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John 12:20-36
 | Reading the Text:
|
| Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
 | The
Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto. |
| Comparative World Scriptures from United
Communities of Spirit:
Self-Denial and No-Self. |
|
"World Light,"
"Saving One's Life,"
"Pagans Visit Jesus," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of
the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C.
Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation. |
|
Chapter IX,
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians,
Ignatius of Antioch (c. 50 -
115). |
|
XL.5-21;
XLI.21;
Tatian's
Diatessaron
(c. 150-160). |
|
I.VIII.2,
IV.II.7, Adversus
Haereses,
Irenaeus of Lyons.
(c. 180) |
|
Chapter
III, On Prayer,
Tertullian
(c. 199) |
|
IV.6, Stromata,
Clement of Alexandria (c 200) |
|
Chapter
XXIII, Against Praxeas,
Tertullian
(c. 213) |
|
II.VIII.4, First
Principles (De Principiis),
Origen.
(c.225) |
|
I.24, Commentary
on the Gospel of John,
Origen.
(c.228) |
|
IV.Summary.31,
First Principles (De Principiis),
Origen /
Rufinus (c.230) |
|
VII.XVII,
VIII.XLIII,
Against Celsus,
Origen
(c. 246) |
|
XII.18, Commentary
on the Gospel of Matthew,
Origen. (c.247) |
|
Epistle LV
--
Cyprian of Carthage (c.
252) |
|
Epistle LXXX
--
Cyprian of Carthage (c.
257) |
| From Augustine's Tractates on John:
 |
Tractate 51
(12:12-26)
| "Accordingly, brethren,
when you hear the Lord saying, "Where I am, there shall
also my servant be," do not think merely of good bishops
and clergymen. But be yourselves also in your own way serving
Christ, by good lives, by giving alms, by preaching His name and
doctrine as you can; and every father of a family also, be
acknowledging in this name the affection he owes as a parent to
his family." |
|
|
Tractate 52
(12:27-36)
| "Walk, draw near, come to
the full understanding that Christ shall both die and shall live
for ever; that He shall shed His blood to redeem us, and ascend
on high to carry His redeemed along with Him. But darkness will
come upon you, if your belief in Christ's eternity is of such a
kind as to refuse to admit in His case the humiliation of
death." |
|
|
|
Part 25,
On the Incarnation of the Word,
Athanasius of Alexandria, c. 318. |
| From the Geneva Notes.
| "The death of Christ is as it
were a sowing, which seems to be a dying of the corn, but indeed is
the cause of a much greater harvest: and such as is the condition of
the head, so will be the condition of the members." |
|
| From
Matthew
Henry's Commentary.
| "Christ was willing to suffer,
yet prayed to be saved from suffering. Prayer against trouble may
well agree with patience under it, and submission to the will of God
in it." |
|
| From Wesley's Notes.
| "Unless a grain of wheat die -
The late resurrection of Lazarus gave our Lord a natural occasion of
speaking on this subject. And agreeable to his infinite knowledge,
he singles out, from among so many thousands of seeds, almost the
only one that dies in the earth: and which therefore was an
exceeding proper similitude, peculiarly adapted to the purpose for
which he uses it. The like is not to be found in any other grain,
except millet, and the large bean." |
|
| An
Abundant Harvest, from The Poor Man's Portions, Robert Hawker, c.
1800.
| "Had Jesus not descended to
the grave, how would he have been the life-giving, the
soul-quickening root of all his church and people? But now, by this
one precious corn of wheat falling into the ground, and dying, how
hath the garner of God been filled, and is now continually filling,
with his seed!" |
|
| From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "Did our Lord mean to exclude
Himself from the operation of the great principle here expressed--self-renunciation,
the law of self-preservation; and its converse, self-preservation,
the law of self-destruction? On the contrary, as He became Man
to exemplify this fundamental law of the Kingdom of God in its most
sublime form, so the very utterance of it on this occasion served to
sustain His own Spirit in the double prospect to which He had just
alluded." |
|
| "The
Corn of Wheat Dying to Bring Forth Fruit: John 12:23-25," Charles H.
