“Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!”
John 12:23‭-‬27

Multiple times prior to this minute in timeJesus in John had stated, “My time has not yet come” (John 2:4, 7:6, 7:
30). Jesus suddenly now announces, “Now the time has come . . .” Time for what? Jesus outlines carefully-for Him, the Son of Man, to enter into His glory. Now to those looking on and even for a contemporary reader, what Jesus meant by this statement and what the people THOUGHT He meant by it, were probably 2 different things. To us, as to them, coming into glory would probably mean a rise to promonance and infamy. To them, it might include overthrowing the Roman government and returning the State of Israel to the glory it experienced during the reign of David. For us, it would include returning to heaven as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. For Jesus, it indeed meant all of these things, but by means of the cross! Plainly put, it meant that Jesus now had to suffer the shame, pain and humiliation of the cross. Thus Jesus’ illustration: “unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels-—a plentiful harvest of new lives” (vs 24). In the way that a seed being planted in the ground, itself dies, but in doing so, reproduces itself hundreds of times over, He must die! The fact that Jesus was talking about His coming suffering is onlyemphasised when Jesus says, “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!” (vs 27) Now why would Jesus, the One sent from Heaven, say something like this? As God, He knew the details of how He would suffer and die for us. He lnew He’d be scourged, beaten, falsely accused, illegally tried and conviced on made up charges. As a man He wasn’t looking forward to it!

Glory for Jesus, indeed was on the way, but so was excruciating pain and suffering, followed by death on the cross. Jesus didn’t look forward to this but knew that this was the reason He came- this would be the Apex of His ministry.

Victory is often preceded by pain, sprrow and suffering. Its always preceded by hard work! Jesus says in verse 25, that those who are fixated on this present life, will lose eternal life. Yet, if we’re willing to lay our lives down as He did, we’ll actually gain eternal life! Which life are you in love with?

Think about it!