THESE verses open with the account of some Greeks requesting Philip that they might see Jesus. The result was that Jesus was told of the request, and as a result Jesus reveals more of himself in the words that follow.

Where there is real spiritual hunger the only way for the hunger to be satisfied is to see Jesus, and come to know him. It is the business of every believer to lead people to Jesus. Particularly is this essential with regard to preaching. Where Jesus is not known or made known there is no real spiritual life. Salvation of the soul is only found in Jesus and faith in him.

In response to this appeal of these Greeks Jesus gives a glorious revelation of himself; Jesus shows himself and his glory.

The first thing Jesus tells us is that his suffering and death was his glory. Jesus is glorified in his suffering and death. This is the message of verse 23. Then in verse 28 we are also told by Jesus that God also is glorified in his death.

Jesus explains this glory in verse 24. If Jesus had not died then there would be no redeemed and saved humanity. Only the death of Jesus opens the way for redemption from the sin and death of the original humanity in Adam, which is the whole human race. The whole human race is under the sentence of death due to Adam's sin, and are corrupt and sinful because of the inheritance Adam handed down. This inheritance is that we are separated from God, and thrust out of his presence.

By his suffering and death, Jesus opens the way for the children of Adam to be redeemed from the sentence of death, and bondage to sin, and brought back into the favour and family of God. Christ's death atones for the sin of Adam and all the sin that issues from his first sin. If Christ had not died, there would have been no salvation, for only the death of the second Adam, the Son of Man, the new head of a new humanity, was sufficient to atone for the sin of the world. If Christ had not died he would have been alone as the new humanity.

It follows from this that only those who lose there life (v.25), by renouncing the world and serving Jesus in total allegiance, trust and obedience, receive and know the gift of eternal life; life in the favour of God for ever.

This glory of Jesus was not won easily. Verse 27 tells us that it was at the cost of great suffering, which Jesus accepted in obedience to his Father. Only those who are Christ's people are able to see this wonderful glory in Christ and in God, revealed in the sacrificial and atoning death of Jesus. Verse 28 tells us we hear of this glory and appreciate it, all the rest, verse 29 tells us, only hear a noise.

The glory of Jesus in his death is further revealed in that in his death Satan was defeated. This is the truth revealed in verses 31 and 32. By his death Jesus has broken the chains of bondage, for all who believe on him, by which Satan holds human beings captive. Jesus as the stronger than Satan, the strong man, has overcome Satan in his death, and spoils his goods. (Luke 11:17-23).

Jesus points out that through his cross he will draw people to himself out of Satan's kingdom. (v.32,33).

That Jesus was refering to his cross when he speaks of himself being lifted up from the earth is plain, for this is how the crowd understood his words. (v.34) The crowd could not understand because their understanding of the Christ was that he would live for ever. Because of this, for Jesus to say that the Son of Man would die made them feel that the Son of Man must be someone else rather than the Messiah. (v.34).

Jesus does not respond to this question directly. What he does is to tell them that there was light to be had at that time, though it was soon to be removed from the Jewish nation. The light was Christ's presence.. Jesus warns them to walk in the light, which must mean that he is telling the Jews to receive him and believe in him as the Christ, even if they can't understand everything, for if they do not then darkness will come upon them, and the light will be removed.

The urgent cry of Jesus to the Jews (v.36) is to trust in the light they have, that is in him while he is still with them; only in this way will they become sons of light.