John 12 23

John 12:23 kjv

And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

John 12:23 nkjv

But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

John 12:23 niv

Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

John 12:23 esv

And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

John 12:23 nlt

Jesus replied, "Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.

John 12 23 Cross References

VerseTextReference
John 12:24Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.Direct continuation, parallel imagery
John 12:27"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.Jesus' internal struggle before the hour
John 12:32"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."Consequence of being "lifted up"
John 3:14-15"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."Old Testament foreshadowing
Matthew 16:25"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."Principle of self-sacrifice
Mark 8:35"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it."Similar principle of sacrifice
Luke 9:24"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."Reinforcement of the principle
Romans 6:3-4"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."Baptism as identification with Christ's death and resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:36"You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies."Application of the seed analogy
1 Corinthians 15:42-44"So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body."Resurrection mirroring the seed's transformation
Philippians 2:8"and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."Obedience unto death
Hebrews 12:2"looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God."Jesus' perspective on suffering for a greater outcome
Isaiah 53:10-12"Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him; he has given him the sorrow. If his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities."Prophecy of suffering and resulting multitudes
Psalm 22:27-28"All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules among the nations."Universal dominion as a result of sacrifice
Genesis 22:18"and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."God's promise of blessing through offspring
Galatians 3:16"Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, 'and to offsprings,' as referring to many, but as referring to one, 'and to your offspring,' who is Christ."Christ as the offspring through whom blessing comes
Acts 4:12"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."Exclusivity of salvation in Christ
Revelation 7:9"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,"The great multitude resulting from Christ's work

John 12 verses

John 12 23 Meaning

The "hour" spoken of by Jesus signifies His coming suffering and glorification. The seed's transformation into a greater harvest represents Jesus' death and subsequent resurrection, leading to spiritual life for many. This transformation is essential for His purpose to be fulfilled, bringing forth abundant spiritual fruit for God's kingdom.

John 12 23 Context

In John chapter 12, Jesus is entering Jerusalem during Passover. The crowd welcomes Him as a king, but Jesus knows His ultimate "hour" is not earthly coronation but suffering and glorification. He shares His feelings of distress with His disciples, equating His impending death and resurrection to a grain of wheat falling into the ground and dying to produce a much larger harvest. This conversation occurs in the presence of Greeks who had come to worship at the festival, symbolizing the inclusiveness of the coming salvation, which will extend beyond the Jewish people.

John 12 23 Word Analysis

  • "Now": Refers to the present moment and the culmination of Jesus' earthly ministry.
  • "is": Present tense, emphasizing the immediacy and reality of the situation.
  • "my": Possessive, highlighting Jesus' personal experience and ownership of this "hour."
  • "hour": A key Johannine theme. It refers not to a literal sixty minutes but to a specific, divinely appointed time of crisis, suffering, death, and ultimate glorification. It encompasses His crucifixion and resurrection.
  • "come": Indicates arrival, transition.
  • "come": This second "come" emphasizes the purpose and intentionality of reaching this crucial point.
  • "into": Signifies movement and entry into a new state or period.
  • "this": Refers to the immediate, present "hour."
  • "hour": The repetition reinforces the significance of this specific, defining period.
  • "is": Present tense, asserting the reality of this "hour" having arrived.

Group of words analysis:

  • "Now is my hour": This is not about a desire for pain but the acknowledgment of a divinely appointed time for His mission to reach its climax through suffering.
  • "for this purpose I have come into this hour": This phrase underscores Jesus' foreknowledge and predestination. He understands that His arrival on earth was purposefully for this critical juncture of sacrifice and triumph.

John 12 23 Bonus Section

The Greeks seeking Jesus represent the Gentiles. Jesus' response that His "hour" has come, linking it to the seed and a harvest, is a prophetic declaration that His death and resurrection will open the door for Gentiles to become part of God's redeemed people. This is a pivotal moment, foreshadowing the global reach of the Gospel that will extend far beyond the nation of Israel. The "much fruit" signifies the salvation of believers from all nations.

John 12 23 Commentary

Jesus identifies the approaching suffering as His designated "hour." This isn't a random event but a divinely orchestrated moment central to His mission. He expresses a human sentiment of trouble but immediately affirms His resolve because this suffering is precisely why He came. The analogy of the seed dying to yield much fruit directly links His death to His subsequent fruitful ministry and the salvation of many. His voluntary entrance into this "hour," despite its cost, is the pathway to His ultimate glorification and the expansion of God's kingdom.