March 16: Should I give up?
John 12:20-50 TNIV from Biblegateway.com
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
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 Those who love their life will lose it, while those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever 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. Those who walk in the dark do not know where they are going. 36 Put your trust 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.
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human glory more than the glory of God.
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Those who believe in me do not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 When they look at me, they see the one who sent me. 46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “As for those who hear my words but do not keep them, I do not judge them. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for those who reject me and do not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
Devotional Comments:
I once worked at a summer camp under the most difficult conditions, but I realized my job was to mentor these tough (ungrateful!) kids. God gave me Galatians 6:9, “Don’t lose heart in doing good.”
Jesus demonstrated a clear confident conviction about his purpose in life. He knew where he came from and why he came. This helped Jesus in his time of trouble about his decision to go forward with God’s plan.
During the week before his crucifixion Jesus spoke about giving up his life. He admitted the struggle and sarcastically wondered out loud, “I am troubled, what should I say, ‘Father save me from this hour’?” He confidently responded, “this is the very reason I came. Father glorify your name!”
It seems to me that God is glorified when we give our lives up with the same resolve. Sacrificially, we give up our lives as a parent, as an employee, as a neighbor and as a friend. We are a light like he is a light. Our sacrifice says, “This is the very reason I exist, to do the hard stuff for God’s glory. “
I imagine most of us appreciate the feeling of giving a hard day’s work. However if the long hours or great effort is draining you, do not lose heart. Jesus’ confidence in the Father gave him the strength to finish the job.
Roger Gilbert
Pray for the strength to continue. It is for God’s glory we serve.