John 12:20-26 An encounter with God More than a moment / A pattern of life

Encountering Jesus.

Religious guy

A woman on the margins of society

A sinful woman

A hopeless blind man

They encountered Jesus. What radical experiences!

And then the ne t morning arose. What then?

The key is what happens in the morning. Tomorrow. Next week. Next month. When the excitement is gone. Where are you with Christ?

Worship and life in Christ is more than a one off encounter. It is a pattern of life.

Does He really matter more than this stuff that you have returned to? Or was it only a game. Jesus desires for these times to be more than a vacation. He desires for these times to become a pattern for our lives.

He desires for us to offer Him our lives every day. To put aside distractions everyday. To make Him the priority every day. To die to this life and make it all about Him.

So we see as Jesus encounters His own disciples and gives them a pattern for this new life.

I. A pattern of life: A focus on helping others encounter Jesus

A. Others with adesire to encounter Jesus

(ESV) John 12 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.”

1. Only a few

a. Most content with the status quo

b. Not a popular path

2. Unlikely ones – not the mainstream Jews

a. ‘God fearers’ - A serious thing for a Gentile – not really accepted in either place

b. Knew their need – reason they became ‘God fearers’ – not a cultural or family thing

c. Perhaps saw what Jesus did at the temple – return the temple to a place for Gentiles too

d. Not rejected as ones in the margins – a real interest in them

3. Looking for the person of Jesus – not the Messiah King magic maker

a. Looking for a relationship not just what He can do for me

B. Need help from those who encountered Jesus already

(ESV) John 12 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.

1. Philip / Andrew – first to seek others out – Nathanael / Peter

2. Found the one – natural to want to introduce Him to others

a. Have convinced us that we are salesmen / prosyletors / notch maker

b. Really are people that care ---- so much we are not afraid to be misunderstood --- the stakes are too high ---- know that if we can get people to Jesus, He will make it worth their while / the solution to their problems / the answer for which they seek / the hope that want to find / the foundation that the desperately need

II. A pattern of life: Jesus models the new life’s expectation

A. The principle of death

(ESV) John 12 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hourhas 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.

1. Death precedes life

a. Illustration – milo seed on the side of town – sitting there good for nothing

b. Buy the best seed – but it amounts to nothing if it is not killed – placed in the ground to die

2. Pain precedes satisfaction

3. Shame precedes glory

4. Death is the means to something else

5. True for Jesus – the intensity of His suffering resulted in my peace

B. The principle of fruit

(ESV) John 12 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.

1. Result is transformation

2. Result is impact on others

3. What is produced vastly exceeds what was given --- a miracle occurs – new life is produced ---- vast amounts of new life is produced --- the principle that farming rests upon --- you don’t have to think about it / it just happens ---- No amount of wishing / desiring / praying will do any good unless the wheat goes in the ground ---- but when death occurs, life and fruit is the normal result

4. Jesus died – the result is a multitude of fruit --- like the sands of the sea people will stand before Him in eternity --- but it only could occur if He died ---- once He died, the fruit sprang forth

III. A pattern of life: A need to die in order to live

A. A paradox – lose to gain

(ESV) John 12 25 Whoever loves his life loses it,and whoever hates his lifein this world will keep it for eternal life.

1. Hold on and you will lose --- Embrace this – lose it ---- can’t keep this stuff that is transient – dying – rusting ----- you can love it, but you can’t keep it

2. Let go – get ----- can’t hold on to it – release it and you receive

3. Refocus on what is important / priorities / things of value / things that last / things that matter / let go of this life for His things / for Him

B. To serve – must follow

(ESV) John 12 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.

1. Not the one who says it / feels it / pretends it

2. To serve you have to follow – not my way but His way ---- not what I want but what He wants ----- not my desires but His desires

3. Must follow

C. In following is His promised presence

(ESV) John 12 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.

1. Reward – now ---- His presence

2. No path too hard

3. No other options that will ultimately matter

D. In humble service is ultimate honor

(ESV) John 12 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.

1. Enough to honored by the Father

2. May seem dismal but by faith we know ‘He rewards those who diligently seek Him’

3. Its worth it.