03242021 – John 12. 20-33 Lent 5B
This is all about “Jesus’ hour.” It is a “big thing” in the Gospel of John.
Jesus knows “his hour” is coming.
He “waits for it.” Like, the disciples wait for the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost.
It is “a kairos moment.”
A fifty-cent-Greek-word that means the “right time.”
He awaits the “right moment.”
The “correct moment.” The Proper Moment.
This is all about “God’s timing.”
And Jesus must “wait for it.”
We DO NOT know WHY…
But “the hour” is signaled when some Greek speaking men seek out Jesus.
Scholars have debated it. Saying that perhaps it reflects a wider-world-audience. Or perhaps it says something about the community of believers surrounding the Apostle John.
Were Greeks members of his church?
Were Greek-speaking individuals welcomed into the early church in the first century? We are uncertain.
All we know, is that “with their arrival,” “Jesus’ hour has come.”
It is a pivotal turning point in the Gospel of John. It is here that we have the introduction to the RAISING UP or the LIFTING UP OF JESUS.
It is more than a visual.
The last remaining 35% of the Gospel of John is devoted to the Last Supper, the Foot washing, the handing over, the trial, the crucifixion, and resurrection. More than a third of his entire work.
“His hour has come.”
Things start happening.
Things fall into place.
I’s are dotted and t’s are crossed.
Everything is seemingly thrown into motion. And it is all signaled by the arrival of some Greek speaking men.
They obviously did not come to Jerusalem to take in the sights and the sounds of Passover.
The come to SEE Jesus.
Being Greeks or Gentiles, they would be considered unclean. They would not be welcome in the Temple.
Most scholars do not think or believe that they are Greek-Jews of the diaspora.
It sounds like Jesus is the whole reason for their journey.
They first approach Philip and say, “We wish to SEE Jesus.”
I could imagine a flippant disciple responding, “Yeah, you and everybody else!” “Take a number!” “Get in line.”
Umm, it’s a little bit of a bad time right now. You see, he is in great demand. He has been teaching every day in the Temple. You might be able to catch him there.
But Philip offers no such negative remarks.
Instead, he institutes a first century version of a phone tree. You remember the old phone tree thingy…
You call to speak with a particular person and are given multiple phone prompts while you wait MORE or LESS PATIENTLY and never do get to speak to the person you were hoping to connect with originally. If you are lucky you do not get the musical background.
Instead, what you get is: “Please hold, while I consult with Andrew,” and then, “Please hold while we consult with Jesus.”
It is a first century version of “Your call is important to us. All of our operators are currently busy serving other customers. Please stay on the line. You will be served by the next available operator.” Please hold. And then, periodically, Thank you for holding, all of our operators continue to be busy, your call will be received by the next available operator.”
We are never told if they get to SEE Jesus. That is NOT IMPORTANT. WHAT IS IMPORTANT is that his hour has now come. Everything happens quickly from here on out. There is little time for anything else. All the pieces must first come together. The STAGE has been set.
As for our GREEK FRIENDS – this reminds me of being handed a device at a restaurant that lights up, buzzes and vibrates when your table is ready.
I picture the Greek guys, standing in line behind some yellow line holding their device and still waiting to be seated. And waiting…and waiting…
THE HOUR HAS COME…dun, dun, dun.