John 12:23: The Hour Has Come for the Son of Man to Be Glorified

Among the many pivotal moments in the Gospel of John, John 12:23 stands out as a turning point in Jesus’s ministry. The verse reads: “Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’” This powerful statement marks the transition from Jesus’s public ministry to the events that will culminate in His crucifixion and resurrection.

Setting the Scene: Context in John’s Gospel

To fully grasp the importance of John 12:23, it is essential to consider its narrative context. Jesus has just entered Jerusalem to the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd—an event often called the Triumphal Entry. Greeks who are in Jerusalem for the Passover festival seek an audience with Jesus, signaling the widening impact of His ministry beyond the Jewish people. When His disciples inform Him that the Greeks wish to see Him, Jesus responds not by addressing the request directly, but by making a profound declaration: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

The Meaning of “The Hour”

Throughout the Gospel of John, references to “the hour” serve as a motif for God’s appointed time for Jesus’s ultimate work. Earlier in the gospel, Jesus often says, “My hour has not yet come” (see John 2:4, 7:30, 8:20), indicating that the moment of His self-revelation and redemptive act is still in the future. With John 12:23, there is a dramatic shift: the long-awaited hour has arrived. This is not merely a chronological marker, but a theological pronouncement. Jesus’s “hour” refers to the time of His suffering, death, and resurrection—the means by which He will fulfill His mission and reveal God’s glory.

The Son of Man: Identity and Mission

Jesus’s use of the title “Son of Man” is significant. Rooted in the Old Testament, especially in the Book of Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14), this term evokes both humanity and exalted authority. In John’s gospel, “Son of Man” underscores Jesus’s unique identity as the One who bridges heaven and earth, who is both fully human and divinely appointed for a cosmic purpose. When Jesus states that the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified, He signals that His impending death is not a defeat, but the very means by which He will be exalted and His mission accomplished.

Glorification Through Sacrifice

In everyday terms, glory is often associated with triumph, fame, or honor. Yet, in John 12:23, Jesus redefines glory through the lens of sacrifice. The path to glory leads through suffering and self-giving love. The verses that follow make this even clearer: Jesus compares His impending death to a grain of wheat that must fall into the ground and die to produce much fruit (John 12:24). Thus, His glorification is inseparable from His willingness to lay down His life for others.

This paradoxical idea—that glory comes through humility, service, and sacrifice—stands at the heart of Christian faith. Jesus’s death, rather than diminishing His significance, becomes the ultimate revelation of God’s love, justice, and power. In being lifted up on the cross, Jesus draws all people to Himself (John 12:32), inaugurating a new era of salvation for humanity.

The Universal Scope of Jesus’s Mission

The presence of the Greeks seeking Jesus in John 12 underscores the universal scope of His mission. No longer is the message of salvation confined to a single nation; the “hour” brings inclusion and invitation to all peoples. Jesus’s glorification through the cross will break down barriers and open the way for all who believe, regardless of background or nationality.

This theme of universality is echoed throughout the New Testament and has profound implications for Christian life and witness. The cross, as the place of glorification, becomes the gathering point for humanity, where distinctions are transcended and a new community is formed in Christ.

Implications for Discipleship

John 12:23 is not just a statement about Jesus; it is also a call to His followers. The subsequent verses make it clear that those who would follow Jesus must embrace the same pattern of self-giving love. “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be” (John 12:26). Discipleship, then, is not about seeking glory in the world’s terms, but about participating in the life of Christ—a life marked by humility, service, and sacrifice.

For believers, John 12:23 serves as a challenge to reconsider what it means to pursue glory. It invites Christians to reject self-centered ambition and to accept the costly path of love, trusting that true exaltation comes through faithfulness and obedience to God’s will.

The Hope of Resurrection

Even as Jesus speaks about His impending death, there is an undercurrent of hope running through John 12:23. The glorification of the Son of Man includes not only the cross but also the resurrection. The grain of wheat that dies bears much fruit; the suffering of Jesus leads to new life for Himself and for all who believe in Him. This hope transforms the understanding of suffering and loss, offering assurance that God’s purposes ultimately lead to life and victory.