week of 2-8-11 2nd recorded HighQuest Bible study

The passage I read was John 12:20-26

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12:20-26&version=NIV

My summary of the passage is this:

Jesus predicts His death telling Philip and Andrew that, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Jesus goes on to explain that this is a good thing as He compares this to a kernel of wheat falling and dying to produce many seeds. He goes on to say, “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

As I reflect:

As in the last lesson/passage, I believe it’s important to again note here that the implication is not likely hatred for one’s own life but rather in comparison to the value of following after Jesus, a zero value on the things of this world that may hinder such following. In comparison, our love and dedication for Jesus will be so great that it appears we hate what this world offers in place of Him.

Jesus in this passage speaks of a kernel of grain dying to be more productive. He is explaining why He must die. He is saying that in His death, the Father will be far more glorified than in His life. Many more will be reached in knowing that Jesus has been crucified but then rose again for the resurrection power and fruitfulness comes only after death. Many more in fact would be reached by hearing that a man displayed power over even death showing the authority over Satan and life itself that Jesus has. It would be like a kernel of grain that died and thus was able to bring forth many plants instead of just one.

We as followers are to disregard our life plans and desires that we may give our lives fully over to our Savior. The only value my life has to me now, is that it can be used by God…. This is the total surrender called for when He says, “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Remember we are foreigners on this Earth and we don’t belong. We are to be Heaven minded and not earthly minded individuals seeking self gain.

Hebrews 11:13-16

¹³ All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

The last verse of this study is John 12:26 which says, “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

What I receive from that verse in context is that Christ was/is focused on others. He is selfless and loving and displays for us many characteristics and attributes to obtain and live out in the text. I believe that to serve Him means we must life out those characteristics and attributes. I believe it means that we must die to our selfish desires (carry the cross) and live for Him in such a way that others may receive His love and the fruits of those characteristics He showed us. In this way we are born again and have new life, much like His resurrection from the tomb, though we died to ourselves we live through Jesus.

My response to the Lord:

Lord, I love you and know that you are good. You are all-knowing, all-powerful, and you alone are truly righteous. You are thus worthy of my life given freely in service. Though I know that my life was not free. I came at too high a price Father. I am however thankful to be saved and to know you. I am thankful for all that you have allowed me to have while I am here. I thank you for my family in Christ; the body of believers you use to support me and whom you support through me. I thank you for my children and commit them to your service as they are truly yours and I am only a steward. Help me to show my family how to follow Jesus. Help me to show them how to take up the cross daily and walk in faith doing your will. Help me to show them what selflessness is and reflect the characteristics of my Savior. Without you, I am no one to lead and so I ask for you to teach me to lead them. Though I know I will fail and slip up now and then, I pray you will always be here to lift me back up and forgive me. Lord, where I am weak strengthen me to do your will while I pass through this foreign land. In the name of your Son I pray.