John 12: 20-33
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.23 Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 ‘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. 28 Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, ‘This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
Jesus’ soul is troubled. He knows his time is near and it is unsettling to him. I begin to see another side of Jesus… a vulnerable side that I have never noticed before. Where does Jesus go when he is unsettled? He goes to his Father. He releases his struggles in prayer. What an example for me to follow when my soul is troubled and unsettled. The Father does nothing lightly or carelessly. His love for me is greater than I can ever imagine. He knows every pain and every tear I’m going through.
Does he allow me to go through these troubles so that, like Christ, I can pass through suffering into an eternity of joyfulness? I endure hardships, but I know I can get through be-cause I know that Jesus did not choose the easy path, but the hardest one of all. But, like Jesus, I must go to my Father to get strength and encouragement from him.
Categories