John 12:24-32

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.’