John 12

Read John 12.

Jesus is welcomed into Jerusalem with a joyous reception. This "Triumphal Entry" is similar to the way the Greek world would welcome a conquering emperor.

Yet, though Jesus does not turn away the (deserved) worship, he does have a solemn perspective on the situation. Immediately following his entry, he prophesies about his impending death.

We see in this chapter a great lesson in obedience. Look at the verses below. Meditate on the significance of what Christ did and the implications that his obedience could have on your obedience.


Christ's Obedience -

"Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop." (12:24)

"As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to Myself." (12:32)

"I know that His command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me." (12:50)


Man's Obedience -

"The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (12:25)

"If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him." (12:26)

"The one who rejects Me and doesn’t accept My sayings has this as his judge: The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day." (12:48)


The Purpose of Obedience -

"What should I say—Father, save Me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!” (12:27-28)

Starter Prayer:

Jesus,

Thank you for your obedience, even unto death.
You always saw clearly the end goal of your actions and decisions - God's glory.
By your Holy Spirit, help me to see the world in the same way.
I need your vision and guidance to have the strength to "lose my life".

John 11

In John 11, Jesus begins to move back toward Jerusalem. The cross looms near, just days away.

Read John 11.

So far in John, Jesus has turned water to wine, healed many, fed 5000, and walked on water. His authority on earth was already blatantly obvious. Yet, Christ saved his greatest sign for last. By raising Lazarus after 4 days, Jesus proved that he could defeat death.

Jesus had come down to earth after being in heaven from eternity past. He opened up his heart to love Lazarus and his family. Now, he finds himself in a scene surrounded by Lazarus and his family and friends, the air thick with grief, the collective loss of hope deflating anyone who had a soul. Jesus knew all along he would heal Lazarus (hence the extra two-day wait), but he still felt the pain of the situation. And all of this - this whole scene - was a result of death.

It is no wonder he wept. As the God-man, he was able to see this event in a way that is unique to anyone else in the universe. As God, he had seen death take its toll on his beloved people since time's beginning. As man, he was now seeing death affect a close, beloved friend.

"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live." (11:25)

As Life, Jesus' great enemy is Death. As we will see in a few chapters, Jesus deals Death a final punch on the cross.

Today, meditate on the power and the love of Christ. Notice that he never had to emotionally engage with Lazarus in order to showcase authority over death. He could have kept him at an arm's length, knowing it would save him pain later on. But he didn't. He made him a beloved friend. Likewise, Jesus could have performed his duty on the cross as a service to the Father without loving us. But he didn't. He was willing to open his heart to us and love us at any cost. May we open our hearts to him as well.

Starter Prayer:

Jesus,

Thank you for defeating death.
My greatest enemy has been defeated.
There is no need to fear in this life.
Thank you for caring for us personally.
In no one else is there a combination of power and love that compares.
Take my heart this day and help me to love like you do.

John 10

After making a distinction between true blindness and true sight at the end of John 9, Jesus then moves the discussion toward another comparison - Jesus as shepherd.

Read John 10.

In these few verses, we learn a lot about Jesus and his heart for those he would save. Unlike thieves and robbers, Jesus did not view sheep as a mere possession to be taken advantage of. Unlike hired hands, Jesus was willing to not only commit to protecting the sheep - but to actually follow through with that commitment at any cost.

He calls and protects these sheep not out of compulsion, but because he cares about them. He does not have to give up his life for them, but chooses to. Once secured, he would never let his sheep be snatched out of his hand.

How comforting to know of the love of our Savior! He has the power and the willingness to protect us from any threat - and at any cost.

But what is the role of the sheep in all of this?

"They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don't recognize the voice of strangers."  (10:6)

"My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me." (10:27).

During Lent, may we consciously choose to deafen our ears to "strangers" that may lead us away from the truth. May we set aside every distraction so that we can hear our Savior's voice and follow him.

Starter Prayer:

Jesus,

Forgive me for listening to "strangers" and believing lies.
You have proven yourself the only voice worth listening to.
In your perfect obedience, you submitted even your life for our sake.
In your compassion, you care for us who deserve it not.
In your power, you are able to secure us from even the most vile enemies.
I willingly submit to your protection. I am thankful to be your sheep.
Attune my heart to your voice today.
I want to follow you.