John 12:30
In response, Jesus said, "This voice was not for My benefit, but yours.
Jesus replied
The phrase "Jesus replied" indicates a direct response from Jesus, emphasizing His role as a teacher and communicator of divine truth. In the Greek, the word for "replied" is "ἀπεκρίθη" (apekrithē), which is often used in the New Testament to denote a thoughtful and authoritative answer. This highlights Jesus' intentional engagement with His audience, ensuring that His teachings are clear and purposeful. Historically, Jesus' responses often served to clarify misunderstandings and reveal deeper spiritual truths, as seen throughout the Gospels.

This voice
The term "voice" refers to the audible manifestation of God's presence, which had just occurred in the preceding verses. In the Greek, "φωνή" (phōnē) can mean sound or voice, and it is used in the New Testament to describe divine communication. This particular voice was a heavenly affirmation of Jesus' mission, reminiscent of God's voice at Jesus' baptism and transfiguration. Theologically, it underscores the divine approval and authority of Jesus' ministry, serving as a testament to His identity as the Son of God.

was not for My benefit
Here, Jesus clarifies that the divine voice was not for His own sake. The Greek word "ἐμοῦ" (emou) for "My" emphasizes the personal nature of the statement. Jesus, being in perfect communion with the Father, did not require external affirmation. This phrase highlights His self-awareness and divine confidence, as He was fully assured of His mission and identity. Historically, this reflects the consistent theme in the Gospels where Jesus seeks to direct attention away from Himself and towards the Father’s will and the benefit of others.

but yours
The phrase "but yours" shifts the focus to the audience, indicating that the divine voice was intended for their understanding and edification. The Greek "ὑμῶν" (humōn) for "yours" is plural, addressing the collective group present. This emphasizes the inclusive nature of Jesus' ministry, which was aimed at enlightening and guiding all who would listen. Scripturally, this aligns with the broader narrative of the Gospel of John, where signs and wonders are performed so that people might believe and have life in His name (John 20:31). Theologically, it underscores the grace and patience of God, who continually reaches out to humanity to reveal His truth and love.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is responding to a voice from heaven that has just spoken. He is the Son of God, the Messiah, and the Savior of the world.

2. The Crowd
The people who were present when the voice from heaven spoke. They are witnesses to the events and are the intended recipients of the message.

3. The Voice from Heaven
This is the voice of God the Father, affirming Jesus' mission and purpose. It serves as a divine confirmation of Jesus' identity and work.

4. Jerusalem
The city where these events are taking place. It is significant as the center of Jewish worship and the location of many key events in Jesus' ministry.

5. The Event of the Triumphal Entry
This passage occurs shortly after Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event that signifies His kingship and fulfillment of prophecy.
Teaching Points
Divine Affirmation
God's voice serves to affirm Jesus' mission and identity. Believers can trust in the divine nature and purpose of Jesus' work.

Purpose of Signs
The signs and wonders, including the voice from heaven, are for the benefit of the people, to strengthen their faith and understanding.

God's Communication
God communicates in ways that are meant to be understood and to build faith. We should be attentive to how God speaks to us today through His Word and Spirit.

Faith and Witness
The crowd's experience serves as a reminder that our faith is often strengthened through witnessing God's work in the world. We should be open to seeing and sharing these experiences.

Jesus' Mission
Understanding that Jesus' mission was divinely ordained and affirmed can deepen our commitment to following Him and sharing His message.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the voice from heaven in John 12:30 serve to affirm Jesus' mission, and what impact should this have on our faith today?

2. In what ways does God communicate with us today, and how can we be more attentive to His voice?

3. How does the affirmation of Jesus' mission in John 12:30 connect with other instances of divine affirmation in the Gospels?

4. What role do signs and wonders play in strengthening our faith, and how can we apply this understanding in our daily walk with Christ?

5. How can we, like the crowd in John 12, be witnesses to God's work in the world, and what practical steps can we take to share these experiences with others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 3:17
This verse describes another instance where a voice from heaven affirms Jesus, at His baptism, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." It connects to the divine affirmation of Jesus' mission.

John 11:42
Jesus prays before raising Lazarus, stating that He speaks for the benefit of the people, so they may believe. This highlights the purpose of divine signs and affirmations for the benefit of the witnesses.

