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23 November 2007
Word on the Web
John 12 v 20-26
There were some Greek people, too, who came to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover Feast. They went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus." Philip told Andrew, and then Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
Jesus said to them, "The time has come for the Son of Man to receive his glory. I tell you the truth, a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to make many seeds. But if it never dies, it remains only a single seed. Those who love their lives will lose them, but those who hate their lives in this world will keep true life forever. Whoever serves me must follow me. Then my servant will be with me everywhere I am. My Father will honour anyone who serves me.
Jesus declares it is time for him to 'fall to the ground', to 'receive his glory'. What causes it? It looks like it's the non-Jews (Greeks) showing an active interest in Jesus and the Good News. Like the boundaries of the Old Covenant are no longer able to carry God, and He needs to create a new one.
Why does Jesus need to die? "...a seed must fall to the ground and die to make many seeds...", but what does he mean? Why couldn't we become the many seeds, the 'little Christs', or Christians, without Jesus first dying? Why do we have to hate our lives in this world to follow him? It's a humbling mystery to me, as it seems that God has put a little bit of Jesus in everyone over the last 2,000 years who trusts Him. I count myself in that number, but I'm not sure how confident I am of my being God's faithful servant, of being there for Him at any time. And that in itself is another reason to humbly accept God's call to relationship with Him - the fact that He doesn't demand perfection.
There may be a theologian or two out there who can explain this mystery without using cliche or analogy, but I've not heard them! How do we get to have a bit of God in us, as part of our very being? How can He handle it when we sin? If any of you can explain this wonderful mystery to me, I'm all ears (no pun intended)!
Thank you Jesus for trusting us with a part of You. Thank you for choosing us normal people to carry your Good News to the next generation. Please forgive us when we love this world too much, or fail to serve you. Thank you for doing what you had to do to bring us close to you. Whether we understand it or not.
Written by Laurence Keith
Word on the Web
John 12 v 20-26
There were some Greek people, too, who came to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover Feast. They went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus." Philip told Andrew, and then Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
Jesus said to them, "The time has come for the Son of Man to receive his glory. I tell you the truth, a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to make many seeds. But if it never dies, it remains only a single seed. Those who love their lives will lose them, but those who hate their lives in this world will keep true life forever. Whoever serves me must follow me. Then my servant will be with me everywhere I am. My Father will honour anyone who serves me.
Jesus declares it is time for him to 'fall to the ground', to 'receive his glory'. What causes it? It looks like it's the non-Jews (Greeks) showing an active interest in Jesus and the Good News. Like the boundaries of the Old Covenant are no longer able to carry God, and He needs to create a new one.
Why does Jesus need to die? "...a seed must fall to the ground and die to make many seeds...", but what does he mean? Why couldn't we become the many seeds, the 'little Christs', or Christians, without Jesus first dying? Why do we have to hate our lives in this world to follow him? It's a humbling mystery to me, as it seems that God has put a little bit of Jesus in everyone over the last 2,000 years who trusts Him. I count myself in that number, but I'm not sure how confident I am of my being God's faithful servant, of being there for Him at any time. And that in itself is another reason to humbly accept God's call to relationship with Him - the fact that He doesn't demand perfection.
There may be a theologian or two out there who can explain this mystery without using cliche or analogy, but I've not heard them! How do we get to have a bit of God in us, as part of our very being? How can He handle it when we sin? If any of you can explain this wonderful mystery to me, I'm all ears (no pun intended)!
Thank you Jesus for trusting us with a part of You. Thank you for choosing us normal people to carry your Good News to the next generation. Please forgive us when we love this world too much, or fail to serve you. Thank you for doing what you had to do to bring us close to you. Whether we understand it or not.
Written by Laurence Keith
