No — Jesus did not meet with the Greeks; He answered that the hour had come for His death, burial, and resurrection, using the kernel of wheat to explain why.
Jesus was about 48 hours from the cross. The Greeks asked Philip for a meeting, but Jesus responded that the Son of Man must be glorified through death before He could produce spiritual fruit. Until that work was accomplished, He could not be the object of faith for Gentiles.
John 12:20-24 — These verses record the incident: Greeks asking to see Jesus, and Jesus answering with the hour of His glorification and the seed that must die.
John's Gospel records that at the Feast of Passover, certain Greeks (Gentiles) among those who had come up to worship approached Philip and asked, 'Sir, we would see Jesus' (John 12:20-21). Philip told Andrew, and together they told Jesus (John 12:22). Jesus did not invite them in or go out to them. Instead He replied, 'The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified' (John 12:23). He then explained with a farming example: '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' (John 12:24).
Les places the encounter just before the crucifixion, saying the crowds are gathering for the Passover and Jesus is within about 48 hours of the cross. Philip, remembering that Jesus had previously rebuffed Gentile approaches, did not want to bring the request directly to Jesus, so he consulted Andrew. When they told Jesus, Jesus replied, 'The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified' — meaning His death, burial, and resurrection. Les explains the kernel of wheat: a seed must be put into the ground and die before it can reproduce; in the same way, Jesus could not yet be an object of faith for the Greeks until His death and resurrection had taken place. Les also suggests the Greeks were more curiosity seekers than proselytes, mingling with the Jewish crowds at the feast.
Jesus was referring to His coming death, burial, and resurrection. Les notes that this happened just before the crucifixion, within about 48 hours of the cross, when people were gathering for the Passover. The hour had arrived for the Son of Man to be glorified through His sacrificial work.
Philip remembered that Jesus had sort of rebuffed Gentiles in earlier experiences and did not want to put his foot in his mouth. So he checked with Andrew, and together they told Jesus that some Greeks wanted to see Him.
A seed must be put into the ground and die before it can spring forth with new life. Les applies this directly to Jesus: His death, burial, and resurrection had to happen before He could become the object of faith for Greeks and for all Gentiles. Believers are identified with Christ in His death and burial.
Scripture says they came up to worship at the feast, but Les suggests they may have been more like curiosity seekers, mingling with Jewish crowds to watch the Passover activities, just as modern tourists might observe worship at the Wailing Wall. He does not think they were necessarily proselytes.
Jesus' Ministry Focused on Jews
Les notes that, aside from the Canaanite woman and a Roman centurion, there is no account of Jesus ministering to Gentiles during His earthly ministry.
Jesus Answers with 'The Hour Is Come'
Jesus does not ask for the Greeks to be brought in or to be taken to them; He says the hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified, with crucifixion only about 48 hours away.
Kernel of Wheat as Death and Resurrection
Jesus' seed illustration refers directly to His coming death, burial, and resurrection; just as a seed must die to produce fruit, so Christ's death was necessary.
Gentiles Could Not Yet Have Faith in Christ
Until Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, He could not be the object of faith for Greeks/Gentiles; now believers are identified with Him in that death and burial.
Gardening Illustration of the Seed
Les reinforces Jesus' illustration: a seed that is not planted will just sit in its container, but once planted and buried, it brings forth new life.
Philip's Hesitation
Philip recalled Jesus' earlier rebuff of Gentiles and was hesitant, so he consulted Andrew before telling Jesus.
Jesus Didn't Invite the Greeks
Les states that Jesus did not invite the Greeks; instead He responded with the hour is come and the kernel of wheat analogy.
Greeks as Curiosity Seekers
Les suggests these Greeks were likely curiosity seekers visiting Jerusalem on business or watching Passover celebrations, not proselytes.
John 12:20: And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
This introduces the Greeks who wanted to see Jesus at the Passover feast.
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 approach Philip with the request to see Jesus.
John 12:22: Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
Philip and Andrew together bring the request to Jesus.
John 12:23: And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Jesus' response indicates the time for His glorification through death 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.
The kernel of wheat analogy explains why Jesus must die before producing spiritual fruit.
Jesus was referring to the time of His death, burial, and resurrection. This happened just before the crucifixion, with the Passover crowds gathering. Les notes Jesus was only about 48 hours from the cross.
Philip was hesitant because he remembered Jesus had previously rebuffed Gentile approaches. He did not want to put his foot in his mouth, so he brought the matter to Andrew, and together they told Jesus.
A seed must be planted and die before it can bring forth new life. Jesus used this to show that He had to die, be buried, and rise again before He could produce spiritual fruit among the Gentiles.
Watch the Teaching: Why Jesus Told His Disciples: Don't Go to Gentiles