December 7, 2010

The END of Jesus' Public Ministry

John 12:20-50

Scott Sedberry
Tuesday's Devo

December 7, 2010

Tuesday's Devo

December 7, 2010

Central Truth

Set at the end of Jesus' public ministry, this passage reinforces the truth of His teachings, His relationship with the Father, and our unbelief.

Key Verse | John 12:43

[F]or they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. (John 12:43)

John 12:20-50

Some Greeks Seek Jesus

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 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 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up

27 Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40  “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
    and understand with their heart, and turn,
    and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Jesus Came to Save the World

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Dive Deeper | John 12:20-50

What does this passage, concerning the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem, say about Him? Several truths are echoed in this passage, as if to summarize everything in just a few verses:

(1) Arriving in Jerusalem signals the end of Jesus' public ministry. The hour has come. Seeing Jesus' emotional response to His death is significant to me. Yet, perhaps even more significant is His obedience to the Father's will, the very purpose of His ministry.

(2) Jesus' teachings are reinforced; namely, the rewards of living sacrificially and walking in the Light. Jesus refers to His impending death and then challenges us to be sons of Light.

(3) His relationship with the Father is reinforced. Jesus is the Son of Man, the Light, and the reflection of the Father. He is sent by the Father and speaks as instructed by the Father.

(4) But even with all this truth there was still unbelief. There were some who could not believe and some who chose not to believe.

There is so much here in these few paragraphs. Yet, the one verse that haunts me is this: "[F]or they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God." (John 12:43) When do we care more about our plans than about praise from God? Recently, I finished a long and significant journey through Watermark's Celebrate Recovery ministry. For years, I lived to please man instead of seeking praise from God, forsaking integrity and authenticity. Would I have chosen worldly approval over God's approval? Yes!

After many months of motioning toward God, I am now blessed with a different answer: a greater love for Him that is embedded in my heart. Satan still tempts me to choose Scott's plans, BUT I now recognize it and yield to the Spirit. Now, my faith is heart-filled, daily fed, and lived out with integrity. And oh, this is not my story, but God's story of grace told through me.

Discussion Questions

1. Where are you seeking the approval of men over the approval of God?

2. Who can you think of in Scripture that sought the approval of man over God? What was the result?

3. What are the benefits of seeking God's approval?

FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What kept the Jewish leaders that now believed in Jesus from telling others?

2. What fears do you have that keep you from telling others about your belief in who Jesus is?

3. What does verse 43 tell us they loved more than praise from God?

4. What are ways that you struggle to put the praise of God over the praise of people?