Read: John 12

 

“Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks… So these came to Philip and asked him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’” — John 12:20–21

 

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” — John 12:23

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As Jesus approached Jerusalem for the final time, something began to change in the tone of His words. In John 12, we are told that some Greeks came seeking Him. Their request was simple and profound: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” It is a sentence that echoes across centuries. It is the longing of every searching heart, whether clearly expressed or quietly felt.

 

When Jesus hears of their request, He responds in a way that may seem unexpected: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Throughout the Gospel of John, the “hour” had not yet come. But now it had arrived. The moment toward which everything had been moving was no longer distant. The cross stood ahead.

 

Jesus then speaks of a grain of wheat falling into the earth and dying in order to bear much fruit. He does not avoid what is coming. He does not soften it. He names it. Death will precede life. Sacrifice will precede fruitfulness. Glory will come through surrender.

 

As we continue this fast, the language of hunger begins to mirror the language of John 12. Something must fall into the ground. Something must be released. The discipline of this week has not been about loss for its own sake, but about alignment with the pattern of Christ—laying down in order that life might come.

 

Easter approaches, but it does so by way of the cross.

 

Consider again the one you are praying for. Their desire may not yet be articulated as clearly as “we wish to see Jesus,” but beneath the surface of every life is longing. Pray that as they come near this Easter, whether through invitation or curiosity, they would truly see Him—not merely hear about Him, but perceive who He is and what He has done.

 

And as you pray for them, ask the Lord to deepen your own sight. The hour has come. The cross is not accidental. It is purposeful. It is glory through surrender.

 

We are walking toward it now.

 

Reflection

• What in my life needs to fall into the ground so that fruit might come?
   

• Do I truly desire to see Jesus more clearly as we approach the cross?

Pray for One 

Ask the Lord to draw the one on your heart closer to Christ. Pray that they would not merely attend Easter, but that they would truly see Jesus and understand His sacrifice.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see You clearly as we approach the cross. Teach me to follow Your pattern of surrender. Prepare the heart of the one I am praying for to see Your glory revealed in Your sacrifice. Amen.