Remember how the Greeks came? Today we see Jesus with his heart troubled in John 12:27-36.
27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
When we last saw Jesus he was talking about how service to him equalled honour by God.
I saw these next words and I felt my heart break for him. His soul is troubled. Jesus… the one I love. Here his soul is troubled. He knows what is to come. He wants to ask God to save him from what’s coming, but he doesn’t. His response to being troubled was to see his purposed “Father, glorify your name“, he says.
And God answered. Oh, my heart is lifted. People around didn’t understand it, but Jesus did. He knew what God said. “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” Oh…the mercy in those words. I feel a bit silly sitting here with tears in my eyes. Knowing Jesus’ need at that moment and God not even hesitating in meeting it. I get the same tears when a child calls crying for his mama and she comes enveloping said child in her arms murmuring words of comfort. This is God, comforting his son in doing his duty.
Anyways, those around didn’t understand, which is too bad you know? Afterall, as Jesus said, they were spoken for their sake not his. He went on to speak for the judgment of the world “now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Think on those words a spell. Jesus talks about how he will die. The fact that he will die (otherwise why would he be lifted up from the earth?) He speaks to the fact that Satan (the ruler of this world) will be cast out. It’s a fact. Satan doesn’t hold this world in his grip. Jesus, it’s JESUS who will gather people in. In fact Jesus states that he will draw ALL people to himself. Jesus will do this. Not Satan, Jesus. It’s good to hear that eh? To have the reassurance that Jesus indeed is the one.
Moving on we hear that again people just don’t understand. Jesus’ answer doesn’t really make it any clearer for them. They don’t understand because scripture tells them that Christ remains forever, but Jesus said that the Son of man will be raised up. They don’t get that both have to happen. And honestly… if it were me then… I wouldn’t get it either. So I get the confusion, I also get the … what seems to me….quiet response of Jesus. “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
Jesus gives them encouragement. Walk in the light, seek the light, be alert to the light lest the darkness overtake you. Walk in the light so you know where you are going. Why walk in the light? So you can become sons of light. (or daughters of light). Jesus, drawing people in, even when his heart is troubled. This…this is Jesus. Putting up with our “I don’t get its” always encouraging us to walk in the light, to avoid the darkness.
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