International Gospel Hour

Jeff Archey: Studying the life of Christ is of necessity so that our lives will follow after Christ. We have a worthy study of John 12 just ahead from the International Gospel Hour. Please stay with us.

Jay Webb: It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our hearts for this time of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archey, of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. Here’s Jeff.

Jeff Archey: Well, thank you to our Jay Webb and greetings to all of you. It’s great to have you with us for our study today here from the International Gospel Hour, and we want to begin with reading our lesson text from John the 12th chapter, verses 20 through 33.

The Bible reads, "Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.' Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

But Jesus answered them, saying, 'The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 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. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

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. 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. Father, glorify your name.'

Then a voice came from heaven, saying, 'I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.' Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, 'An angel has spoken to him.' Jesus answered and said, 'This voice did not come because of me, but for your sake.

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself.' This he said, signifying by what death he would die."

Friends, this is excellent material, and let’s note some things that are quite noteworthy. From verses 20 through 22, we see the certain Greeks. The late Guy N. Woods observed that this is one of the first indications of interest on the part of non-Jews in the teaching of the Lord, a concern which eventually was to sweep over the entire Gentile world as a mighty river bringing salvation to uncounted multitudes of people. Amen.

In verse 23, Jesus said, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified." In this context, Jesus realized the time had arrived for him to die for the world. With a soul that was troubled, as we note in verse 27, he knew if he was to be lifted up, he would draw all mankind unto him, John 12:32. It would glorify his Father, and everyone should be thankful for the love of God that sent Jesus into this world to die for us, John 3:16 and Romans 5:6 through 10.

Now let’s note verse 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." So the one that follows Christ will be with Christ, will carry forth his bidding, and how God will honor those who will follow his Son. What a beautiful, beautiful thought.

For the remainder of our broadcast, I’d like for you and I to think on the phrase, "the hour is come," considering that the hour is upon us all to glorify God with our lives. It was Peter who said in 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

In Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Yes, friends, the hour is come, the time is now to challenge our lives constantly with all diligence and focus to make certain that we are doing what we need to do. And in the words of Paul in Romans 13:11, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."

Friends, the hour has come for us to do the right thing, and the hour has come for some other reminders as well. I’m going to pause here for 30 seconds and we’ll be right back.

Jay Webb: You can find International Gospel Hour on X, formerly known as Twitter. Just search @hour_gospel. That’s hour_gospel. And please repost our content. International Gospel Hour is on X, formerly Twitter, @hour_gospel. That’s hour_gospel. Thanks for following.

Jeff Archey: Friends, we submit to you the hour is come that preachers should preach the word. The challenge unto the young preacher Timothy was quite simple: preach the word, 2 Timothy 4:2. When preaching the word, and we preach nothing but the word, it’s the only message, friends, that will save mankind.

The proclamation of the gospel in Romans 1:16, and to see that gospel that was preached, that was received, by which they were saved and in which they stood, 1 Corinthians 15:1 through 4. The death, the burial, and the resurrection of Christ to bring forth the gospel, the good news that will indeed make the difference in mankind’s life.

The hour is come that preachers should preach the word to make certain that book, chapter, and verse is used appropriately; that we be individuals according to 2 Timothy chapter 2 to rightly divide the word of truth; and to be as those in Berea in Acts 17:10 and 11 to search the scriptures daily, not only to receive the word with readiness of mind but search the scriptures daily whether those things are so.

Friends, if there are matters of which we proclaim on this broadcast that your searching of the scripture teaches otherwise, or you’ve come across something of which we would be mistaken, we’re thankful to always hear from our listeners. Of course, we would kindly ask that you present it in a civil and a gracious way and be open as well as we should be open as we would reason together in the spirit of Isaiah 1:18.

Secondly, I submit to you the hour is come that knowledge of the word should be a priority. How thankful we are for you, our listener, and again to prompt you to not simply accept what you hear from any broadcast but to search those scriptures as we mentioned moments ago like the Bereans in Acts 17:10 and 11.

The word should be known as in 1 Timothy 4:12, being an example of the believers in word. And in 1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer of the things of the hope that is within you, of what people may ask of you with meekness and fear." How the word will indeed judge us in the last day, John 12:48. Therefore, we should grow in our knowledge of the word of God and apply it appropriately.

I submit to you that the hour is come and let us be reminded of the brevity of life. We have this hour; we may not have the next hour. In James 4:14, "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."

As in the line of the old hymn, "Softly and Tenderly," time is now fleeting, the moments are passing, and how time goes by quickly every day. What was that Paul said earlier from Romans 13:11? Our salvation is nearer than when we believed. So true.

I submit to you a fourth matter: the hour is come to renew our lives by having God first in all that we do. That’s the simplicity of Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Consider also with me the hour is come to make certain our families are led to God, by God, and for God. When we look at Ephesians 5:22 through 25, "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and he is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her."

Husbands, let’s dwell with our wives according to knowledge, 1 Peter 3:7, to grow in our knowledge how to love and cherish our wives as Christ did the church. Let’s think about fathers who provide for your children as we note in 1 Timothy 5:8, to nurture and admonish them, Ephesians 6:4.

Let’s make certain our families are led to God, by God, and for God. And I've got a Bible study by mail that we want to send you. We’ll send a copy to every member of your family. You can sit down for your Bible study together. Here is our Jay Webb with that special detail and that special offer.

Jay Webb: An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled "God and Man: How to Be Saved From Sin." This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man and, friends, like all materials, it’s free.

Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say "God and Man." Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the contact tab, and leave us the same information: name, address, and type "God and Man" in the message box.

Another Bible study that is free from IGH and our friends at god-and-man.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you: g-o-d-dash-a-n-d-dash-m-a-n-dot-com. We’d love to hear from you.

Jeff Archey: Well, friends, we hope that this Bible study will be of help to you, for the hour is come that we need to get our families studying together. Don’t forget, tell us how many copies you need per person in your family and we’ll send those to you quickly. We’ll continue this study together at another time and thanks for joining me today here on the International Gospel Hour. I am Jeff Archey and, friends, keep listening.

Jay Webb: Thank you for listening today. To God be the glory, and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to his word to walk in his way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com, and join us next time.