Where were the crowds coming from for the Feast of Passover in John 12?
According to John 12, shortly before the crucifixion, the crowds were coming from all over the Roman Empire for the Feast of Passover. Among those gathered were inquisitive Gentiles, identified as Greeks, who had come up to worship at the Feast and sought to see Jesus.
Les teaches that in John 12, just hours before the crucifixion, the crowds were already coming in from all over the Roman Empire for the Feast of Passover. Among that crowd were Gentiles, some Greeks, who were inquisitive outsiders. Les compares this to standing back at the Wailing Wall and watching Jews perform rituals and prayers while Gentiles merely observe. In verse 20 certain Greeks came up to worship at the Feast and asked Philip of Bethsaida of Galilee, "Sir, we would see Jesus." Philip, remembering earlier rebuffs to Gentiles, checked with Andrew, and then Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
More Questions
Who were the Greeks in John 12:20 and how were they like Gentiles at the Wailing Wall?
Among the Passover crowd in John 12 were inquiring Gentiles—the Greeks of verse 20—who were outsiders looking on, comparable to Gentiles standing back at the Wailing Wall watching Jews perform their rituals and prayers.
What was happening in Jerusalem at the time of John 12:20?
The setting of John 12:20 is during the buildup to the week of the Feast of Passover, when many Jews from all over the then-known world had come to Jerusalem.