WTTW: HIS WORD

THANKSGIVING

“Glory through Sacrifice”

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

GOD'S WORD: John 12:20-36

Paraphrase

Some Greeks who were in Jerusalem for the Passover came to Philip asking him if they could see Jesus. He told his brother Andrew of their request and together they informed Jesus.

Jesus responded to their request metaphorically by making an analogy between how his time had come to glorify his father through his death and how the time comes for a single kernel of wheat to fall to the ground and die. He told them when a single kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it produces many seeds that give life to a great harvest in the same way his dying, being buried in the ground and rising to life will bring a great newness of life into the world. Jesus told them that if they put their own life first they will lose it but if they are willing to sacrifice their life for him and to serve him and follow him ahead of even their own life they will receive eternal life as well as honor from the Father. In his distress, he questioned if he should ask the Father to save him from what lies ahead - answering in the same breathe that the very reason he is present at this time is to give glory to God in this way.

Speaking from heaven so the crowd gathered around could hear, the Father spoke saying he had glorified his Son’s name and would do it again. While some present said the sound was merely thunder others said it had been the voice of an angel who had spoken to Jesus.

Jesus said the voice from heaven was a public acknowledgement from God of who he was and what he was going to do to those gathered around including the Greeks who had asked to meet him. Telling them he was going to give glory to his Father through dying by being lifted up from the earth (on a cross through crucifixion as well as from the ground through resurrection) – something that would draw all peoples to him and in the process defeat Satan and bring judgment to the world through belief or unbelief.

The crowd, stating the Law says the Messiah will never die, challenged what Jesus had said by asking how he could be the true Messiah when he was claiming he was going to glorify God by dying.

Jesus answered by telling them they needed to both believe in him and walk with him while he was still present so they would maintain their faith after he was gone and so they won't be overtaken by and become lost in the darkness of Satan. After answering them he disappeared.



Principles

Central Idea of the Text (CIT)
Interrogatory (INT)
Answer (ANS)


A. Meaning for 1st Century Readers

I. CIT: John told his 1st Century Readers that Jesus was going to glorify God through this death and resurrection. vv 27-30, 33

II. INT: How was Jesus was going to glorify God through this death and resurrection?

III. ANS: Jesus was going to glorify God through this death and resurrection through:

A. Greek & Jew Belief vv 20-24, 32

B. Sacrifice vv 25-26, 35-36

D. Satan’s Defeat v 31

E. Judgment on the World v 31


B. Meaning for 21st Century Readers

I. CIT: John tells us today that Jesus glorifies God through this death and resurrection. vv 27-30, 33

II. INT: How does Jesus glorify God through this death and resurrection?

III. ANS: Jesus glorifies God through this death and resurrection by:

A. All Peoples Coming to Him

B. Our Sacrifice for Him

D. Death’s Defeat by Him

E. Judgment based on Belief in Him


Prayer

LORD, We Thank You today for Your Son.

We Thank You today for His Sacrifice.

We Thank You for His showing us how we must sacrifice to bring Glory to You.

We Thank You for His Defeat of Satan and his hold on Death through Sin.

We Thank You for the life You have given us today and forever.

LORD, We Thank You for Who You Are and for What You Have Done!

In the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior,

Amen.