Holy Week · Year C
Tuesday of Holy Week
April 11, 2028
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
John 12 Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on the hour of glorification and being lifted up.
Classic commentaries on John 12 BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentaries on the Greeks who came seeking Jesus.
Commentary on John 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 12:20-33 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
The Church Fathers
Sermons & Reflections
Worship & Prayers
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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