Spurgeon. From Farm Sermons (c 1875).
| "Brethren, all the spiritual life that there is in
the world is the result of Christ's death. We live under a dispensation which shadows
forth this truth to us." |
|
| From The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891. |
|
| Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
|
Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
"First
Thoughts on Year B Gospel Passages in the Lectionary: Lent 5," William
Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia, 2003.
| "God always comes closely
attached to the worst violence and greatest depravation, stuck to it
as its obverse in compassion. When we see that, every such event
becomes a revelation of sin and a window in which we perceive divine
pain." |
|
|
Exegesis,
Lent 5B,
by Richard Donovan at lectionary.org.
| "We will soon see a paradox at work.
The world is fickle. Those who shouted 'Hosanna'
on Sunday will shout 'Crucify him'
on Friday. " |
|
| Exegetical
Notes by Brian Stoffregen.
| "Are our congregations (both
the corporate body and individual members) places where
"Gentiles" can come and "see" Jesus? Do our
members (clergy included) have the skills to bring the unchurched to
Jesus for a "conversion experience"?" |
|
|
"Learning to Die," Rev. Todd Weir, bloomingcactus, Lent 5B, 2006.
| "I am always dying, with each breath
that enters and leaves my body, with each second and the hundreds of
thousands of cells that are dying off to make room for more, with each
toss of the football to my vigorous and growing son. And may I keep dying
so life may abound. Thanks be to God!" |
|
|
Sermon
Preparation Thoughts and Questions by Wesley White, 2006. |
|
Marginally Mark, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western
Australia.
| "What is the 'judgment of this world'?
Who is the 'ruler of this world'?" |
|
|
"The Hour Has Come,"
Preacher's Magazine, 2006: Listening to the Text,
Engaging the Text, Preaching the Text. |
|
"The Hour
Comes..." Jerry Goebel, One
Family Outreach. "Focus on scripture from a justice perspective." Exegesis, study, and teen study
and activities.
| "When was the last time that someone
went out of their way to tell me; 'We want to meet Jesus.'" |
|
|
"The Glory of the Cross,"
Lent 5B, Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This
Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support
Materials.
| "Does the cross have any meaning in
today's culture? Does the meaning culture gives the cross have any
connection to Christian faith?" |
|
|
Wellspring of
the Gospel, Lent 5B, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn
Turner, Weekly Wellsprings. |
|
"Unless a Grain of Wheat Falls to the Ground,"
Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible
Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources.
| "Every believer, every minister and
congregation, is tempted to realize the Kingdom of God apart from the
cross of Christ." |
|
|
"Drawing All to Himself,"
William Willimon, The Christian Century, 1982.
At Religion Online.
| "It is not by understanding that we are
saved. As Barth says, 'Here is a truth we cannot understand -- we can only
stand under this truth.'" |
|
|
"We're Condemned to Act in Character," Dirk Dunfee, National Catholic
Reporter, 2000.
| "Even a decision that has little effect
on the way the world operates makes a difference in the life of the person
making the decision; a given decision may not be as important as another,
but every decision is important nonetheless." |
|
| Environmental &
earth-centered reflections from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota Environmental
Stewardship Commission. |
| "Restored
to Being," analysis and reflection by Ed Schroeder, in Sabbatheology by The
Crossing Community of St Louis, Missouri.
| "In this text such mis-prioritizing consists in not comprehending the
Father's testimony to Jesus (v. 29-33). Or again using God's Law (v. 34) to misread Jesus'
death, to misperceive the light (vv. 35f.)." |
|
| "Jesus
Prepares for the Feast," analysis and reflection by Carolyn
Schneider, by The
Crossing Community of St Louis, Missouri.
| "Jesus' life has gotten bigger
than the walls that divide. There is room here for the Greeks,
too." |
|
| Commentary
by Hall Harris at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
| "The one who serves
Jesus is the one who gives up his claim to life in the present world
out of love for and allegiance to Jesus: to serve Jesus is in effect
to "hate" one's own life." |
|
|
"Death Leads to Life,"
All
Soul's, Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A
Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's
Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
| "How has the our society’s view of
death changed? How has it stayed the same?" |
|
|
| Articles & Background:
| "The Sociology of
Secrecy and the Fourth Gospel." Jerome H. Neyrey, in What Is John? Vol.
