The Gospel today begins with the passage that Jesus is in Jerusalem. It’s Spring time, just a few days before the Jewish Passover. In a few short days, Judas is going to betray Jesus and Jesus will be arrested, condemned and put to death. When some Greeks showed up asking to “see” Jesus, and Jesus knew that his ministry exclusively among the Jewish people had come to an end, and his death is going to be, and it is time for the Apostles to go outside the Jewish people to preach and to witness the Gospel of God’s love to the whole world. And Jesus uses the word “HOUR” very often in John’s Gospel; hiis HOUR, always to his death, resurrection and his return to his Father. Jesus says “hour has come for the Son of Man to be Glorified” (Jn 12:23).
And today, Jesus uses two images in today’s Gospel to tell us his death would bear much fruit and it would save all who would believe in Him. His death is like a seed that is planted. Think what happens when a seed is planted. It springs to life and produces many more seeds like itself. Jesus’s death and resurrection would form the beginning of the Christian community. Many people would be filled with his spirit, his attitude of love and obedience for God the Father, and his love for others.
And there is one more image Jesus uses in the Gospel today to explain of his death; it is from the Old Testament. While the Jews were traveling with Moses after leaving Egypt, they came across an area infested with seraph serpents. Seraph means “fiery,” which explains that their bite, which is a deadly bite. The people who were walking saw that wandering as punishment from God for their constant complaining. They came to Moses and asked him to pray for their forgiveness. Moses did and God asked him to make a bronze serpent and put it up on a staff. If anyone was bitten by these serpents, all they had to do was to look at the bronze serpent and thy would be healed (Num:21:6-9). So, Jesus’s death, resurrection, and return to the Father would be a lifting up, meaning both his physical lifting up on the cross and glorification at the right hand of the Father. This lifting up in death and glory would draw all people who turn to him in faith, and they will be saved. This is the third time Jesus uses this image in John’s Gospel.
Those who see death as the end of everything are missing a very important teaching as we hear Jesus constantly talk about his own death, which is revealed to be a source of life and salvation for those who believe in him. All this ties back in with our First Reading of today about a new covenant, for it is in his blood that Jesus makes a covenant with us, calling us to be faithful to him as he promises eternal life and salvation.
Amen
