Jesus predicts His death20Some Greeks were among those who had come to worship at the feast.21They came to Philip, who was a Galilean from Bethsaida, with a request: "Sir, we want to see Jesus."22Philip told Andrew this and then both went to tell Jesus.23He replied: "Now the time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24I tell you most emphatically, unless a seed of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it reproduces itself many times over.25Anyone who lives his life for himself will lose it, but anyone who hates the idea of living in the world for himself, will inherit eternal life.26So whoever chooses to serve Me must follow Me. Where I choose to go, My servant will also go. And My Father will honour all who serve Me.27"Yet now I feel troubled. So what shall I say? 'Father save me from this hour?' No, this was the very reason for which I came.28Father, glorify Your name!" Then a voice from heaven was heard saying: "I have glorified it and will glorify it again."29The crowd said that it had thundered, but others said an angel had spoken to Jesus.30"This voice was for your benefit, not mine," Jesus said. "The time of judgment on this world has come.31Now the prince of this world, the devil, will be driven out.32But when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to Myself."33This was a veiled reference to the way in which He was going to die.34Then the crowd responded: "In the law we are told that the Christ will be eternal. How can you say, then, that the Son of Man has to be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man to whom you refer?"35Jesus answered: "The Light is going to be with you for only a little longer. Walk in the Light while it is here with you, before the darkness comes to overtake you. For anyone who walks in the dark cannot see where he is going.36While the Light is here with you, trust in that Light, and then you will become sons of that Light." When He had said this, Jesus left them and went away secretly.
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)