What is the meaning of John 12:23? But The conjunction points back to verses 20-22, where Greeks ask to see Jesus. Their request signals that His influence has crossed Jewish boundaries. Scripture had foretold such worldwide reach (Isaiah 49:6; John 10:16). Up to this moment Jesus often said, “My hour has not yet come” (John 7:30). Now the narrative turns; the “but” marks a decisive shift from delay to fulfillment. Jesus replied Jesus—God the Son incarnate—speaks with sovereign authority, not speculation. He knows the Father’s timetable and interprets events for His followers. Earlier, He told the disciples, “The Son of Man must suffer many things” (Luke 9:22). Here He confirms that the foretold suffering and glory are no longer future possibilities; they are imminent realities. The hour “The hour” is more than sixty minutes; it is the divinely appointed season of redemptive climax. John uses this phrase to trace a prophetic countdown (John 2:4; 8:20; 13:1). Every miracle and teaching has pointed toward this moment. Acts 2:23 later explains that Jesus was “delivered by God’s set plan and foreknowledge,” underscoring the literal precision of God’s schedule. has come The verb moves us from anticipation to arrival. No force—religious leaders, political power, or demonic opposition—can delay or derail God’s purpose. Jesus states in Mark 14:41, “The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” The plan, promised since Genesis 3:15, now advances inexorably toward the cross. for the Son of Man “Son of Man” echoes Daniel 7:13-14, where the figure receives everlasting dominion. It affirms both Jesus’ humanity and His messianic authority. In John 3:14 He said, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.” The title ties His coming glory to His sacrificial lifting up on the cross. to be glorified Glory, in this context, shines brightest through the apparent darkness of Calvary. Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension form one seamless act of glorification. He prays, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You” (John 17:1). Philippians 2:8-11 shows the pattern: humility to death, then exaltation “to the highest place.” By embracing the cross, Jesus reveals the full splendor of God’s love, justice, and power, drawing all who believe into that glory (John 12:32). summary John 12:23 marks the turning point where Jesus publicly announces that His long-awaited, God-ordained hour has finally arrived. The Son of Man will be glorified—not by earthly acclaim but through His redemptive death, triumphant resurrection, and victorious ascension. Every detail unfolds exactly as Scripture promises, displaying the unwavering faithfulness of God’s plan and inviting believers to behold and trust the Savior whose glory shines through the cross. |
    |