Biblegateway.com
John 12:23-50 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Predicts His Death
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
A tunnel with no end in sight. A pit with no escape ladder. A painful suffering and loss with no comfort. Darkness overwhelms the light and a hopeless feeling settles in to the soul. How can we find relief? How can we find the light again?
We turn on our artificial worldly light and seek out answers. Answers from our social network, our leaders, our family, and our connections. Yet, even when the path seems warm, it ultimately turns cold. Where can we go to find what we are looking for?
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.My Father will honor the one who serves me.
We hear that we need to die and hate our lives to acquire the answers we desire. Jesus suffered and was despised by all who mocked and cheered as he walked to his death. He was willing to lose his life in the name of His Father. He followed and honored God’s orders.
What does this look like for us? Our desire to live comfortably in this world cries louder than the whisper God gives saying, “Listen”. Listen to my commandments, listen to my Son’s ways, listen to my word, listen my child, I am your Father. I decide your path and point you in the direction of eternal life. Serve only me.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.28 Father, glorify your name!”
Jesus questioned His suffering before He was brought to His death. He wanted out of the deal. We too have troubles and experience great atrocities. Our prayers are to save and to bring us out of what causes the great pain or even a great disappointment to our lives. Questions of “Why would God do this to us?” come to mind when our prayers seem to end in silence.
God says, “There is a reason for this moment. To glorify my name.”
How can this glorify His name?
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
Jesus heard from the angel that His father will glorify and glorify again when He is brought to death. Hasn’t this happened?
We are all here. The world has been through many tribulations and times of great fear but He still is glorified. We can speak of many incidents of God answering our prayers large or small. We can feel God’s presence in the amazing beauty of nature and the human spirit. Glory to Him in the highest.
Yet, God judged the world and Jesus was the answer. Jesus needed to be lifted up in death so that we could see this glory. If this obedience was never fulfilled, all would be lost.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
In our time of comfort and complacency, we see no need in understanding the complexity of obedience. We become numbed by humanity and simple things like God’s word which wash over us and never sink in to our hearts. “Who is this ‘Son of Man'” we ask. I thought he was to remain here forever. Won’t He be here when we need him?
Light. It comes when a child is born. It settles in when we have a warm home. It fills us when love enters our lives. It calms us when we are surrounded by the majesty of nature. But, it will end. It will end because darkness lingers waiting to overtake the light. Just when you think the light will never be snuffed out, darkness slips in silently to take our breaths away. There is no answer to the question, “How do I control the darkness?” It reigns in this world blinding all who live within this world.
The hope is in the Light. If we as Christians believe in this light, answer to the light, and obey it’s path, we will rise above the worldly ways and conquer it’s grip on our hearts. Jesus has already won the battle and will always reign in the heavens. Even in the bleakest moments, He is with us and willing to comfort us and sing sweet songs of hope, knowing if we walk in His path, we will see life. A life that never ends and where every tear will be wiped away.
John 16:33 New International Version (NIV)
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
faithful walk in progress 