Jesus means the hour for His death, burial, and resurrection had come, and through those events He would be glorified.
Les Feldick repeatedly says Jesus made this statement just before the crucifixion, when Greeks were asking to see Him. The 'hour' that had come was the time of His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus then used the picture of a kernel of wheat to show that His death was necessary before much fruit could follow.
John 12:23 — This is the exact verse in which Jesus says the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
John 12:24 — Jesus immediately explains the hour through the picture of a seed that must die before it produces much fruit.
Scripture sets the scene as the Passover feast draws near. John 12:20 says there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast. These Greeks came to Philip and asked, 'Sir, we would see Jesus' (John 12:21). In John 12:23, Jesus answered, 'The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.' Then in John 12:24 He explained what that hour would involve: 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.' The Bible itself links the coming hour to a seed's death and the abundant fruit that follows.
Les Feldick teaches that when Jesus said 'the hour is come,' He was announcing that the time for His crucifixion had arrived. Les repeatedly describes the setting as just days before the cross, with a massive Passover crowd gathering in Jerusalem and Greeks—Gentiles—wanting to see Jesus (Clips 0, 1, 2). Instead of bringing the Greeks to Jesus, Jesus answered with the seed illustration: a kernel of wheat that falls into the ground and dies brings forth much fruit; otherwise it abides alone (Clips 1, 2, 3). Les says this is a common, everyday farming/gardening example, but it speaks of Jesus' own death, burial, and resurrection (Clips 1, 2, 5). He also notes that this is why Jesus could not deal with Gentiles up to that point in His earthly ministry—the hour for His glorification through the cross had not yet come (Clip 5). For believers, Les connects the verse to new life: God put the old man to death by crucifixion, but did not leave believers in the grave; He gave them resurrection life (Clip 4). Les also says that from the New Testament record, Jesus was 'really glorified when He defeated Satan there at the cross' (Clip 6).
In John 12:20-21, certain Greeks who came up to worship at the feast asked Philip, 'Sir, we would see Jesus.' Jesus did not reply by saying, 'Bring them to Me' or 'Take Me to them.' Instead, He said, 'The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified' (John 12:23). Les Feldick explains that this took place just before the crucifixion, as a great crowd gathered for the Passover, and that Jesus was speaking of the time of His death, burial, and resurrection (Clips 0, 1, 2). Les also says Jesus used this response to explain why He could not deal with Gentiles up to that point in His earthly ministry (Clip 5).
Jesus gave the picture of a corn of wheat: unless it falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone, but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit (John 12:24). Les Feldick says this is a common, everyday example every gardener and farmer knows—a seed in a bag or container stays alone and produces nothing until it is put in the ground and dies (Clip 3). He applies the illustration directly to Jesus: the seed's death and the much fruit stand for His own death, burial, and resurrection (Clips 1, 2, 5). The death is necessary before the fruit can appear.
Les Feldick connects John 12:23 to what God does for the believer. He says the believer has been put to death by crucifixion with old Adam, but God did not leave believers in the grave; instead, He gave new life, resurrection life (Clip 4). The same hour that brought Christ's glorification through death, burial, and resurrection is the hour in which believers receive resurrection life in Les's teaching.
Les Feldick teaches that from the New Testament record we understand that Jesus was 'really glorified when He defeated Satan there at the cross' (Clip 6). At the same time, he notes that some prophecies speak of the glory that will follow at the setting up of His Kingdom. So while the specific 'hour' in John 12:23 points to the cross and what followed, the broader glory of Christ's Kingdom is also part of the picture in Les's teaching.
The Feast Setting
Les sets the scene: this happened just days before the crucifixion as a huge Passover crowd gathered in Jerusalem, and some Greeks among them wanted to see Jesus.
The Hour Means the Cross
Les directly says Jesus was ready to go to the cross and that the 'hour' and the seed illustration refer to His own death, burial, and resurrection.
Not 'Bring Them to Me'
Les notes Jesus did not call the Greeks to Him; instead He announced the hour of His glorification through death, burial, and resurrection, using the seed example.
Seed in the Ground
Les explains the kernel of wheat as a common farming/gardening example: until a seed is put in the ground and dies, it abides alone and produces nothing.
Resurrection Life for Believers
Les uses John 12:23 to show that after crucifixion the believer is not left in the grave but is given new, resurrection life.
Why Gentiles Were Not Dealt With Yet
Les says Jesus used the announcement of the hour to explain why He could not deal with Gentiles up to that point—the hour of glorification through death, burial, and resurrection had to come first.
True Glory at the Cross
Les says that from the New Testament record, Jesus was really glorified when He defeated Satan at the cross, while other prophetic passages point to the glory of His future Kingdom.
Revelation 18 & Daniel 2: The Fall of Babylon Explained
And then verse 27, Oh after all of these cataclysmic signs, all of the devastation of earthquakes and volcanoes and meteorites and famine and floods, you name it. After all of this, then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, look up, lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.
John 12:20: And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
This verse sets the scene: Greeks were present at the Passover feast, which led to the request to see Jesus.
John 12:21: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
The Greeks' request prompted Jesus' response in John 12:23 about the hour of His glorification.
John 12:23: And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
This is the key verse in the question, where Jesus announces that His hour of glorification has arrived.
John 12:24: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Jesus uses the dying seed to picture how His own death would bring much fruit.
Jesus did not say 'Bring them to Me' or 'Take Me to them.' Instead, He answered by saying the hour had come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Les Feldick explains that His response pointed to His coming death, burial, and resurrection, not to an immediate meeting with the Greeks.
Jesus used a seed as an everyday example: unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it stays alone and produces nothing. Les says this pictured Jesus' own death, burial, and resurrection, through which much fruit would come.
It is the approaching time of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. Les repeatedly says this happened just before the crucifixion, when the Passover feast was gathering, and that Jesus announced the hour had come.
Yes. He says the believer has been put to death by crucifixion, but God did not leave him in the grave; He gave him new life, resurrection life (Clip 4).
Watch the Teaching: Redemption Explained: From Law to Grace (Romans 3 & 6)