John 12:20-21
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.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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These weren't just any visitors; they were Greeks, outsiders to Jewish tradition, who had traveled to Jerusalem specifically to worship God. Their request to "see Jesus" signals a profound spiritual longing, a yearning for something more that even their adherence to Judaism hadn't fully satisfied. This moment foreshadows the gospel's expansive reach, moving beyond ethnic boundaries to embrace all who seek Him.
Just after Jesus’ triumphant, yet controversial, entry into Jerusalem, some Gentiles attending the Passover feast are moved by His fame and seek to meet Him. Their request, passed through disciples Philip and Andrew, reaches Jesus, signaling that the time for His glorification – not just among Israel, but among all nations – has arrived.
Imagine walking into Jerusalem, a bustling city during a major festival. You're a foreigner, a Greek, drawn by something more than just tradition. What were these Greeks looking for, and why is their presence so significant?
These weren't just any Greeks; they were likely 'proselytes of the gate' – Gentiles who had embraced the worship of the one true God but hadn't undergone full conversion (like circumcision). They came to Jerusalem for the feast, a pilgrimage many Jews made. Their request, 'Sir, we would see Jesus,' wasn't for a casual sighting. It was a deep longing to understand this Jesus, who was causing such a stir. They sought Him because they sensed that even within Judaism, something fundamental was missing, and Jesus might be the answer to their spiritual thirst. This shows us that true faith often begins with a deep dissatisfaction with the status quo and a genuine hunger for encountering God.
When these foreigners wanted to meet Jesus, they didn't go directly to Him. They approached Philip, a disciple with a Greek name. Why this indirect route, and what does it reveal about the disciples' understanding?
Philip's hesitation and his consultation with Andrew before approaching Jesus highlights a significant cultural and theological boundary. The apostles had been primarily focused on ministering to Jews. The idea of directly engaging with Gentiles, especially in such a personal way, might have seemed unusual or even problematic. Philip, having a Greek name, might have felt a particular connection or responsibility, but he still sought counsel. This interaction shows the disciples' developing understanding of Jesus's mission, gradually expanding beyond Jewish exclusivity. It’s a beautiful picture of how God works through ordinary people to break down barriers and prepare the way for His kingdom to reach all nations.
When Jesus hears about the Greeks wanting to see Him, His response isn't a simple 'Let's meet!' Instead, He speaks of His impending glorification through death. What's the connection?
Jesus immediately connects the request of the Greeks to the core of His mission: His death and resurrection. He uses the powerful analogy of a grain of wheat: 'Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.' This means His life, though powerful, would remain limited in its impact if it didn't end in sacrifice. His glorification wouldn't come through earthly power or widespread adoration of His living presence, but through His death, which would unlock His power to reach all peoples – Jew and Gentile alike. The 'fruit' He speaks of is the expansion of His kingdom across the globe, reaching people like these Greeks. His death is not a tragedy, but the necessary gateway to universal salvation and spiritual multiplication.
Understand the original words
proskynēsontes · Greek Verb
To render religious honor, reverence, or service to God; it involves acknowledging God’s worthiness and bowing down before Him in spirit and truth.
Hellēnes · Greek Noun
Historically, this refers to non-Jewish, Gentile peoples of Greek culture and language; in the New Testament, it represents the inclusion of the nations in the salvation offered by Christ.
The presence of these Greeks at the Passover feast highlights the growing reach of Jesus' fame beyond Jewish circles, foreshadowing the inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan.
c. 20 BC - 10 BC
Expansion of Roman Influence
Rome consolidates its power in Judea, leading to increased trade and cultural exchange with Gentile regions, including Greece.
c. AD 25-30
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Judea
Jesus travels and teaches throughout Galilee and Judea, gaining a reputation that spreads even to Gentile areas.
c. AD 30 - Passover Week— this verse
Jesus' Arrival in Jerusalem
Jesus makes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem during the Passover feast, drawing large crowds and significant attention.
c. AD 30 - Passover Week
Request to See Jesus
A group of Greeks, likely proselytes to Judaism, approach Philip with a request to see Jesus.
c. AD 30 - Passover Week
This passage describes the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, a non-Jew who was seeking God, showing a similar 'reaching out' of the Gentile world towards God's salvation, mirroring the Greeks' desire to see Jesus.
Jesus' parable of the sower, particularly the good soil yielding a hundredfold, speaks to the eventual widespread fruitfulness of His ministry, which the presence of these Greeks foreshadows.
John 1:43-51The calling of Philip and Nathanael shows Jesus' initial outreach beyond the immediate Jewish sphere, indicating His mission was always intended to encompass all nations.
John 12:32Jesus' own statement, 'And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself,' directly connects this moment with the Greeks to the ultimate, universal scope of His saving work.
expositorsJohn 12:20: "And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:"
III. THE CORN OF WHEAT. "Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast: these therefore came to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus. And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, ver…
henryJohn 12:20-26: "And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:"
12:20-26 In attendance upon holy ordinances, particularly the gospel passover, the great desire of our souls should be to see Jesus; to see him as ours, to keep up communion with him, and derive grace from him. The calling of the Gentiles magnified the Redeemer. A corn of wheat yields no increase unless it is cast into the ground. Thus Christ might have possessed his heavenly glory alone, without bec…
These weren't just any visitors; they were Greeks, outsiders to Jewish tradition, who had traveled to Jerusalem specifically to worship God. Their request to "see Jesus" signals a profound spiritual longing, a yearning for something more that even their adherence to Judaism hadn't fully satisfied. This moment foreshadows the gospel's expansive reach, moving beyond ethnic boundaries to embrace all who seek Him.
Just after Jesus’ triumphant, yet controversial, entry into Jerusalem, some Gentiles attending the Passover feast are moved by His fame and seek to meet Him. Their request, passed through disciples Philip and Andrew, reaches Jesus, signaling that the time for His glorification – not just among Israel, but among all nations – has arrived.
Just after Jesus’ triumphant, yet controversial, entry into Jerusalem, some Gentiles attending the Passover feast are moved by His fame and seek to meet Him. Their request, passed through disciples Philip and Andrew, reaches Jesus, signaling that the time for His glorification – not just among Israel, but among all nations – has arrived.
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Jesus' Discourse on Glorification
Jesus responds to the Greeks' request by speaking of His impending glorification through His death and resurrection, likening Himself to a grain of wheat.
"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.”" — These weren't just any visitors; they were Greeks, outsiders to Jewish tradition, who had traveled to Jerusalem specifically to worship God. Their request to "see Jesus" signals a profound spiritual…
