John 12:27-33

John 12:27-33

“Now my inner being has been made turbulent, and what should I say?  Father, save me from this hour?  But I came into this hour because of this.  Father, glorify your name.”  Then a voice came out of heaven, “I glorified, and again I will glorify.”  Therefore the crowd, which set there and which heard, were saying to have became thunder.  Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”  Jesus answered and said, “This voice has become not for the sake of me but for the sake of you all.  Now it is a judgment of this world.  Now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  And I should be lifted up out of the earth; I will draw all to myself.”  And He was saying this while indicating what sort of death He was about to die.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus asks a very interesting question.  His soul is troubled.  He knows what the cross will involve.  In spite of this, Jesus does not ask the question we would ask.  We would ask, “What should I do?”  We would struggle with whether to be obedient with God or whether to think of saving our own neck.  But Jesus does not think of Himself.  Jesus doesn’t say “What should I do?”  Instead, He says, “What should I say?”  Jesus knows that He came into this world in order to embrace the cross.  His concern is not for His safety; rather, He is concerned about the glory of the Father.

When push comes to shove, how concerned are you with your own personal safety?  Which is more important to you: personal safety or God’s glory?  How does this impact your understanding of mission, evangelism, and discipleship?

Second Thought:

Jesus’ comment receives the approval of the Father.  The Father knows that Jesus will lay down His own life in obedience to the will of God.  God has been glorified.  God will be glorified.  The whole world might not understand it, but it will happen.  Those who pursue God’s glory will be met with the promises of God that it will not be in vain.  In fact, this is the double meaning of the verb “lifted up.”  Literally, Jesus is talking about being lifted up on the cross.  But the verb lifted up figuratively means to be glorified.  When Jesus is lifted up on the cross, the world will all have an opportunity to take notice.  Those who do take notice and come to Him will be found in Him forever.

When have you made a sacrifice for God?  How was God glorified through it?  How was God with you through your sacrifice?  How is your sacrifice a testimony to God and your desire to be drawn to Him?

Third Thought:

Jesus also mentions that this is the time for the ruler of this world to be cast out.  Up until the cross, humanity had no good plan for dealing with sin.  Up until the cross, humanity was still at war with God.  Up until the cross, Satan truly has dominion to do as he pleases.  However, with the cross we have forgiveness.  With the cross we have the ability to escape God’s wrath.  With the cross we can be in relationship with God.  With the cross, Satan no longer has the ability to accuse us and have it end with God’s wrath.  Since Jesus has become our salvation, He proves Himself to be the true ruler of the world and Satan is cast out of that position.

Do you live in redemption as though Jesus is truly the ruler?  When is it easy to get hung up in our wrongdoing and not see the grace that comes through the cross?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 12:34-36