“His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfilment of prophecy.” John 12:16 – What was a fulfilment of prophecy? The moment of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and its significance. John was fully aware of what Luke was doing in his gospel and he is repeating the thought and then using it in his themes. Many have been trying to push Jesus into making his Messiahship public but he has steadfastly refused. The moment of His time coming has been planned to the nth degree. It was to happen exactly as determined by the Lord of the universe and revealed on the exact day prophesied in the Old Testament. That day being 6th April 32 AD, exactly 173,880 days after Artaxerxes Longimanes gave the decree to rebuild Jerusalem on March 14th 445 BC.
That having happened, the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into His glory (John 12:23). What has happened for it to now be time for the Son of Man to enter into His glory? Jesus has been publically recognised as Messiah, the moment all of Scripture (and all of creation) has been waiting for. If His glory was not recognised by His human creation who spurned him (Jn 1:11) then even the rocks beside the road will shout His glory! (Luke 19:40) Someone or something has to shout His glory.
From this point on John begins his “glory” theme. [12:16, 23, 28 and 41] Notice also John’s “believe” theme is heavily present (12:37, 38,39, 44, 46 and 47) and so too the light theme (12:35, 36, 42 and 46). But there is a new focus introduced now: that of the Messiah destined to die (John 12:24, 27, 33 and 34).
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.
John 12:24
“Now My soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!
John 12:27
He said this to indicate how He was going to die. The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can You say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”
Joh 12:33-34
Now Jesus and John make it explicit what was going to happen to Messiah. To the point where the crowd say – we understand Messiah will live forever but you say the Son of Man will die? What’s the connection? Who is this Son of Man? Now it is being made explicit that when Messiah comes the first time He will come as Messiah Son of Joseph, the suffering servant. Now this blows their doors off. This is not what we expect, they say. Messiah should live forever. He is coming to usher in the Life of the Age of Come. He is coming to rule Israel and the world; not die!
Blessed is he who has learned to laugh at himself for he shall never cease to be entertained.
Anon
So, then I retired … and found out I was perfect for the job!