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Holy Week · Year B

Tuesday of Holy Week

March 23, 2027

Wheatfield with a Reaper, Vincent van Gogh
Wheatfield with a Reaper, Vincent van Gogh, 1889Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (PD-Art)
A single reaper working through a field of blazing yellow wheat, painted from the window of the asylum at Saint-Remy.Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.Vincent van GoghVan Gogh, who wrote that he saw in the reaper the image of death, and that there was nothing sad in it.Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (PD-Art)The Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (PD-Art)
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelJohn 12:20-36Jn 12:20-36
Epistle1 Cor. 1:18-311 Cor 1:18-31
Old TestamentIsa. 49:1-7Is 49:1-7
PsalterPs. 71:1-14Ps 71:1-14

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 12:20-36

Commentary

John 12Jn 12 Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on the hour of glorification and being lifted up.

Classic commentaries on John 12Classic commentaries on Jn 12 BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentaries on the Greeks who came seeking Jesus.

Commentary on John 12:20-33Commentary on Jn 12:20-33 Working Preacher

Working Preacher commentary on the Greeks seeking Jesus and the hour of glorification, covering nearly all of this pericope.

John 12:20-33Jn 12:20-33 Center for Excellence in Preaching

CEP close reading of the grain-of-wheat saying and Jesus' hour, keyed to this Holy Week Tuesday text.

Background & Word Study

Overview: JohnOverview: Jn BibleProject

An animated overview placing this passage on the road to the cross.

John 12 ResourcesJn 12 Resources Precept Austin

The same John 12 word-study hub also covers verses 20-36, including the Greek for hour and glorify.

The Church Fathers

John 12, patristic commentaryJn 12, patristic commentary Catena

Patristic comment on the grain of wheat that must fall and die, verse by verse.

Sermons & Reflections

Who Are We Looking For? Journey with Jesus

Essay on the Greeks who come seeking Jesus, written directly on this passage.

Our Refuge, Tuesday in Holy Week Sermons That Work (Episcopal Church)

Episcopal Church homily preached on this exact Tuesday-of-Holy-Week gospel.

Worship & Prayers

Tuesday in Holy Week The Lectionary Page

Gives the day's collect and full propers for worship planning around this reading.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

Curated art and hymn suggestions for Holy Week.

Study Hub

John 12, Barnes' NotesJn 12, Barnes' Notes StudyLight

Barnes' verse notes on chapter 12 extend through the grain-of-wheat saying and the light and darkness warning.

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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