John 12:27

Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Now {G3568} is {G5015} my {G3450} soul {G5590} troubled {G5015}; and {G2532} what {G5101} shall I say {G2036}? Father {G3962}, save {G4982} me {G3165} from {G1537} this {G5026} hour {G5610}: but {G235} for this {G5124} cause {G1223} came I {G2064} unto {G1519} this {G5026} hour {G5610}.

“Now I am in turmoil. What can I say — ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason that I have come to this hour. I will say this:

Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour.

Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour.

Commentary on John 12:27

The Gospel of John presents Jesus' final public ministry leading up to His crucifixion. In John 12:27, we witness a profoundly human moment of Jesus, just days before His crucifixion, during what is commonly known as Passion Week. He has just spoken about the necessity of His death, likening it to a grain of wheat falling into the ground and dying to produce much fruit. This verse captures His inner struggle as He contemplates the immense suffering and sacrifice that awaits Him.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Jesus' Humanity and Divine Purpose: This verse powerfully reveals Jesus' dual nature. His cry, "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour," expresses genuine human anguish and the natural desire to avoid pain and death. Yet, immediately following, He reaffirms His divine mission: "but for this cause came I unto this hour." This tension highlights His full humanity alongside His unwavering commitment to the Father's redemptive plan. It foreshadows His agony in Gethsemane, where He would again pray for the cup to pass, yet submit to God's will.
  • Submission to the Father's Will: Despite the intense inner turmoil, Jesus ultimately chooses obedience. His purpose in coming to earth was precisely to face this "hour" – the culmination of His earthly ministry, which included His suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection. This demonstrates profound faith and submission to the Father's perfect plan for salvation.
  • The "Hour" of Glorification and Sacrifice: In John's Gospel, "the hour" often refers to the specific time of Jesus' crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, which He viewed as His glorification (e.g., John 17:1). Though it meant immense suffering, it was also the moment when God's glory would be most fully displayed through Christ's ultimate sacrifice for humanity.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "my soul troubled" translates from the Greek tetaraktai he psyche mou. The verb tetaraktai (from tarassō) means to be agitated, disturbed, or deeply stirred, indicating a profound inner turmoil and distress, not just a fleeting discomfort. This highlights the severity of the emotional and spiritual burden Jesus was carrying.

The term "this hour" (Greek: hōra) is significant in John's Gospel, often denoting the specific, predetermined time for Jesus' crucifixion and subsequent glorification. Jesus often stated His "hour" had not yet come (e.g., John 2:4, John 7:30), but here, as He nears the cross, He acknowledges that the long-awaited "hour" has arrived.

Practical Application

John 12:27 offers several profound lessons for believers today:

  • Embracing Difficult Paths: Just as Jesus faced an "hour" of immense suffering for a greater purpose, we too may encounter difficult seasons or calls to sacrifice. This verse reminds us that even when our souls are troubled, there may be a divine purpose that outweighs our immediate desire for comfort or escape.
  • Trusting God's Plan: Jesus' ultimate decision to embrace the cross demonstrates profound trust in His Father's plan, even when it led to unimaginable pain. We are called to cultivate similar trust in God's sovereign will, believing that His purposes are always good, even through adversity.
  • Understanding Christ's Sacrifice: This glimpse into Jesus' inner struggle underscores the immense cost of our salvation. He willingly walked into the "hour" of ultimate suffering and death, not because He desired it, but because it was the only way to fulfill His mission of giving His life as a ransom for many. This should deepen our appreciation for His love and sacrifice.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 12:23

    And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

  • John 13:21

    When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

  • Isaiah 38:15

    What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done [it]: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.

  • Matthew 26:42

    He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

  • Hebrews 5:7

    Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

  • Hebrews 2:14

    ¶ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

  • Matthew 26:38

    Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

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