JOHN 12:20-25
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24I tell you the truth, 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. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
This is probably one of my favorite stories of Jesus’ ministry. The Jews from all over the world, including Jesus and his disciples, have just come into Jerusalem for what everyone thought would be just another Passover. Jesus knows however that this is leading up to the most pivotal moment in the history of the world. Only days from this moment he would become the world’s Passover lamb dying so that the world can be saved. Lets start with verse 20 and take a look at three points.
1. God uses our past to draws others to him
We see that some Greeks have come and asked Philip to see Jesus. They approach Philip and not the other disciples because Philip is a fellow Greek. This is a powerful example of how God uses every part of our being, even our past, to draw men unto him. Many times new believers and even older ones struggle with their past. God is not caught off guard by our past but uses it to draw others unto him. The Greeks come to Phillip and ask to see Jesus because they can relate to Philip. When you first came to the cross imagine whom you were. Those are people who can relate to you the most. When those people see the change in your life, then they will come to you as the Greeks came to Philip. Do not be ashamed of your past but praise God for setting you free and pray to him to use you in that area. Especially you TURN people who better to relate to a struggling high school student as someone who has been there?
2. Only those who die to themselves can truly see Jesus.
Bottom line is that every part of our being is in total rebellion towards the things of God. Even Paul writes in Romans 7:19 for what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing, what a sad state we find ourselves in. We all have had those moments in our lives when afterward we ask ourselves “why do I keep doing this?” The reason is because we have no power within ourselves to die to the flesh. We must, if we wish to see Jesus, die to ourselves so that the Spirit can operate in our lives. I honestly believe that if we could reach this point, then nine tenths of our problems would be solved. Much easier said than done I know, but it is a commandment. In order to see Jesus we MUST do the things that please Jesus and not the things that please ourselves. So when you pray take time to pray that God show you the things that need be changed and pray that the Spirit give you the power to overcome them.
3. Only those who die to themselves AND engage the culture around them will be fruitful.
The most vital request any person has been uttered in verses 23 and 24 “We want to see Jesus.” How does Jesus respond to them? It’s not a faith seed, a Bible study, or a worship service. He proceeds to tell them that now he’s about to glorified on the cross and the only way to see him is to die. The greatest challenge Christians face is this command to die to ourselves. If we do not die to ourselves and accept the call to go to the Earth, Jesus tells us in verse 24a that we simply die (physically) as a single seed. Verse 24b tells us however that if we die as Jesus died in the garden (to ourselves) and “fall to the Earth” engage those around us, especially those who struggle with things we have struggled with in the past, then we will produce “many seeds.”
So to sum it up in three points…
1. God will use your past to draw people to him
2. Only those who die to themselves AND engage the culture around them will be fruitful.
3. Only those who die to themselves can truly see Jesus
I love you all and I will see you at theTURN this Thursday, AND REMEMBER: BRING SOMEBODY.
An Official Guest Blogger,
Pastor Jeremy
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