Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 12:20-33
We do not establish another contract or treaty with someone or a country that has broken a previous contract with us. However, God embraced His covenant people by giving them a new covenant, even when they repeatedly failed in faith and obedience and broke the covenant He had given them. That new covenant was to put God’s laws within them and write them on their hearts, making God their God and them God’s people.
Even when it seems there is no cure or hope, the Lord is capable of healing, saving, and restoring. Even when His people fail to keep their part of the covenant, God restores and renews His covenant relationship with them. When God forgives our sins, he chooses not to recall them again. God delights in doing good for those who love, trust, and honour Him.
In Jeremiah 31, the inwardness of faith is emphasised in the new period of God’s revelation of Himself. Instead of imposing laws and ceremonies on the people, God will accomplish a reformation of the heart of each believer. Peace with God is essential for fellowship with him. God is our God, and we are God’s people. In this new covenant that is written on the hearts of the people, may we obey God’s word and act in accordance with God’s will.
God’s love and salvation were revealed through Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, and we hear Jesus’ farewell word in John 12:20-33. Jesus delivers a farewell discourse to His disciples and the crowd, preparing them for His impending departure and the events that will follow.
In today’s text, some Greeks ask Philip “we wish to see Jesus.” When Philip and Andrew informed Jesus, Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. In John’s Gospel, it is not enough just to come to Jesus or “want to see” Him. His followers are invited to come and be with Jesus regarding the “hour”.
Jesus emphasizes the importance of being His witnesses. This involves not just being physically present with Him but also embodying His teachings, character, and love in their lives. Additionally, Jesus highlights the significance of bearing fruits, indicating that true discipleship involves active participation in spreading the Gospel and bringing forth spiritual growth in others.
Jesus said that the seed of grain must die before it can bear fruit. Verse 24 says, “if a seed dies, it produces many seeds.” Only the seed willing to die can live and grow. God’s love overcomes death and creates new life out of it as the grain that falls into the ground and dies. Through the analogy of the seed, Jesus teaches that true life and growth come through self-sacrifice and surrender. Just as a seed must die and be buried in the ground to bear fruit, disciples of Jesus must be willing to let go of their own desires and ambitions to serve God and others.
Jesus references various Old Testament prophecies that foretold His birth, life, and death. This emphasizes the divine plan and fulfillment of Scripture in His earthly ministry and sacrificial death on the cross.
In verse 26, Jesus said, “if anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him.” These words carry within them the essence of discipleship – of following Christ wholeheartedly, of walking in His footsteps, and of serving with unwavering devotion. To serve Christ is a sacred calling, a privilege granted to those who choose to follow Jesus, to embrace His mission, to participate in His work, and to bear fruits. It is a journey of sacrificial love.
It shows the inseparable connection between service and discipleship. If we desire to serve Him, we must follow Him. We cannot claim to be His servants if we are not willing to walk in His ways, to surrender our will to His, and to centre our lives around His purposes.
However, in our journey of discipleship, we are not left to walk alone. For wherever Christ is, there His servants shall be also. As we abide in Him, as we dwell in His presence, we find fulfillment, purpose, and true satisfaction. And in our service, we discover that we are not labouring in our own strength but in the power of the Almighty God who honours those who serve His Son.
The time of death had arrived. Jesus acknowledges that His hour has come, referring to the appointed time for His crucifixion and glorification. This moment marks the climax of His earthly mission and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Jesus begins to prepare the disciples for what is coming.
When the time of death has come, Jesus provides an example of prayer in times of distress, demonstrating trust and submission to God’s will even in the face of impending suffering. He models an intimate and vulnerable relationship with the Father, showing the disciples how to find strength and peace through prayer in turmoil. May we learn how to pray when our soul is troubled demonstrating trust and submission to God’s will.
Jesus affirms that His impending death will draw all people to Himself. This highlights the transformative power of the Gospel message, which has the power to bring salvation and reconciliation to humanity by drawing people into relationship with Christ.
When we look at verse 28, Jesus said, “Father, glorify your name.” Jesus’ primary focus throughout His ministry was to glorify the Father. His words and actions were directed towards revealing the character, love, and sovereignty of God to humanity. This emphasis underscores Jesus’ obedience to God’s will and His desire to honour the Father above all else.
Jesus seeks God’s glory, but not in the way they people expect. Jesus teaches that glory originates with the Father and is manifested through Him to believers. As believers align themselves with Christ and His teachings, they reflect the glory of God in their lives, becoming beacons of His light and love to the world.
Jesus promises that believers will share in the glory of God in their lives. This means experiencing the transformative power of God’s presence, receiving His blessings, and being instruments of His grace and truth to others.
Glory and suffering are intertwined aspects of the Christian journey. While glory represents the divine presence and blessings of God, suffering plays a crucial role in shaping character, deepening faith, and drawing believers closer to God. Both glory and suffering are part of the everyday experiences of believers, revealing God’s power and presence in their lives.
The cross stands as the greatest manifestation of God’s glory. It is where God’s greatest work of redemption and reconciliation occurred through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. During suffering and apparent defeat, God’s glory shines brightest, demonstrating His love, mercy, and power to save.
Today’s Scripture from John’s gospel is the Jesus’ farewell word because this is the last time the “world” will hear Jesus’ words on the earth, and following Jesus is the path of abundance or eternal life.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us listen to the call of Christ to follow Him, to serve Him wholeheartedly, and to walk in the footsteps of love and humility. Let us be His hands and feet in a broken world, bringing hope to the hopeless, healing to the wounded, and light to those who dwell in darkness.
May we find joy in the privilege of serving our Lord and Savior, knowing that in doing so, we receive the greatest honour of all—the Father’s approval and blessing upon our lives. And may our service be a reflection of His grace, His mercy, and His boundless love for all humanity.
Thanks be to God! Amen!
(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials)
