Holy Week · Palm Sunday (Sunday of the Passion) · Year B
John 12:20-43
Jesus Predicts His Death
March 21, 2027
Overview & Insights
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24)
The principle that the “whole world has gone after” Jesus (v. 19) finds immediate illustration in some Greeks who were among the worshipers at the festival (v. 20). Their request to see Jesus was directed at Philip (cf. 1:43–44), ceremoniously passed along by him to Andrew, and by the two of them to Jesus (vv. 21–22). These two disciples have been seen together twice before: first as Jesus’ agents in initially gathering a group of followers (1:35–45), and later as the two whose faith Jesus tested before the feeding of the five thousand (6:5–9). Again they are a team, this time in presenting to their Teacher the longings of the Gentile world and receiving from him the revelation, indirect though it may be, of how the Gentile world soon will see him.
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Commentary
Gospel: John 12:20-43 (Palm Sunday: Series A) 1517.org
1517 preaching article on the Greeks seeking Jesus and the grain-of-wheat saying.
Gospel: John 12:20-43 (Sunday of the Passion: Series C) 1517.org
A second 1517 article on the same text, weighing the tension between Palm and Passion themes.
Commentary on John 12:20-33 Working Preacher (Luther Seminary)
RCL commentary on the core of this reading, the Greeks' request and Jesus' hour of glorification.
John 12:20-33 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching (CEP)
A Reformed preaching commentary giving a second angle on the same core verses.
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What does the grain of wheat teach?
As Greeks seek him, Jesus speaks of the grain that must die to bear fruit, and of his own lifting up on the cross that will draw all people to himself.
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