Note: This series is written as a first-person narrative to present Jesus in the context he walked in with the unknown disciple that narrates introducing my thoughts and sparking more ideas with his questions. Enjoy.
Jesus was still healing in the temple’s court of the Gentiles. The crowd loved him, so the priests couldn’t touch him because it could have caused a riot.
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. I watched as a few went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”
Why did they ask him? I wondered. Then I remembered he was from around the Decapolis where Jews and Gentiles live together. They would be more comfortable around him than someone with a Jewish name.
Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip, in turn, told Jesus. He beckoned them forward.
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
“Now, my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from Heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.”
The crowd got excited.
“Was that thunder?”
“No, a voice. An angel spoke.”
“Wow…”
“It came from everywhere. Like thunder.”
“The voice of God.”
Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”
Jesus got up and left. We followed as he slipped away, hiding him in the center of us. While we walked, I wondered what he meant by being lifted up and drawing all people.
A Ronin's Journey 