Dying to Self

I.

Ask everyone to take out their phones and do a selfie.

I'm willing to assume that most of us (if not all) at least started the day thinking about yourself:

what am I going to wear?

who do I want to sit with?

I hope the speaker says something good to me

I hope they sing a song that I like

or maybe you came in you’ve got some problems in life and so you come into the church and you start getting people “hey come over here look at me look at my pity party”

“come here look at me, help me, I need help”

Maybe for many of us, we have started the day in selfie-mode.

We are sitting in a unique time in history where the normalisation of self-centredness is rapidly growing everywhere and to almost every age group (children, adolescent, adults). Thanks to the internet, this is evident in social media, entertainment, politics, cultural settings, many constantly seeking validation and attention. The obsession with self hinders to follow Jesus.

Last week’s sermon was about “The Marks of Genuine Disciples”. I have been meditating on John 12 in the last few weeks and I can see the subtle work of God’s Spirit in the life of our church to have connecting messages about discipleship.

To follow Jesus, one must be willing to a full journey of selflessness, drawing parallel to how Jesus gave up everything for others, even to the point of sacrificing himself on the cross.

Read John 12:20-26

John 12:20–26 ESV

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

II.

The context of this passage is the popularity of Jesus (teachings, signs and wonders) has reached the Greeks and wanted to meet Jesus. John makes a point of highlighting the ministry of Jesus being the perfect Israel, the light to the nations has reached the gentiles.

, Jesus makes a point the hour for his glorification has come, Instead of embracing the affirmation of men, he links this glory to something unusual. to follow/obey him is compared to Dying to self illustrating in a short parable of the grain of wheat in order to bear fruit,

These texts show that Jesus' life and teachings were a bit of a puzzle for his disciples. It's only when you look at Jesus’ death and resurrection together that the seemingly pointless loss of his life starts to make sense.

Philippians 2:6–8 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus compels anyone who claims faith in Him to take a deep look at their own lives whether they are fully surrendered and connected to God - willing to die to self paralleled by how Jesus gave up everything to serve others, even to the point of sacrificing himself on the cross.

dying to self / selflessness - The willingness to prioritise God and others before self, motivated by God’s love.

In the service of others. John 12:24-25

Dying to self is of no value without love. 1Co 13:3

1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV

3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

To love God so much means that God has become primary and human existence has become secondary. That was the model set by the self-giving Jesus, and that is the model Jesus calls Christians to follow.

Almost the entire John 12 brings out a “death/dying” motif. (This is no coincidence because it serves as a build up of the first half of the Gospel of John, drawing us in to the final words, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.)

John 12:1-8 - Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with oil and Jesus links it to his coming death and burial.

John 12:9-11 - the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death.

John 12:12-19 - The triumphal entry is linked to Jesus the Messiah’s death and resurrection.

John 12:20-26 - Jesus short parable about following him and dying to self is compared to a grain of wheat falling on good soil in order to bear fruit.

John 12:27-36 - Jesus “lifted up from earth” signifying his death on the cross.

For every follower of Jesus, the concept of dying to self is presented as a necessary step in experiencing personal revival and trusting God to work in one's life.

a few week’s ago my brother asked for my thoughts whether God called us to change the world.

Maybe we need to pause every now and then to reflect whether the grandeur of changing the world is getting on the way of my personal revival.

Or maybe our reflections ought to be whether our desire for personal revival is centred around the pursuits of worldly pleasures? (the pursuit of building something to feed our earthly pleasures)

When the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed and lived out, the society changes - one heart at a time, and it starts with mine.

The focus on individual transformation and surrender to God highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in the process of personal revival, with the idea that God wants to use individuals who are fully surrendered to Him, just as Jesus compares his follower/servant to a grain of wheat, planted on good soil in order to become fruitful. (The narrative makes the effort to point the “you”, the individual hearer.)

John 16:7 ESV

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Receiving God’s Spirit still hinges to Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension.

John 12:37-43 - Looks like the only narrative in the chapter where revival is absent because of unbelief.

This unbelief for the so-called “follower of God” in v.37-43 is the one who loves the glory of men over the glory that can be received from God.

Dictionary of Bible Themes 5919 popularity

The state of being liked and admired. Scripture notes how the faithful preaching of the gospel will lead to hostility and unpopularity, not least on account of its demands on people and its proclamation of judgment.

A church that is focused on itself will never experience the fullness of God's presence and the unity that comes from considering others more important than oneself.

church focused on self - prioritising an institutional mindset over the spiritual life of every believer.

(sustaining external programs and presentations are more important than the internal transformation of a follower of Christ).

By adopting a mindset of selflessness and prioritising the needs of others, the church can become a place of overflowing life and blessings through the working of the Holy Spirit.

John 12:44-50 - The first half of the narrative draws to a close testifying the mission of Jesus as the Son of God (He came to save the world). So it’s not all doom and gloom. In each of the narratives, John also articulates a positive reference for the remarks about “death” - an assurance/promise of revival/resurrection, giving the readers a blessed assurance to eternal life, to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

III.

