Up until now John has said three times that Jesus' time had not yet come, in v23 Jesus declares that the time has now come. The stimulus for this is some Greeks coming to meet Jesus. They went to Philip, who in turn consulted Andrew. These two disciples may have been involved because they had Greek names. They would be cautious about letting Greeks meet Jesus because of past words that Jesus had said about His mission being first to the Jews (Matt 10:5-6; 15:22-24). The Greeks here had come to attend the Passover and would be either God-fearers or converts to Judaism.
Jesus would not be able to meet them yet, for first He had to die. The goal of His mission was to reach the whole world, but first He had to die and rise again. Jesus' death produces, and is still producing, a plentiful harvest of new lives.
Having spoken about Himself and His misson, He then applies this to all who will follow Him. Jesus is much more than an example, but He is an example, He is a model of how we will live. If we love our life in the worldly sense, then we will lose it, but if we are prepared to lose our life then we will have eternal life. This is not just a matter of what will happen when we die, but of the nature of life we will live here and now. We must follow Jesus, and be His servants. Then the Father will honour us.
Jesus would not be able to meet them yet, for first He had to die. The goal of His mission was to reach the whole world, but first He had to die and rise again. Jesus' death produces, and is still producing, a plentiful harvest of new lives.
Having spoken about Himself and His misson, He then applies this to all who will follow Him. Jesus is much more than an example, but He is an example, He is a model of how we will live. If we love our life in the worldly sense, then we will lose it, but if we are prepared to lose our life then we will have eternal life. This is not just a matter of what will happen when we die, but of the nature of life we will live here and now. We must follow Jesus, and be His servants. Then the Father will honour us.
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