John 12:20 “And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.”
It appears that the work of Jesus Christ had come to a transformative point, just as it was prophesied. These “certain Greeks” were believers in God and had come to Jerusalem “to worship” much like many other Gentiles believed and worshiped. For example: when Philip preached to the Ethiopian, “And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,” (Acts 8:27); when Peter preached to the Centurion, Cornelius and his house, “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” (Acts 10:2); and when Paul and Silas found Devout Greeks, “And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.” (Acts 17:4). When these “certain Greeks” requested, “Sir, we would see Jesus”, the Lord responded, “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified”! Old Testament Prophecy was unfolding right before their eyes: “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:10). From our Lord’s perspective, now the rest of His Lovely Bride is coming in, both Jews and Gentiles are coming in, now everything is set, “the Son of man should be glorified”! His persecutors are seeking to murder Him, His Disciples didn’t fully understand, and His sufferings are about to begin; but He is gazing with great love upon the great host of His gathering beloved Bride! Thus, we weep and sing, “What wonderous love is this, O my soul! O my soul!”!