Lent 5

John 12:20–33 NIV

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

Perhaps the biggest news story to hit our area in recent years was what happened at the apartment complex just south of Fleet Farm in Beaver Dam the last several weeks. It began with an explosion which killed a young man who was apparently handling some very volatile chemicals which are known to be used to make explosives. What his intentions were is unclear. There are those who villi fie him as a terrorist bomber intent on causing destruction and those who have spoken well of him citing his background which had little indication of a man with evil intent. Regardless, an explosion ensued which took his life, damaged the apartment he was in, and caused the evacuation of many residents of that area. The matter was concluded on Thursday when the building he lived in was burned down and the threat was removed.

One of the stories associated with this is the order that certain residents were not allowed to re enter their apartments to retrieve personal belongings. Why not? The authorities considered the situation to be too dangerous and that risking your life for personal possessions was not worth it.

This leads to my question for today? What things in our lives are so important, that we would be willing to risk our very lives for them? I ask this not because of the events that happened in Beaver Dam (although it serves as a timely introduction), but because of the events that happened in the life of Jesus as we approach the somber reflection of his sufferings and death and prepare for the celebration of Easter.

In this event which I just read, Jesus teaches that he is about to give (not just risk) his very life for something that is more important than him.

In his teaching, he repeats a common teaching of his of what we are to be willing to sacrifice for that which is most important for us.

“Skin for skin.”

What is Worth Dying For?

You invest in what is important to you?

How are you showing that your relationship with God is important to you?

We learn that there were some unnamed Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for “the festival”. This is the Passover which is celebrated in the spring of the year. It was a major festival that thousands would come to Jerusalem for from all over the nation and surrounding nations. These men would have been “Proselytes” — converts to Jerusalem.

We can identify with them. We will at times go to the big city for a special event. How many of you have gone to Madison for the State Boys Basketball tournament? Been to a major sporting event? A concert? A political rally? The 500th anniversary celebration in Madison of the Reformation?

They wanted to see Jesus? Have you ever gone to see a celebrity? Elvis Presley? A President of the USA? A movie star? A professional athlete? People still crowd around celebrities just as people crowded to see Jesus.

I don’t know what they expected to hear from or witness about Jesus? Did they expect a miracle as Herod would later? Did they hope to hear a parable? Perhaps a powerful teaching? Regardless of what they expected, this is what they heard:

(NIV)

23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

As he often does, Jesus uses a somewhat veiled reference to what he is teaching. “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” What does this mean? Will it be another transfiguration? Will he be exalted as the King of the Jews? Will he do a miracle so powerful that even his opponents will believe in him? He then uses a figure of speech — an illustration. In order for a plant to reproduce, it must die. But that seed which dies in ground produces many seeds. Jesus would be glorified by dying so that he could produce many followers of God. He is willing to give up his life for our souls. (In keeping with our question for today.)

25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

He then teaches (again) what our priorities are to be.) Most people would agree that their life is the most precious thing in the world. Satan himself spits out this truth when he says in Job (NIV)

4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

He believed that Job would consider his life so precious, that he would deny God so that he would have a better life.

Unfortunately, many people today are more like Satan than Job. We value our lives and consider it a threat if someone invites or commands us to give up our time, talents, treasures, and freedoms in order to pursue the kingdom of heaven.

Even though Jesus teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God, we invest far more money in entertainment, cell phones, personal care items, gasoline than we do in the support of our congregation.

We may give up an hour here or there to worship at church but that becomes difficult when someone schedules a sporting event for the same time.

I had a conversation with a member who indicated she might come to church on Wednesday evening. When I told her on Friday (after she did not attend on Wednesday) that I had expected to see her on Wednesday evening, she apologetically informed me that she had to go shopping instead. I still am ashamed that when I was at the seminary, I took off from work on Good Friday on the premise that I was going to church that afternoon. I went golfing instead.

Jesus says that whoever loves their family more than him is not worthy of him but how often don’t we keep silent in the face of our family member’s sins because we don’t want to rile them up.

St. Paul teaches Timothy that in his ministry, he would encounter many people who consider money more important that the one who gives us money.

(NIV)

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Hebrews 13:5–6 NIV

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

What can mere mortals do to me?

Truth? They can take away everything you have. Even though we live in a protected society which grants the freedom of religion, we must be aware of what Jesus and his disciples faced at the hands of their enemies and what many Christians in our world still face today. What can mere mortals do to me? What did they do to Jesus? They killed him. They would do the same to his disciples and countless Christians after that.

Could they have avoided it? Jesus could have. He knew exactly what was about to happen and speaks openly about it here. But he does not shrink from what he is about to do? Why not? Because he considered us to be more valuable than his own life.

(NIV)

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

There may have been a few people in Beaver Dam last week who were willing to risk their lives for their personal possessions. We’ve all heard of stories of those who risked their lives to save a pet and certainly a loved one. We commend those who are willing to risk their lives in defense of our nation, their fellow platoon members, the injured. We question the security guard at the school shooting who did not risk his life to save students from the shooter and commend those who put their bodies between assailants and those they protect. Jesus willingly gave his life for . . . for sinners. For those who at times refuse to give him our best to serve and obey God and to love or neighbor as ourselves.

God shows his commendation for Jesus here in one of the few times he speak from heaven in the New Testament.

27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

And this is what Jesus did. He loves us so much that he willingly gave all he had so that would be saved.

What response is expected from us? (NIV)

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Titus 2:11–14 NIV

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Romans 12:1–8 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Our church is not some country club where we gather on occasion to enjoy each others company and socialize. It is to be a working group of people who gather to worship God for having saved us from our sins, pray for the kingdom of God and those affected by it, and a team which works together to use the resources we have to invest in what is worth dying for. Jesus gave his life so that we might live. We are to live for him to proclaim his message of salvation and to live our lives dedicated to God.