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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Take it further: John 12:20-43
Commentary
Gospel: John 12:20-43 (Palm Sunday: Series A)Gospel: Jn 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)Gospel: Jn 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 12:20-33Commentary on Jn 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 CommentaryJn 12:20-33 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching (CEP)
A Reformed preaching commentary giving a second angle on the same core verses.
Background & Word Study
John 12 Commentary: The Hour Has ComeJn 12 Commentary: The Hour Has Come Precept Austin
Verse-by-verse word study across John 12, including the voice from heaven and Isaiah citations in verses 20-43.
Greek Interlinear, John 12:20Greek Interlinear, Jn 12:20 BibleHub
Word-by-word Greek for the Greeks who come seeking Jesus and the grain of wheat saying.
The Church Fathers
Sermons & Reflections
John 12:20-33, His Final Steps Led to Some GreeksJn 12:20-33, His Final Steps Led to Some Greeks St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church
A full Lutheran sermon preached on this exact passage.
John 12:20-50, Prepared for SacrificeJn 12:20-50, Prepared for Sacrifice Enduring Word
David Guzik's sermon audio and notes covering this reading and the verses following it.
Art & Music
Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt
A curated image index for this reading across the history of Christian art.
J.S. Bach: St. John Passion, Program NotesJ.S. Bach: St. Jn Passion, Program Notes Emmanuel Music
Program notes on Bach's setting of John's passion narrative, the Gospel this reading leads into.
Questions preachers ask
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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