John 12:30-33 Jesus said, “The voice didn’t come for me but for you. At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.
34 Voices from the crowd answered, “We heard from God’s Law that the Messiah lasts forever. How can it be necessary, as you put it, that the Son of Man ‘be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35-36 Jesus said, “For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn’t destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don’t know where you’re going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.”[The Message]
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Jesus said, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself." The author comments that Jesus said this to show by what death he was to die. The Christ of the cross draws us to his life, a life of love and service, and invites our commitment to follow his example. Anthony Padovano writes: "Jesus of Nazareth called us to discipleship, not serfdom." As serfs we are enslaved to do whatever the master demands--no questions; but as disciples we lovingly follow what we have decided is right, just and true. We find this direction in our new Easter life with Christ to follow him in whatever we do. And it's O.K. to ask questions along the way. We are drawn to the cross because of the loving, open arms of Christ which welcome all of us into his full embrace.
Is there a greater love, dear Lord, than to spend our life unsparingly for others? Amen.
Paul Christenson
Retired
Master of Divinity, 1959
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler 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 indicate the kind of death he was to die.
34 The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"
35 Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going.[New Revised Standard Version]
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Jesus said, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself." The author comments that Jesus said this to show by what death he was to die. The Christ of the cross draws us to his life, a life of love and service, and invites our commitment to follow his example. Anthony Padovano writes: "Jesus of Nazareth called us to discipleship, not serfdom." As serfs we are enslaved to do whatever the master demands--no questions; but as disciples we lovingly follow what we have decided is right, just and true. We find this direction in our new Easter life with Christ to follow him in whatever we do. And it's O.K. to ask questions along the way. We are drawn to the cross because of the loving, open arms of Christ which welcome all of us into his full embrace.
Is there a greater love, dear Lord, than to spend our life unsparingly for others? Amen.
Paul Christenson
Retired
Master of Divinity, 1959
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler 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 indicate the kind of death he was to die.
34 The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"
35 Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going.[New Revised Standard Version]
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"The God Pause Daily Devotional" of The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 22 April 2016 with Scripture: John 12:31-35
John 12:30-33 Jesus said, “The voice didn’t come for me but for you. At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.
34 Voices from the crowd answered, “We heard from God’s Law that the Messiah lasts forever. How can it be necessary, as you put it, that the Son of Man ‘be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35-36 Jesus said, “For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn’t destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don’t know where you’re going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.”[The Message]
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Through the cross and resurrection Jesus helps us to understand and experience the fullness of life as lived in the light which he shared through himself. A little later in John (15:11) we hear some words that closely parallel today's reading: "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." He is speaking about the measure of the life directions which we choose: either the success of failure or the failure of success.
As we move closer to his cross, whether as disciples or somewhat interested bystanders, Jesus confronts us in the baldest of terms, using words like "love" and "hate" (15:17-27) to startle us into thinking about how we live.
As we consider the cross and the resurrection, help us ponder whether we are desperately hanging on to our lives or passionately giving them away. Amen.
Paul Christenson
Retired
Master of Divinity, 1959
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler 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 indicate the kind of death he was to die.
34 The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"
35 Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. [New Revised Standard Version]
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