John 12:20-50

20Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration

21paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.”

22Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.

23Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.

24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.

25Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

26Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

27“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!

28Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.”

29When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

30Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine.

31The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.

32And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

33He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

34The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

35Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.

36Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

37But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.

38This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: “Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”

39But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,

40“The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts— so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them.”

41Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory.

42Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.

43For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

44Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me.

45For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me.

46I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.

47I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.

48But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.

49I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.

50And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”