Greeks coming to see Jesus

Another hard to understand part of the gospel of John is John 12:20 and following. "Now there were some Greeks among those who had come up to worship at the feast. They came to Philip who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, 'Sir, we would like to see Jesus.' Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus."

Jesus has a strange response, don't you think?

12:23 "Jesus answered then, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.'"

Why does Jesus say this. It seems that before he was forever saying, "My hour has not come." Is there something special about Greeks asking for him? Is this just coincidence?

And why does Philip go get Andrew first? Why doesn't he go directly to Jesus? Does the questioners being Greeks make it so very different?

Jesus makes four serious statements. They seem to be in response to Philip and Andrew and their request. We never hear again about the Greeks. Do they get to see Jesus. It doesn't appear so but it's hard to tell.

1. The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. (12:23)
Jesus already knew this was coming. He has entered Jerusalem and knows his death will be before the passover time. Still something about the Greeks must be symbolic. Perhaps it is simply about his death being for the whole world and not just for the Jews.
2. Truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies it produces much fruit. (12:24)
We are reminded of the Parable of the Sower where seeds are scattered. Some produce 100 fold. He is speaking of himself here. He is about to die and produce much fruit. He is following his Father's command.
3. Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. (12:25)
Now Jesus is speaking of those who will follow him, his disciples. in Matthew 10:25 Jesus says a similar thing: "He who wishes to save his life shall love it." Only God can save my life. I can do nothing to save my life. Not exercise, not eating right, not avoiding stress can really do anything to avoid inevitable death.
Here Jesus uses a Semitism. Love/hate are opposite extremes. Hate here means something like not seeking selfishly for ones own good at the expense of others. Jesus said we are to prefer one another, serve one another. This is what he means by "hating" ones life.
4. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.
Serve me, follow ma, where I am there you will be also. How does one know if he is serving in the right place? Where is Jesus that we might be there with him?
We see from the gospels that Jesus went everywhere. No place was off limits for him. He did not seem to go to royal palaces but he probably would have if he had been invited. So wherever you serve Jesus will be there. If you are serving Jesus (and not yourself) in these places you will do well.
Following Jesus means to be like him. We try. It is not always easy for me in groups. Boy did I see that last Saturday. But I do try.
Think about your gifts and interests. See how God would lead you to serve him with those. Start somewhere. Jesus will be there. He will encourage you.

That last promise is the encouragement. "The Father will honor whoever serves me." Start out somewhere and see where it goes. God will honor and bless you.