John 12:20-33 (NRSV)
Read John 12:20-33 on biblegateway.com
Verse 20Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. Verse 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Verse 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Verse 23Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Verse 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Verse 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Verse 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
Verse 27"Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say-'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Verse 28Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." Verse 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Verse 30Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Verse 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. Verse 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." Verse 33He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
Devotion
My son has been teaching me how to play chess. Some of the strategy is a bit counterintuitive: My instinct is to protect my pieces … but sometimes you have to sacrifice a key piece or two in order to win the game.
Plenty of things Jesus says are counterintuitive. If you love your life, you will lose it. Unless you die, you cannot live. His concept of sacrifice seems to be counterintuitive, too. The Jews expected their Messiah to be a powerful, charismatic leader who would throw off Roman rule and restore Israel to glory. But Jesus’ idea of glory is not wealth or military might, but selfless suffering and death.
As Christians, sometimes we are called to sacrifice things as a part of the greater good. It might mean voting for a school levy even though your children are long since grown. Or apologizing even though you weren’t at fault. Or being open to singing a new liturgy even though you prefer a different one. Such things may be difficult, but when they put the needs of our neighbors before our own, they start to bear fruit. Communities grow. Bridges are built. Relationships are mended. God’s Kingdom expands.
Prayer
Lord, help me to put my self-centered ways aside and to make sacrifices for the sake of your Kingdom. Amen.