Exodus 19:9
God speaks to Moses in a way that the people can hear, so they will believe. This Old Testament event parallels the purpose of the voice from heaven in John 12:30.
A Lesson to Pastors and TeachersPastor Funcke., W. Baxendale.John 12:20-33
A Sight of JesusL. H. Wiseman, M. A.John 12:20-33
A Sight of JesusC. A. Stakeley.John 12:20-33
Andrew: Leading Others to ChristT. Gasquoine, B. A.John 12:20-33
Certain GreeksG. M. Grant, B. D.John 12:20-33
Congregations Want to See ChristPastor Funcke.John 12:20-33
East and West Coming to ChristG. M. Grant, B. D.John 12:20-33
Every Christian May be UsefulW. Arnot.John 12:20-33
Manifestations of HumanityD. Thomas, D. D.John 12:20-33
Opportunity to be UsedG. A. Sowter, M. A.John 12:20-33
Seeing ChristR. Collyer, D. D.John 12:20-33
The Consequences of Seeing JesusH. Bonar, D. D.John 12:20-33
The Desire to See JesusW. Birch.John 12:20-33
The Great ExhibitionD. Griffiths.John 12:20-33
The Incident and its SignificanceF. Godet, D. D.John 12:20-33
The Inquiring GreeksC. S. Robinson, D. D.John 12:20-33
The Movement of Greek Thought Toward ChristH. Macmillan, D. D.John 12:20-33
The Two EpiphaniesH. Macmillan, D. D.John 12:20-33
We Would See JesusG. A. Sowter, M. A.John 12:20-33
What the World Owes to the GreeksH. Macmillan, D. D.John 12:20-33
Wishing to See JesusJ. Vaughan, M. A.John 12:20-33
Through Trouble to TriumphB. Thomas John 12:27-30
Human Glory, What it Comes ToJ. Saurin.John 12:28-30
The Best Prayer Ever OfferedW. F. Adeney, M. A.John 12:28-30
The Changed PrayerJohn 12:28-30
The Glorified NameR. Tuck, B. A.John 12:28-30
The Glory of God in Christ CrucifiedJ. McLaurin.John 12:28-30
The Glory of God Interpreted in ChristH. W. Beecher.John 12:28-30
The Glory of God the Object of GraceC. H. Spurgeon.John 12:28-30
The Truest and Deepest View of LifeR. Tuck, B. A.John 12:28-30
The Voice from HeavenF. Godet, D. D., T. Whitelaw, D. D.John 12:28-30
Voices from the Excellent GloryC. H. Spurgeon.John 12:28-30
People
Andrew, Esaias, Isaiah, Jesus, Judas, Lazarus, Martha, Mary, Philip, Simon
Places
Bethany, Bethsaida, Galilee, Jerusalem, Zion
Topics
Account, Benefit, Hasn't, Sake, Sakes, Voice, Yours
Dictionary of Bible Themes
John 12:23-32

     2422   gospel, confirmation

John 12:27-33

     1193   glory, revelation of

Library
Easter Day
Chester Cathedral. 1870. St John xii. 24, 25. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." This is our Lord's own parable. In it He tells us that His death, His resurrection, His ascension, is a mystery which we may believe, not only because the Bible tells us of it, but because
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

December 28 Evening
We would see Jesus.--JOHN 12:21. O Lord, we have waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.--I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.--Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

September 8 Evening
Christ the firstfruits.--I COR. 15:23. Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.--If the firstfruit be holy the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.--Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.--If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.--The Lord Jesus Christ . . . shall change our vile
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

September 22 Evening
O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.--MATT. 26:39. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.--He . . . became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.--In the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

May 8 Morning
It pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief.--ISA. 53:10. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.--Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. Being found in
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 29 Morning
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.--PROV. 27:1. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.--Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

June 12. "We Would See Jesus" (John xii. 21).
"We would see Jesus" (John xii. 21). Glory to Him for all the things laid up for us in the days to come. Glory to Him for all the visions of service in the future; the opportunities of doing good that are far away as well as close at hand. Our Saviour was able to despise the cross for the joy that was before Him. Let us look up to Him, and rise up to Him till we get on high and are able to look out from the mount of vision over all the land of far distances. There shall not a single thing come to
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

November 19. "We Would See Jesus" (John xii. 21).
"We would see Jesus" (John xii. 21). When any great blessing is awaiting us, the devil is sure to try and make it so disagreeable to us that we shall miss it. It is a good thing to know him as a liar, and remember, when he is trying to prejudice us strongly against any cause, that very likely the greatest blessing of our life lies there. Spurgeon once said that the best evidence that God was on our side is the devil's growl, and we are generally pretty safe in following a thing according to Satan's
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

May 8. "Except a Corn of Wheat Fall into the Ground and Die" (John xii. 24).
"Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die" (John xii. 24). Death and resurrection are the central ideas of nature and Christianity. We see them in the transformation of the chrysalis, in the buried seed bursting into the bud and blossom of the spring, in the transformation of the winding sheet of winter to the many tinted robes of spring. We see it all through the Bible in the symbol of circumcision, with its significance of death and life, in the passage of the Red Sea and the Jordan
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

April 14. "I if I be Lifted up from the Earth Will Draw all Men unto Me" (John xii. 32).
"I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto Me" (John xii. 32). A true and pure Christian life attracts the world. There are hundreds of men and women who find no inducements whatever in the lives of ordinary Christians to interest them in practical religion, but who are won at once by a true and victorious example. We believe that more men of the world step at a bound right into a life of entire consecration than into the intermediate state which is usually presented to them at the
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

