that at one time Jesus had said, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles." (Matt. x. 5.) On reflection they probably remem- bered our Lord's kindness to the Canaanitish mother, and the Roman centurion, and resolved to tell Him.
Of course it is possible that the Greeks only wanted to look at our Lord and see what He was like, and not to converse with Him. If this was all, the disciples may have doubted whethei it was worth mentioning to Jesus.
23.— [And Jesus answered them, saying.] It is doubtful whether this was spoken to the two disciples only, — or to them and the Greeks before mentioned, — or to the twelve alone. I incline to think it must mean to the twelve, and specially to Andrew and Philip.
[The hour is come. ..Son of man... glorified.'] The true key-note to this verse, and the two which follow, is probably this. Our Lord saw the state of mind in which His followers were. He saw them excited by His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and the desire of strangers like the Greeks to see their Master. He saw they .were secretly expecting a glorious kingdom to be immediately set up, in which they would have chief places, pow- er, and authority. He proceeds to rectify their conceptions, and to remind them of what He had repeatedly told them, His own death.
The hour has certainly arrived for my being glorified. I am about to leave the world, ascend up to my Father, finish the work I came to do, and be highly exalted. My earthly ministry of humiliation is ending, and my time of glory is drawing nigh. But all this is to be brought about in a way very different from that which you are thinking about. I am going to a cross first, and not a throne. I am going first to be condemned, crucified, and slain.
That "glorified" means "to be crucified," I cannot admit, with such texts as John vii. 39 and xii. 16 before me. That the cross led to glory, and that through the crucifixion came the glorification, I believe firmly. But the glory came after the suffering. (Luke xxiv. 26.)
Let us note that " the hour " or season for Christ to finish His ministry was fixed and appointed. Till it came the Jews could do nothing to stop His preaching or harm His person. Just so it is with His people in one sense. Each is immortal till his work is done.
Does it not seem that the inquiry of the Greeks has much to do with our Lord's opening words? — "The Gentiles are begin- ning to inquire after Me. Thus the hour is manifestly come that my work should be finished, and my kingdom fully set up in the world, by my crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension."
2i.~~[Verily, verily I say unto you.~\ This is one of those solemn 15