our lives and transferring control to Christ bring eternal life and genuine joy.

Jesus knew his crucifixion lay ahead, and because he was human he dreaded it. He knew he would have to take the sins of the world on himself, and he knew this would separate him from his Father. He wanted to be delivered from this horrible death, but he knew that God sent him into the world to die for our sins, in our place. Jesus said no to his human desires in order to obey his Father and glorify him. Although we will never have to face such a difficult and awesome task, we are still called to obedience. Whatever the Father asks, we should do his will and bring glory to his name.

The crowd could not believe what Jesus was saying about the Messiah. They were waving palm branches for a victorious Messiah who would set up a political, earthly kingdom that would never end. From their reading of certain Scriptures, they thought the Messiah would never die (Psalm 89:35-36; Psalm 110:4; Isaiah 9:7). Other passages, however, showed that he would (Isaiah 53:5-9). Jesus' words did not mesh with their concept of the Messiah. First he had to suffer and die-then he would one day set up his eternal kingdom.

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