Trust and Obey
.
John 12:23-33
23. And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. 24. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him. 27. "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? `Father, save me from this hour'? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28. Father, glorify thy name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." 29. The crowd standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." 30. Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31. Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; 32. and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." 33. He said this to show by what death he was to die.
Jesus’ feet have been anointed with oil, the Triumphal Entry has occurred. The plot has started to thicken. . . more and more people are drawn to Jesus – it’s become a huge movement throughout the country. The rulers of the day are getting more and more anxious about the power this man has to influence his followers, and to draw people to himself. And it’s not a good thing in their minds! Word will get back to the Roman authorities that the Jewish leadership has lost control of the population, and Rome will come in and close the synagogue, and the leaders will be “demoted.” The Pharisees have had just about enough. Even when Jesus goes off to “hide” the people search for him. Even when he goes into seclusion to pray, seekers find him!
Jesus explains that he must die and be buried so that new life can come through him—just as a seed must be planted and “die” to become a flourishing plant. And he freely acknowledges that he’s dreading what is to come. But he also declares his intention to be obedient. The voice from heaven, affirming Jesus’ declaration is not for his sake—it is for the crowd around him, so they will know and believe that Jesus is from God. It is to verify beyond doubt that what Jesus is saying is true.
God has declared war on Satan—once and for all time. While it may seem that the cross was a victory for Satan, it was really his ultimate defeat—because Jesus obeyed. The kind of love he demonstrated in that act of obedience and submission to God’s glory is unimaginable for us! It is impossible to comprehend someone willingly submitting to torture and painful, agonizing death. And yet, Jesus did it. He turned it over to God, knowing that only through God’s power and will would he be able to be obedient.
“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” The kind of love Jesus demonstrated is unimaginable! The notes in my bible explain that “to love one’s life here and now—to concentrate on one’s own success—is to lose what matters. Love for God must be such that all other loves are, by comparison, hatred.” Not that we are to hate our lives, or to hate our family and friends—just that the intense, tremendous love we have for all of them pales in comparison to the love we should have for God. I don’t like should. We have that kind of love because we want to reciprocate the love he has for us! It’s as if we are compelled to have love for him above all other loves, because of his love, demonstrated in the person of Jesus Christ.
Obedience to God’s will is the only choice. It’s not necessarily, in fact rarely is, the easiest path. It often involves hardship, turmoil, suffering, even dying to ourselves. But is the only path we can follow once we are saved. When we know the truth, when we believe with our entire being that Jesus is Lord and Savior of the world, what else can we do? God’s been trying to teach me obedience lately. I say “trying” only to point out my limitation – not his! He is working so hard in so many areas of my life, and I’m not making it easy for him. I’m tired, I’m busy, I’m not ready, I’m not willing, I’m not . . . you can fill in the blank!
But God keeps at it! He doesn’t leave me alone to my own resources and my own plans! He’s in charge, thank goodness! And he is refining me and shaping me, and teaching me to trust and obey him above all else. I am so grateful for that! A friend pointed out to me this morning that it is really a privilege to be refined. It is, indeed! To be so valued by God that he would even bother! That is truly a privilege and a blessing.
I hope today you declare war on Satan in your obedience to God’s will. And that you revel in the blessing of God’s refining work in your life.
Mary
