Jesus points out a spiritual principle we intrinsically know. We cannot become the hero we were created to be unless we are willing to sacrifice for the good of others.
Like a seed that is buried only to grow a new plant, Jesus says he will be buried but rise with new life.
Before this Jesus is anointed for burial and rides into Jerusalem on a donkey with the crowd cheering for him. Even a few Greeks want to meet him.
Jesus spoke on behalf of God the Father and God the Father spoke on behalf of Jesus!
Even after all the signs Jesus performs, many did not believe in him. Then some who did believe did not share this with others because they fear people more than they should.
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Message:
In John 12, Jesus arrives in Bethany six days before the Passover and is welcomed by a dinner hosted by Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, who he had raised from the dead.
During the dinner, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume, and Judas Iscariot objects, saying that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus defends Mary’s actions, saying that she has anointed him for his burial.
The next day, Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey, and the crowd welcomes him, waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna!”
The Pharisees become increasingly concerned about Jesus’ growing popularity and the threat he poses to their authority.
A few Greeks want to meet with Jesus which he sees as a sign that his time has come.
I’m sure his disciples were thinking: “Jesus, why can’t you celebrate your popularity! Why do you have to start talking about dying?!”
Jesus did not leverage this moment for even more popularity and more power, instead He predicted He would soon die. He would soon give up everything.
Jesus is pointing out a spiritual principle we intrinsically know.
We cannot become the hero we were created to be unless we are willing to sacrifice for the good of others.
“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.” (John 12:24 NIV)
When we live for self, all that we lived for dies, but when we die to self to live for God, God multiplies our lives into the lives of others eternally.
Jesus spoke on behalf of God the Father and in John 12, God the Father spoke on behalf of Jesus!
Even after all the signs Jesus performs, many did not believe in him. Then some who did believe did not share this with others because they fear people more than they should.
When reading this passage what stood out to you?
How do you sense God may want you to apply what you discovered?
