Gospel of John - Coming to an End

                           

Coming to the End

John 12:23-36

Have you ever had a thought and asked a question in your mind, only to find your answer through reexamining the question and listening to God for the answer. Example: many have had family or friends with prolonged deaths, and asked in their hearts and minds, why let them suffer so long? Only through death does the answer come for their understanding. God's ways are definitely higher and wiser than ours. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways.” Isa. 55:8-9

Now, there were two gentiles who had asked to talk to Jesus, but no discourse or any question was written down. It is thought that Jesus, knowing the hearts of the gentiles, gave them an answer to the thoughts of their heart and mind and revealed the truth to all. Let’s look at the beginning of the text, “Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

Jesus begins his answer with the revelation on death. The time of his death was very near, and his own disciple, as well as others still didn’t understand its true meaning. Through the kernel of a head of wheat, Jesus explains the law of multiplicity of germination in plant life. The seed must be separated from its existing environment. For the seed must die to its natural state in order to germinate into a plant. It no longer is a seed. Its old shell has given way to a new life, a sprout or sprouts. It can no longer be identified in its old life. Jesus turns the non understandable to understandable, the natural to the supernatural. He uses the kernel to explain the meaning of being a true believer and servant of Christ through the revelation of the seed. “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” 

The disciples had left everything to follow Jesus and serve him, but they hadn’t fully died to the flesh nature. They had yet to receive the forgiveness and cleansing of their sins through salvation by grace on the cross that Jesus alone could fulfill. They must die to the worldly, fleshly desires of the heart, eyes, and mind, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” 1 Jn. 2:15-16

Jesus knew the desires, anxieties, and fears of those that were following him. They wanted an earthly king, and more miracles. The disciples had already been reprimanded for wanting to set up a hierarchy amongst themselves. According to God and our Lord Jesus, serving is the greatest virtue in heaven, “When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matt. 20:26-28 and this required dying to themselves in order to grow in the act of serving God.

Application - Death is real, but not the end. It is necessary, in fact mandatory to die to the sinful nature and its desires if you want to be a Christian. Like the kernel of wheat, we will never grow past a kernel if we do not die in order to live in the fullness of his eternal nature. Jesus knows the hearts and minds of all mankind, and he has shown us the way. If we are to live life abundantly, it will cost us. We must die to the worldly desires of this life in order to live in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The act of servanthood to the world seems burdensome and loathsome, but in the spirit-filled life, servanthood is the most natural desire. It fulfills the purpose and plan of God for our lives and is most natural in the use of gifting of the Holy Spirit. It truly is preparing us for our eternal lives in God’s kingdom. 

Next, Jesus, seeing the multitude of humanity following him, begins to express his own feelings. Let’s look at the next portion of the text, “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. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”  He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 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’?” 

Jesus is talking to the Father as well as to the crowd following him. He knew the hour of his death was very near, he desired to serve and fulfilled the Father’s will and purpose. He didn’t desire to have an earthly rule, he wanted that God the Father should receive the glory and honor of being King. He wouldn’t shirk from his role as the suffering servant of Isaiah prophecy (Isa. 53).

As Jesus spoke these words, heaven opened, and God the Father spoke for the third time from heaven audibly in Jesus’ ministry. “Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 

The people hearing thunder were confused about its meaning and origin. Some considered it a natural weather phenomena, others an angelic message. Jesus plainly states, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Judgment was here, and it would begin against the prince of this world, the usurper, the serpent in the garden, the god of this age. The rule of Satan over death and Hell would be coming to an end. He would be driven out of heaven forever. This would take place at the cross, where Jesus would be the sacrifice and propitiation for the sins of all men and women. It was this act of substitutionary atonement, the redemption of mankind by God through his Son, Jesus Christ. All who would believe in the Son would be drawn to the Father and eternal life (Jn. 14:6). This is truly who the Son of Man is. The people misunderstood the messianic scriptures and prophecies. They, like the patriarchs of old, wanted an earthly king, but God’s kingdom is not of this world, it is a spiritual kingdom, an eternal kingdom as Jesus would explain to Pontus Pilate. “Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would fight to prevent me being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But now my kingdom is not from here.”  Jn. 18:36 

Application - In that moment, Jesus found encouragement from the Father, but also a word for the people. Today, Jesus is glorified and sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven, and He now gives encouragement to his servants. It is still right to give all glory to the Father and the Son for salvation: The work of love on the cross, the blood shed that atoned for our sins and opened the way to enter into fellowship with God in the holiest place through the torn veil by the blood of Christ are we considered righteous and the blood covering is what the Father sees and accepts. God has judged Satan and he is awaiting final sentencing and eternal punishment. We are still in this world, yet it is not our home. We are drawn to the Son of God, and he is preparing a place in his Kingdom for all who believe and follow him.

Last, Jesus told them again, the necessity of Light. Let’s look at the rest of the text, “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. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe 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.”

Jesus, the Light to the world, whose words pierced the darkness with the eternal light of God’s luminescent inerrant Word, again refers to him being the Light to the world. The Light among them was nearing the end of his time in the world. He knew that the encroachment of darkness would take place in the world by the god of this age, who would blind people with sin to keep them from the Light of God’s Word. Jesus used simplistic terms to help those who listened and believed: Walking in the light enables you to see where you are going, while walking in the dark blinds you to all dangers that lead to pain, injury, and ultimately death. If they were to be children of light, they would have to live in the light and the light live in them.

After Jesus enlightened the crowd with this encouragement and forewarning, he and his disciples eluded those who tried to kill him before it was his time by hiding from the crowds.

Application - We are in dark times, the god of this age knows that his time is short and that he has already been judged and defeated. Yet he is still blinding mankind in sin. For those who have seen the Light and walk in it, they see the darkness for what it is, the work of Satan. They walk in the light of God’s Word and live by the light so as not to be overcomed by the darkness. As children of the Light, we are to be the light in the places where God has placed us, so that those who are drawn to our risen Lord by His Spirit will see the light and give praise and honor to our Lord who is the Light. For the light in us will be a testimony to the world of work of salvation done by Jesus for all who will believe.

So what questions might you ask Jesus in your heart and mind. He will answer them through his infinite wisdom and knowledge, and His ways are the best.

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com