Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 12:26-27

"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor. 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." — John 12:26-27 (ASV)

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 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.

This seems to be a sort of rehearsal of the dread scene soon to be enacted in Gethsemane. At the sight of these Greeks, our Saviour seems to have been led specially to think, as we have already said, of that death by which they, and multitudes like them were to be redeemed. Thinking of it, he enters so fully into it, by a sort of foretaste, that he feels something of the same shiver and throe of anguish which came upon him in Gethsemane. He seems to say here, Father, save me from this hour, just as he said there, If it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet he says here, But for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name, – just as he afterwards said in the garden, Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.