After Christ: with Christ
'If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be.'--John xii. 26. Our Lord was strangely moved by the apparently trivial incident of certain Greeks desiring to see Him. He recognised and hailed in them the first-fruits of the Gentiles. The Eastern sages at His cradle, and these representatives of Western culture within a few hours of the Cross, were alike prophets. So, in His answer to their request, our Lord passes beyond the immediate bearing of the request,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Universal Magnet
'I, if I be lifted up ... will draw all men unto Me.'--JOHN xii. 32. 'Never man spake like this Man,' said the wondering Temple officials who were sent to apprehend Jesus. There are many aspects of our Lord's teaching in which it strikes one as unique; but perhaps none is more singular than the boundless boldness of His assertions of His importance to the world. Just think of such sayings as these: 'I am the Light of the world'; 'I am the Bread of Life'; 'I am the Door'; 'A greater than Solomon is
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Son of Man
'... Who is this Son of Man?'--JOHN xii. 34. I have thought that a useful sermon may be devoted to the consideration of the remarkable name which our Lord gives to Himself--'the Son of Man.' And I have selected this instance of its occurrence, rather than any other, because it brings out a point which is too frequently overlooked, viz. that the name was an entirely strange and enigmatical one to the people who heard it. This question of utter bewilderment distinctly shows us that, and negatives,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Love's Prodigality Censured and vindicated
'Then Jesus, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom He raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A New Kind of King
'On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm-trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when He had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. These things understood not His disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Parting Warning
'Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light.'--JOHN xii. 35,36 (R.V.). These are the last words of our Lord's public ministry. He afterwards spoke only to His followers in the sweet seclusion of the sympathetic home at Bethany, and amid the sanctities of the upper
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Praise of Men.
"They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."--John xii. 43. This is spoken of the chief rulers of the Jews, who, though they believed in Christ's Divine mission, were afraid to confess Him, lest they should incur temporal loss and shame from the Pharisees. The censure passed by St. John on these persons is too often applicable to Christians at the present day; perhaps, indeed, there is no one among us who has not at some time or other fallen under it. We love the good opinion
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

The Saviour Lifted Up, and the Look of Faith.
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."-John iii. 14, 15. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (This he said, signifying what death he should die.)"-John xii. 32, 33. IN order to make this subject plain, I will read the passage referred to-Num. xxi. 6-9. "And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much
Charles G. Finney—Sermons on Gospel Themes

On the Words of the Gospel, John xii. 44, "He that Believeth on Me, Believeth not on Me, but on Him that Sent Me. " against A
1. What is it, Brethren, which we have heard the Lord saying, "He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me"? [4174] It is good for us to believe on Christ, especially seeing that He hath also Himself expressly said this which ye have now heard, that is, that "He had come a Light into the world, and whosoever believeth on Him shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." [4175] Good then it is to believe on Christ; and a great evil it is not to believe on
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Christ Lifted Up
We have three things to notice. Christ crucified, Christ's glory. He calls it a lifting him up. Christ crucified, the minister's theme. It is the minister's business to lift Christ up in the gospel. Christ crucified, the heart's attraction. "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." His own glory--the minister's theme--the heart's attraction. I. I begin then: CHRIST'S CRUCIFIXION IS CHRIST'S GLORY. He uses the word "lifted up" to express the manner of his death. "I, if I be lifted up, will
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Israel and Britain. A Note of Warning
Her rejection of the Lord Jesus is the more amazing because Isaiah gave so clear an account of the Messiah, and so clearly pictured Jesus of Nazareth. Descriptions of him could not have been more explicit than were the prophecies of Isaiah. It would be very easy to construct an entire life of Christ out of the book of Isaiah, beginning with "a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel," and ending with "he made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 31: 1885

Sermon for St. Stephen's Day
Of three grades of those who learn to die unto themselves, like corn of wheat, that they may bring forth fruit; or of those who are beginners, those who are advancing, and those who are perfect in a Divine life. John xii. 24.--"Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." BY the corn of wheat we understand our Lord Jesus Christ, who by His death has brought forth much fruit for all men, if they are but willing not only to reign
Susannah Winkworth—The History and Life of the Reverend Doctor John Tauler

Answer to the Jewish Rabby's Letter.
WE Are now come to the letter of Mr. W's Jewish Rabby, whom Mr. W. calls his friend, and says his letter consists of calm and sedate reasoning, p. 55. I on the other hand can see no reason in it. But the reader than not need to rely upon my judgment. Therefore I will transcribe some parts of it, and then make some remarks. The argument of the letter is, that the story of Lazarus's being raised is an imposture; or else the Jews could not have been so wicked, as to be on that account provoked against
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

Our First Proposition Was, that There is Satisfactory Evidence that Many Pretending to be Original...
Our first proposition was, That there is satisfactory evidence that many pretending to be original witnesses of the Christian miracles, passed their lives in labours, dangers, and sufferings, voluntarily undertaken and undergone in attestation of the accounts which they delivered, and solely in consequence of their belief of the truth of those accounts; and that they also submitted, from the same motives, to new rules of conduct. Our second proposition, and which now remains to be treated of, is,
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

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