Jesus response to the idea of dying to self.

John 12:27–28 ESV

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

Jesus recognises the human realities of trouble and agony, the nerve-racking idea and uncertainties it can bring to die of self and/or die for someone. But instead of running away, Jesus embraced the Father’s purpose.

Jesus fully understands how agonising it would be for us to die to self. He is neither telling us to ignore these emotional realities. Instead, Jesus is pointing us back to the Father to pray v.27-28

Even when feeling troubled about his imminent traumatic death, Jesus prayer in this narrative was not for him (his comfort) but it was for his disciples. v.30

In the face of an agonising death, Jesus is still concerned for the well-being of those who believes in him.

How would you response in serving and loving others who would not like or affirm you?

Jesus is giving a blessed assurance to those who would die to self in following him:

you will not remain in darkness v.46

you will be rescued from judgment v.47

you will receive eternal life v.50.

Because He is from the Father, and the Father will honour those who obey Him by giving them eternal life.

The biblical principle of loving others as ourselves is often misunderstood as an endorsement of self-love and self-centredness. However, the biblical love for others comes from denying ourselves and considering others more important even in the midst of hardship or troubles, just as Jesus did when He came to serve and give His life.

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The goal of a wheat is not to have a farm, the goal is for it to bear fruits to harvest. The essentials for fruitfulness based on John 12 are: (callback to the Parable of the Sower in Matt 13)

grain of wheat - callback to God’s Word

good soil - callback to the one who hears the Word and understands it.

fruitfulness - callback to bearing fruits hundredfolds.

(implied) sower - callback to God being the good sower.

John 12–21 (4. The Turning Point and the Perspective of Jesus (12:23–26))

These texts remind us that Jesus’ life and teaching were seen by his disciples as paradoxical. Only by understanding Jesus’ death and resurrection together can one make sense out of what seems to be the senseless waste of life.

John 12–21 (4. The Turning Point and the Perspective of Jesus (12:23–26))

To love God so much means that God has become primary and human existence has become secondary. That was the model set by the self-giving Jesus, and that is the model Jesus calls Christians to follow

John–Acts 12:20–33. The Judgment of This World

In verse 24 he likens his death and resurrection and its results to a grain of wheat falling to the earth and dying, that it might bear fruit. If the grain of wheat does not die, no fruit comes. If Jesus does not die, no one will be saved. But if the grain of wheat dies, fruit results. The death of Jesus will result in salvation for the world.

John–Acts 12:20–33. The Judgment of This World

the futility of a selfish approach to life: the one who loves his life loses it.

John–Acts 12:20–33. The Judgment of This World

When Jesus speaks of hating life in this world, he does not mean hating the goodness of God enjoyed in this world. After all, Jesus loved Lazarus, wept over his death, and restored him to life in this world (11:3, 33–36, 43–44). Jesus received Mary’s extravagant gift when she anointed him with pure nard (12:1–8). If Jesus does not mean that we should hate God’s goodness in this world, what does he mean?

John–Acts 12:20–33. The Judgment of This World

The one who loses his life because he loves his life is the one who lives as though life in this world is ultimate and therefore is to be protected, retained, and maximized as one’s fundamental purpose. By contrast, the one who guards himself for eternal life by hating his life in this world is the one who sees his life in this world as being like a grain of wheat that has to fall into the ground and die so that it can bear fruit in the resurrection.

John–Acts (12:20–33. The Judgment of This World)

Guarding oneself for eternal life, therefore, means protecting oneself against the temptation to think and live as though this life is all there is.

DIY Bible Study How the Gospel of John Can Transform Your Life

But didn’t Jesus provide a better example?

DIY Bible Study How the Gospel of John Can Transform Your Life

Jesus left behind his divine pre-eminence and his own importance. In washing his disciples’ feet—and in the end, on the cross—Jesus offers us an eternal gift: He makes a way for us to dwell with God even as he dwells with us.

Jesus, as God in flesh, provides us with the ability to beautifully and wonderfully serve others. Jesus directly connects us to the God of the universe. And as we saw God dwell in Jesus, so we see God dwell in us through the Holy Spirit.

John 12:20-23 - I wonder if (this means) the “Greeks wishing to see Jesus” is a call-out or hyperlink to the coming of Gentiles as part of God’s plan of redemption through Jesus…?

It is ironic that if someone is a follower of Jesus, he is also prone to not focus on Jesus.

Jesus provides the best example on dying to self by

Jesus compels anyone who claims faith in Him to take a deep look at their own lives whether they are fully surrendered and connected to God, urging them to die to self paralleled by His life and obedience to death.

Jesus compels anyone who profess faith in him to examine their own lives, willing to die to self modelled in the life and death of Jesus. by considering whether they are fully surrendered and connected to God in order to experience personal revival and make a difference for the Kingdom of God.

Death is necessary in order to have eternal life