John 12: The Hour Has Come

We get a real sense in John 12 that events are rapidly coming together now, and that the time has finally arrived for Jesus' ultimate purpose.  Back in John 2, He told Mary, "My time has not yet come" (2:4), and he told his brothers the same thing in John 7:6; now "the hour has come" (12:23).  This is just the tip of the iceberg of the foreshadowing in this chapter.

We begin in Bethany with the account of Jesus' anointing which was "saved for the day of my burial.  You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

Of course, the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday is another clue that events are reaching their culmination.  The disciples didn't understand this at the time, but in retrospect they realized the truth (12:16).

Interest continues to grow in Jesus among the Jews because of Lazarus' resurrection and is now breaking out even among the Greeks.  Again, we have a sense that a climax of sorts is on the verge of occurring.

Then we hear a voice from heaven regarding the imminent glorification of the Son.  After Jesus hears it, He twice says the time is "now" and that the people will have the light "just a little while longer" (vs. 31 and 35).

This chapter serves as Jesus' public benediction on His ministry in the Gospel of John.  It is His farewell speech to the crowd; what we will hear next are His private conversations with His disciples, His testimony at the trials, and His final words from the cross.  The hour has come.