John 12:20-50

20There were some Greek people among the people at the festival. They also had come to worship God.

21These Greek people came to Philip, who was from a town in Galilee called Bethsaida. They said to him, ‘Please sir, we want to meet Jesus.’

22Philip went and he told Andrew this. Then Philip and Andrew went to Jesus and they told him.

23Jesus said to them, ‘God will show how great the Son of Man is. It is now time for that to happen.

24I tell you this: A seed of wheat continues to be only a single seed unless it falls into the ground. It must fall into the ground and then it must die. If it dies like that, it will grow to give a lot of seeds.

25Anyone who loves his own life will lose it. But anyone who hates his life in this world will have true life for ever with God.

26Anyone who wants to be my servant must follow me. Then he will be with me, where I am. My Father will praise anyone who is my servant.

27Now I have trouble in my mind. What will I say? I might say, “Father, save me from this time of trouble!” But this difficult time is the purpose for which I came to the world.

28So I will say, “Father, show how great and how good you are.” ’ Then a voice spoke from heaven and said, ‘I have shown how great and how good I am. And I will do it again.’

29The crowd of people who were standing there heard the sound of this voice. They said that it was like the noise of thunder in a storm. But other people said, ‘An angel spoke to him!’

30Jesus said, ‘When this voice spoke, it was not so that it could help me. No, it spoke so that it could help you.

31It is time now for God to judge the people in this world. Now he will throw out the ruler of this world.

32But when people lift me up from the ground, then I will bring everyone to myself.’

33Jesus said this to show in what way he would soon die.

34The crowd said, ‘The Bible tells us that the Messiah will continue for ever. So why do you say, “People must lift up the Son of Man”? Who is this Son of Man?’

35Jesus answered, ‘The light will be with you for only a short time longer. So continue to walk while you still have the light. Do that, so that the dark will not come over you. Anyone who walks in the dark does not know where they are going.

36While you still have the light with you, believe in that light. So then you will become children of light.’ When Jesus had said this, he went away. He hid himself from them.

37Jesus had done many miracles that the people themselves had seen. But even then, they still did not believe in him.

38This showed that the prophet Isaiah had spoken true words when he said: ‘Lord, has anyone believed our message? You have shown how powerful you are, but nobody has really understood.’

39Isaiah spoke also about why the people could not believe.

40He said: ‘God has made their eyes unable to see. He has closed their minds. So they cannot see with their eyes, and they cannot understand with their minds. They will not turn to me, so that I can make them well.’

41Long ago, Isaiah saw the great glory of Christ. That is why he said these things. He was speaking about Jesus.

42But even at that time, many of the Jewish leaders did believe in Jesus. But they were afraid of the Pharisees. So they did not tell people that they believed. They were afraid that the Pharisees would send them away from their meeting places.

43The Pharisees wanted other people to praise them, more than they wanted God to praise them.

44Jesus said in a loud voice, ‘Anyone who believes in me does not believe only in me. That person believes also in the one who sent me.

45Anyone who looks at me does not see only me. They see also him who sent me.

46I have come into the world to be a light for people. Everyone who believes in me will not remain in the dark. That is why I came.

47Not everyone who hears my words will obey them. I will not judge anyone who is like that. I did not come to judge the people in the world. I came to save them.

48But there is something that will judge people who refuse to believe in me. Those are people who do not accept my message. The message that I have spoken will itself judge people like that on the last day.

49The words that I have spoken did not come from me myself. They came from the Father, who sent me. He told me what message I must speak. He told me the words I must say.

50The message that the Father has given me causes people to have life for ever. I know that. So I speak only those things that the Father has said to me.’