John 12 - The Swindoll Study Bible

A FAITHFUL BROTHER John 12:20-22 Andrew appears by name on the pages of John’s Gospel three times. Not one time does he seem significant, but all three times he’s involved in bringing people to Christ. The first time is in John 1:40-42, where he brings his brother Simon Peter to Jesus. A few chapters later, when the disciples are challenged to feed more than five thousand people, Andrew is the one who finds the little boy who ends up sharing his lunch. That’s Andrew, bringing the little boy to meet Christ (John 6:8-9). Now here in John 12 are some Greeks who have come to the festival and want to meet Jesus, and Andrew is ready to take them.

Maybe Andrew never stands out as a leader or wows the crowds, but he is faithful to bring people to Christ. That’s our job as well.

THE PAIN LEADING UP TO THE CROSS John 12:27 In our familiarity with the story of the Cross, we have a tendency to forget the emotional time Jesus endured before facing it. His agony was so severe that when Jesus got to Gethsemane He sweat great drops of blood and asked that the cup of suffering be taken from Him (Matt. 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46). The pain leading up to our salvation and freedom was great, severe, and crushing. Although Jesus knew what was coming, He submitted Himself to God’s plan—and He did it for the sake of you and me.