John 12:12-30 (NKJV) Jesus Enters Jerusalem

12  The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13  took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!" 14  Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15  "Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt." 16  His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17  Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18  For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19  The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!" 20  Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21  Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 22  Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23  But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24  Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26  If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. 27  "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28  Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." 29  Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him." 30  Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.

​Questions to Consider:

1. What are some of the ways that people "hang on" to their lives too tightly in this life?  (Any other thoughts on verse 25?)​
2. Jesus lived a sinless life; that said, He was God in the flesh and the human side of His being had to feel terribly conflicted as He moved forward with the Father's plan.  What are some of the human emotions that Jesus would have been feeling?​
3. All ideas accepted: What do you think the Father meant when He spoke from heaven in response to Jesus saying, "Father, glorify Your name"?  (The Father spoke: "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again")

It was always going to come down to this--it was the beginning of the final showdown between Jesus and the religious leaders of the Jews.  Jesus had given them ample opportunities to recognize Him as the Christ.  He had performed great miracles that finally culminated in raising Lazarus from the dead.  There were no more credible excuses that the Pharisees could offer for rejecting Jesus as the Messiah.
Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem riding on the back of a young donkey.  This event is often referred to as the "Triumphal Entry."  It is recorded in all four of the Gospels.  Word travels quickly when a multitude of witnesses testify to someone being raised from the dead; especially after they had been sealed away in a tomb for four days.  The people rushed into the streets to greet the miracle working Rabbi!  
v.19 The Pharisees were disgusted by the reaction of the people praising Jesus.  They also realized that all their efforts to discredit Jesus had failed.  With a bit of hyperbole they said, "Look, the world has gone after Him!"  It this juncture the enemies of Jesus needed to act quickly before it was too late. 
v.20 At the time of Passover there were Greek Jews from the diasopra.  (This refers to Jews who had been dispersed and scattered among the nations through the centuries of conflict)  These Jews would have been new to hearing the news about the miracle-working Rabbi, and they were anxious to meet Jesus. v.23 For the first time Jesus acknowledges that His time is at hand.  (Time to fulfill the Father's plan of atoning for the sins of the world) 
On hearing about the group of "Greeks" that wanted to "see" Jesus, He began to prophesy about the events that were about to unfold.  v.24 Jesus compares Himself to a grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies; but in the end produces much grain. v.25 Is kind of cryptic.  "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."  (Meaning?  We should not live life as if this world is our home and final destiny; instead, we should live for the purposes of God) I would imagine that having the foreknowledge concerning one's death, would be taxing. That was true for Jesus.  v.27 "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say?  'Father, glorify Your name.'"
A voice spoke from heaven. v.28 "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."  The people heard the voice as if it was thunder; and some suggested that "An angel has spoken to Him."
Jesus told the crowd that the voice spoke to Him, not for His sake, but for the sake of those who were gathered with Him.  One of the things that Jesus established among His followers was overwhelming proof that He was the Messiah.  In order for them to soldier on without Jesus; to even remain in Jerusalem for the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the disciples needed to be absolutely convinced that He was the Christ.  Seeing Lazarus raised from the dead was proof.  Hearing a voice speaking from heaven was more evidence.  Of course, the greatest proof was yet to come.  An empty tomb.  ​