“Now some Greeks were among those who had gone up to worship at the feast. So these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew, and they both went and told Jesus. Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain. The one who loves his life destroys it, and the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life. If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be too. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”, John 12:20-26 NET
- Interesting thought that I have never had (for some reason), it seems that in this gospel and in this instance, Jesus may have been referring to Himself when He says, “The one who loves his life destroys it, and the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life.”. Right after that He says, “If anyone wants to serve me…”. That being said, in the other accounts, Jesus seems to be talking about anyone who wants to follow Him (that whoever hates his life will lose it, etc.) Not only that, Jesus says that anyone who wants to serve Him, must follow Him which would include the “loses his life” teachings. I think that most likely Jesus was referring to Himself, as the example setter, and to those who wanted to follow Him.
““Now my soul is greatly distressed. And what should I say? ‘Father, deliver me from this hour’? No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour.”, John 12:27 NET