Lost in Translation: Die To Ourselves
John 12:20-27
Jay Haugh
Part of Sunday Notes
May 11, 2025

Die To Ourselves
John 12:20-27
May 11, 2025
Jay Haugh

So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. —John 11:53 ESV
So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. —John 12:10-11 ESV
Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. —John 12:20-22 ESV

And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” —John 12:23 ESV

Jesus’s death and resurrection is a sign to prove that He is the Son of God.

Jesus’s illustration for the one who comes to Him.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” —John 12:24 ESV

Life comes from death.

Jesus’s illustration reminds us that life comes from death.
Jesus’s application to the one who comes to Him.

“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” —John 12:25 ESV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him [“hates his life”] will not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16 ESV

It’s an exchange of physical life for eternal life.

“Dying to ourselves” means God gets all of you!

Eternal life is a free gift from God, but it costs you everything.

(1) When we die to ourselves, we exchange our minds in exchange for the mind of God.

Everyone will be discipled or formed by something.

When we don’t engage our Bibles, we possess a confidence that we were never intended to have.

(2) When we die to ourselves, we exchange our will in exchange to the will of God.

Jesus submitted His will to the will of the Father.

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” —John 6:38 ESV

“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” —John 12:26 ESV

(3) When we die to ourselves, we exchange our rights in exchange for God’s providential provision.

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” —John 12:27-28 ESV

(4) When we die to ourselves, we exchange our purpose in exchange for God’s glory.

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. —Acts 20:24 ESV

We give our glory for the glory of the gospel.

Big Idea:

When we follow Jesus, we agree to the great exchange.

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” —John 6:38-40 ESV


SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:


Memory Verse: Proverbs 2:6
For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.


The goal of these questions is to foster meaningful discussion and to encourage participants to reflect on God’s Word and lead to heart transformation. Feel free to modify or expand upon these questions based on the dynamics and needs of your Small Group.

Read John 12:20-28
(1) How do you think non-believers understand the phrase “die to self?” What does it generally mean to you? How does Jesus’ own life and impending death exemplify “dying to self?”

(2) Some Greeks, “God-fearers,” wanted to meet Jesus (v 20-22). What do you think excited them about Jesus? Why are you excited about Jesus? If you were speaking with a non-believer, what could you share to help them get excited about Jesus?

(3) Jesus responds to the request by sharing that the time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified (v 23). What was Jesus referring to when He mentioned being glorified? How can we shift our focus from our own glory and self-focused purposes to better align with God’s glory? What are some practical ways to live for His fame?

(4) In what ways was Jesus’ death like the “falling and dying” of the grain of wheat? Considering the immediate and long-term impact, what was the “much fruit” that came as a result of Jesus’ death?

(5) How does the analogy of the grain of wheat apply to our lives as followers of Jesus? Where in your life is God calling you to surrender control, ambition, comfort, or reputation so that He can produce fruit? What makes that hard or scary? What are some examples of fruit that can come from our own “dying to self?”

(6) Jesus says that those who love their life will lose it and those who hate their life will keep it for eternity (v 25). What are some unhealthy ways we can love our life that might conflict with following Jesus? What does it mean to hate your life in this world? What are some potential misunderstandings of this phrase, and how can we interpret it in a healthy way?

(7) Serving Christ comes with honor from the Father (v 26). In what ways might our desire for human recognition get in the way of fully serving Christ? How does the promise of honor from the Father encourage you when serving feels unnoticed or difficult? Where might Jesus be inviting you to follow and serve Him right now?

(8) Jesus expresses having some inner turmoil (v 27), yet He remains faithful to God’s will. Can you recall a time when following God was difficult or costly for you? What did you learn about yourself and God through that experience?