Where do Gentiles have to start once the death, burial, and resurrection is revealed as God's plan of salvation?
Once the death, burial, and resurrection is revealed as God’s plan of salvation, Gentiles must start there—at that finished work—not at John the Baptist or Christ’s earthly ministry. From that point forward, “henceforth,” is where God’s program for Gentiles kicks in gear and salvation is grounded.
Les explains that “henceforth” means from that point on. He says He is not going back to John the Baptist or to Christ’s earthly ministry, but to His death, burial, and resurrection. That is where things really kick in gear for us Gentiles. Les notes that all the way through the Old Testament, God was dealing with His covenant people under the Law, and all the prophets wrote under the Law and practiced it. But once the death, burial, and resurrection has been revealed to us Gentiles as God’s plan of salvation, that’s where we have to start. In John 12, the Greeks, Gentiles, who came to worship were, in his view, likely curious bystanders rather than proselytes.