SCRIPTURE: John 12:20-36
OBSERVATION:
The Greeks want to see Jesus, Jesus replies by speaking about dying to produce many seeds.
The ‘many seeds’ refers to the many people (not just Jews) who will be saved by His death, the ‘all people’ He will draw to Himself.
Jesus shows the high cost of following Him (vv.24-25), as well as the honour they will ultimately receive.
Jesus admits that He fears the path He must follow, but His driving passion is God’s glory, even if He has to suffer.
If the voice was for their benefit, why didn’t all the people understand it (thunder, angel)?
Jesus speaks in mysterious language of light and darkness (parables). He seems to be saying ”this world is going to get darker yet, stick close to me!”
APPLICATION:
Many people are looking for a saviour like Jesus, am I helping them meet the real Jesus or making it hard for them to find Him?
Jesus Himself reveals how difficult the life of following Him and honouring God will be – am I prepared to pay this price?
Jesus’ greater concern was for God’s honour than for His own comfort – is mine?
Life is dark, but Jesus lights the way, I need to stick close to Him!
PRAYER:
Lord, people all around me are looking for You, though they may not realize it. Help me to imitate Your example, making myself available for the sake of others, that they may find the light and the life You came to bring. Amen.
John 12:20-36
Observation…Jesus was at a feast. There were certain Greeks who showed up t the feast also to worship. They called Philip “sir” and Philip with Andrew approached Jesus with a question. Jesus answers them with an analogy about something very common …wheat. Jesus seems to ask himself questions out loud…as if he is in conversation with another person. God answers him in ways that others around him could not understand it. Light and darkness are again used as an analogy for who and what we are to be as christians.
Application…. the area of the passage that strikes me today is verse 24 & 25 …. if a grain of wheat (seed) just falls to the ground, it remains alone. However, if it dies (gives itself up) then and then only can it produce much fruit. This tells me that I must die to myself again and again and to take up the work of Jesus always as the number one reason for living.
Prayer….Lord, help me to really strive to live for you this way every day.
I ask myself that question every day – “Am I being an accurate example of Jesus Christ?” It’s a tough example to live up to clearly, but a good one to strive for nonetheless. I’ve been able to discuss with co-workers and numerous others about that. When I mess up and people call me on it, God has been gracious enough to open the door for me to explain myself to them, that Christians mess up all the time too, and I’ve been able to get into discussions about forgiveness, repenting, etc. God opens doors even when I make a terrible mess out of things, that’s a huge relief, but no excuse to use when we mess up. A continual striving to walk as Christ walked, not just talking the talk, but full time living, is all I can pray for. I truly pray that I’m able to open the door to at least one other person to God.
I too would like to meet Jesus, but do I have the eyes to see Him each and every day. Open my eyes Lord, so that I might see You in the daily affairs of my life today.
Just as the corn needs to die before it gives life abundantly, so too the Son of God had to die to give everlasting life. Only if our ‘old man’ dies, then we are born unto eternal life. Lord, help me to follow You by my service today.
Here we also hear once again the Voice of God, as we did at His baptism. Our ‘talks’ with God must be present at all times for He is our reason for living each day anew. In our journey of serving we need to walk in His light since our ‘pilgrim’s progress’ will not be easy. Put your trust in the Light so that we are children of the Light. Then others may see that we are Christians by our love.
Lord, help me in my daily walk in Your Sonshine.
My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day be wholly Thine!