Willing to Sacrifice (John 12:20-26)

Today's scripture: John 12:20-26

Jesus came to earth to bridge the gap between the Creator and the created. When Adam and Eve chose to follow their own willful path, a chasm was formed between them—and every other human—and God. The only way by which mankind could be reconciled with God was through the spilling of blood. For centuries, that blood came from a flawless lamb, sacrificed once a year for atonement for the people's sins.

God's ultimate plan for complete and total reconciliation, though, was through the death, burial, and resurrection of His own Son—part of the triune God.

In today's verses, Jesus spoke of His purpose. Just as in nature a seed must die in order for a plant to live and bear fruit, so Jesus would die to provide a once-for-all sacrifice for everyone who chooses to accept the gift of salvation.

But Jesus was speaking about more than His own death. He was also speaking about those who would follow Him. We too must be willing to "hate" our lives. I don't believe this means we're to abuse our bodies or denigrate ourselves. Rather, we're supposed to focus on the eternal, not the temporal. We need to be willing to give everything up—even ourselves—for God.

Jesus also made it clear that anyone who chooses to follow Him must serve Him. Again, this means we're to be willing to do whatever He calls us to do, whenever He calls us to do it.

Jesus provided the ultimate sacrifice for us—His very life. What are we willing to sacrifice for Him?

Division (John 10:19-21)

Today's scripture: John 10:19-21

Two days ago, we looked at John 9 and the healing of the blind man. After a brief detour, we return to this story.

As verse 19 of chapter 10 states, "A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words." To what "words" is John referring?

Jesus said quite a bit in chapter 9, but I think John is referring especially to Jesus' words in verses 39-41. As a reminder, Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind” (v. 39), followed by, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains" (v. 41).

Because they didn't like what Jesus was saying ("your sin remains"), many said Jesus was demon-possessed and insane. They "saw" the law and followed it, point-by-point. In doing so, they considered themselves free from sin. This upstart from Nazareth wasn't going to tell them what to do or how to do it. And instead of listening to Him and believing His words, they called Him—and therefore His words—crazy.

On the other hand, some began to truly see—for the first time in their lives. They recognized that the miracles Jesus performed were unlike anything they'd seen before. Jesus' miracles were good and compassionate. He made life better for those He healed. And, in fact, He even cast out those demons that He Himself was accused of possessing.

So, they asked a very logical question, "A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?"

Satan and his minions are not all-powerful. They do not have the ability to perform miracles like Jesus did—and does. They might be able to do "magic" here and there, but they certainly don't do anything for anyone's good.

Only Jesus—who loves us more than we can understand—can and will care for us, provide for us, heal us, and protect us. Only He is worthy of our worship, honor, and praise.

Our response to Him can either be to label Him as insane or accept Him as Savior. And after weighing the evidence of His character and deeds, only one logical response remains.

The Lamb of God (John 1:29-34)

Today's scripture: John 1:29-34

"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!"

I spent the weekend in the Oakland area of California. I presented at a conference on Saturday, and then I drove about 20 miles to have dinner and spend the night at my dad's. As I drove, I meandered through farm country and passed by several sheep ranches. I was disappointed that there weren't any fluffy little lambs bounding about.

Lambs are so cute, but when Christ is described as the "Lamb of God," the metaphor is anything but a cute fluffy lamb. According to a commentary by Albert Barnes:

A 'lamb,' among the Jews, was killed and eaten at the Passover to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 12:3-11). A lamb was offered in the tabernacle, and afterward in the temple, every morning and evening, as a part of the daily worship (Exodus29:38-39). The Messiah was predicted as a lamb led to the slaughter, to show his patience in his sufferings, and readiness to die for man (Isaiah 53:7). A lamb, among the Jews, was also an emblem of patience, meekness, gentleness. On 'all' these accounts, rather than on any one of them alone, Jesus was called 'the Lamb.' He was innocent (1 Peter 2:23-25); he was a sacrifice for sin the substance represented by the daily offering of the lamb, and slain at the usual time of the evening sacrifice (Luke 23:44-46); and he was what was represented by the Passover, turning away the anger of God, and saving sinners by his blood from vengeance and eternal death (1 Corinthians 5:7). (Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible)

Our Savior, our Messiah, came to earth to shed His bled for us, to cover our sin. He, the perfect, sinless Lamb, chose to suffer and die ... for us.

He is indeed the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Your sin. My sin.

How can we be anything but grateful? How can we do anything but surrender everything to Him?