Thoughts for the Day

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.

‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We should remember that Jesus and the disciples are walking in to Jerusalem each day this week, as thousands gather in the city to celebrate Passover, and then returning back up the steep hill to Bethany where they were staying. Jews gathered from around the world. So it is that a group of men from Greece appear. Having heard news of this amazing prophet, Jesus, they want to see him. The story only appears in John's Gospel which is appropriate since he writes to explain everything to those with a Greek background. They speak to Philip, who has a Greek name, and who comes from Galilee where Gentile influences are strong. He directs them to Andrew, and then Andrew to Jesus. And so begins something that wasn't quite expected by those present - the possibility of the spread of the mission outside Palestine. We shall see Philip doing something similar in the future after Jesus' Ascension into Heaven, when he meets the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8.26-40).

Speaking to the men Jesus uses the phrase 'Son of Man', referring to himself as the Messiah. He says he is to be 'glorified', and those around him would have thought, "The time is right and he is to initiate God's Kingdom". They possibly saw him leading an army and performing spectacular signs. But Jesus quickly corrects this notion, for he speaks of his death, and seemingly the death of many who will follow him. In the maelstrom of events happening in and around the Temple at this time, Jesus makes it clear that his victory is not to be through such means, but through his suffering and death. He uses the single grain of wheat as an example of how fruit will occur, that is, how he and those who follow him will achieve God's aim on earth.

We may not be called to die for Christ, but as we walk alongside Jesus this week, we are called to feel pain for all that will happen to our Lord, and to seriously contemplate our vocation to share our faith with others, as Philip and Andrew passed on those who enquired to Jesus.

Lord God,
You call us to be Your people,
and to follow You.
You warned Your Disciples
that You came to suffer and die,
and that if they wanted to follow You
they might also suffer.
The fruit of their labour was to
spread Your Gospel to the world.
May we learn to share our faith with others,
and have the courage
to suffer for the Gospel if need be,
so that others may follow You.
Amen.