II: Literary and Social Readings of the Fourth Gospel, 79-109. F. Segovia, ed.
Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1998.
| "Once we start to pull back the veil, we notice numerous instances
of hiding-revealing, secrecy, ambiguity and even lying. The following is an attempt to
catalogue the primary and related instances of secrecy and "information control"
in the document." |
|
|
"A Troubled Soul:
Jesus in John 12:27-33," Barbara Foltin, Gravitas, 2001.
| "Jesus reveals that a perfect human
soul is not oblivious to the battles of this world and its love of
darkness." |
|
| From
What
I Believe Jacques Ellul, 1989. At
Theologians for Everyone.
| "...nothing can exist outside
God's love, for God is all in all." |
|
|
| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
| Bampfylde, Gillian,
"More Light on John Xii 34," Journal for the Study of the New
Testament, 1983. |
| Chilton, Bruce, "John
XII 34 and Targum Isaiah LII 13," Novum Testamentum, 1980. |
| Jeske, Richard L.,
"John 12:20-36: Expository Article," Interpretation, 1989. |
| Kovacs, Judith L.,
"'Now Shall the Ruler of this World Be Driven Out': Jesus' Death as Cosmic
Battle in John 12:20-36," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1995. |
| McNeil, Brian,
"The Quotation at John XII 34," Novum Testamentum, 1977. |
| Morrison, Craig E., O.
Carm.,
"The 'Hour of Distress' in Targum Neofiti and the 'Hour' in the
Gospel of John," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2005. |
| Schwager, Raymond, S.J.,
"Christ's Death and the Prophetic Critique of Sacrifice," Semeia,
1985. |
| Van Unnik, W.C.,
"The Quotation from the Old Testament in John 12:34," Novum
Testamentum, 1959. |
|
| Reviews: |
| Sermons:
|
"When You Look at Jesus, What Do You See?" 2 April 2006,
Walter W. Harms, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the
RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors. |
|
"The Hour Has Come,"
Jim Fitzgerald, Preacher's Magazine, 2006. |
|
"Jesus Will See You Now," Rev. Dr. Frederic Jones,
SpeakfromtheHeart.net. |
|
"If
a Seed Dies,"
Sermons from Seattle,
Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington. |
|
"Sacred Ground," the
Rev. Debra Metzgar Shew, Day
1, 2003. |
|
"You Have Never Been Hurt," Fr. Richard Rohr,
30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1999. |
|
"What Does It Mean
to See Jesus?" John Jewell,
2000. |
| Father
Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and
Homily
|
| Triumph or Tragedy? John 12:12-26, Ray C. Stedman.
Text or
Real Audio. |
| Faithful Belief and Fatal Unbelief - John 12:27-50, Ray C. Stedman.
Text or
Real Audio. |
|
| With Children:
|
"My Heart Is Troubled,"
Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com. |
|
"Sir, We
Would See Jesus," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com. |
|
"David and Jessie Find the Family Album,"
"The
Glory of the Cross,"
children's story by Larry Broding, word-sunday.com. |
|
"Jesus Hears the
Voice of God," Sunday School
Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc. |
|
| Drama: |
| Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
| Clip Art Images:
John 12:20-33,
Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú. |
|
John 12:20-33, at
Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration.
Liberation emphasis. |
|
John 12:27-28, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds. |
|
John 12:20-33,
John 12:24-26, Liturgical Drawing,
Maria d.c. Zamora,
Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use
these for free.") |
|
| Hymns and Music:
|
| Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's
Art Index:
|
| Movies scenes with the following themes,
listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
|
| Study Links and Resources for the
Book of John |
|
