Greeks want to see Jesus (John 12:20-26)

In John 12:20-26, a group of Greeks seeks to meet Jesus. Their request signals that His mission is extending beyond Israel to all nations. Jesus responds by declaring that His “hour has come,” using the image of a grain of wheat that must die to produce many seeds. He teaches that true life comes through self-sacrifice and devotion to God.

Several Greek terms deepen this message. The word “be glorified” (δοξασθῇ, doxasthē) expresses how Jesus’ true honor and divine revelation come through His suffering on the cross. The phrase “the grain of wheat” (ὁ κόκκος τοῦ σίτου, ho kokkos tou sitou) shows that life arises from death, as the seed must “die” (ἀποθάνῃ, apothanē) to bear “much fruit” (πολὺν καρπόν, polyn karpon).

Jesus contrasts two kinds of life through the term “life/soul” (ψυχή, psychē): the self-centered life that one clings to versus the eternal life (ζωὴ αἰώνιος, zōē aiōnios) that comes through surrender to God. Finally, the word “serve” (διακονέω, diakoneō) highlights active discipleship—true followers serve Christ and others, and through such humble service, “the Father will honor him.” Together, these terms reveal the paradoxical logic of the Gospel: glory through death, fruit through sacrifice, life through loss, and honor through service.

The passage reveals that Christ’s glorification comes through His death, not worldly triumph. It links His sacrifice to the universal call of salvation—His death bears fruit for all humanity. Discipleship, therefore, means following Jesus in humility and self-denial, trusting that losing one’s life for His sake leads to eternal life.