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Photo: Martin Bateman

“Knowing Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me, although winning the US Open was a pretty good second.”

Alison Nicholas

Jesus predicts his death

Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I 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. 25 Those 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. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.” John 12:23-28

Jesus has raised Lazarus from death and John records both that many people believed in him and that the Jewish leaders were concerned how many people had started believing in him. The people may have seen him as the Messiah who would deliver them from the Romans who occupied their country. Then Jesus tells them that he is going to die. We see too in the passage the humanity of Jesus. While he understands and embraces his mission – to die – it scares him. He is troubled as he was in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Martyn Layzell’s song Lost in Wonder expresses this well. You can find it at www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzMubghVEM0

Questions to reflect on

1. What is your understanding of his comments? What meaning does it have for us as followers of Jesus today? How should we respond to it?

2. What troubles Jesus so much? What does his state of mind reveal about him?

3. What do you think he means by his prayer, Father bring glory to your name”?

4. How as followers of Jesus can we bring glory to the Father’s name?

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