Jesus Predicts His Death
20Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration21paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.”22Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.
23Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.25Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.26Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
27“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!28Father, bring glory to your name.”
Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.”29When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.
30Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine.31The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.32And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”33He said this to indicate how he was going to die.
34The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”
35Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.36Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”
After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.
Jesus understood, to the depth of his being, that true life comes through death and is so much more than we can possibly imagine. His parable of the seed attempts to teach us that when we are willing to stop living for ourselves we actually become an explosion of life. When you love your life in this world you can never experience the abundance of life and love that occurs when you die to that entire way of life and live a life based on words like eternity, forever, unity and love.
But Jesus also realizes how difficult this can be. He did not run to the cross with joy. No he admits he is deeply troubled. Our own death to this life is a process and it is difficult and at times we will be deeply troubled. During those times we must “walk in the light” and rest in the fact of the resurrection. Jesus faced his death and arose to a much better life. He promises we will do the same…and so we will.
Lord, give me the strength to walk with you to the death of my own life here on earth so I can walk with you in a new and abundant life, both now, and for all eternity. *obbs*