John 12: 20-27 (Easter 2025)
Why Did Jesus Willingly Go to the Cross?
Key Scripture: John 12:20-27
John 12:20 Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 21 paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24 I 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. 25 Those 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. 26 Anyone 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!
He Went Willingly
John 10:11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep."... 17 The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18a No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily..."
Matthew 20:18 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”
John 13:27b…Jesus told him [Judas], “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.”
The Painful Reality
Luke 22:44b…He was in such anguish that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
Matt 26:39b…‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me…
We just read…John 12:27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!
Why Did Jesus Willingly Go to the Cross?
1. Because You Need A Savior.
2. Because He Was The Only Sacrifice That’s Suitable.
Hebrews 10:10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.”
3. Because He Loves You.
Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Hebrews 12:2b…Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame…
What Happened After the Cross?
Matthew 28:6a He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said…
He willingly went to the cross on Friday knowing that the first Easter Sunday was coming. He defeated the power of sin and death once and for all and His resurrection means we can find life in Him.
The cross gives the promise of forgiveness that we don’t deserve.
This means that His victory can become our victory!
Summary:
It begins with acknowledging that we need a savior.
We must recognize that our imperfections - our sins, our regrets, our mistakes - have put a distance between us and God.
The relationship between God and humanity is broken and distorted.
But God loves us so much that He sent His Son to restore and repair the relationship between us and God.
Every Christmas we remember God’s Son becoming humanity and every Good Friday we remember that the cute baby in the manger grew up to be a man who would teach the world about an eternal Kingdom that God wants them to be a part of.
He was beaten, scourged, humiliated and went to the cross to pay the price that I could never pay myself - and He did it all willingly!
He did it because we need a savior. He did it because it was the only way. And the only motive that makes sense, is that He was driven by a deep, unrelenting love for humanity.
If you ever doubt or question God’s love for you - remember the cross - that’s where His love for you and me is on full display
Hebrews 12:2b…Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame…
The Romans are finished, the religious leaders who wanted to kill Jesus are forgotten by history - and yet the Kingdom of God marches on.
John 12:23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24 I 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. 25 Those 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. 26 Anyone 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.
