John 12:20-33
March 21, 2021
The way of the cross demands sacrifice of self. This sacrifice was most significant in the suffering and death of Christ on the cross. What will be Death for most is the hour of defeat and tragedy.
For Jesus the hour of His death was the hour of His
glory – it was His finest hour! When you
are remembered what will stand out? When people reminisce what will they
recall?
Jesus saw His death as a good thing.
Though He had to struggle with His human nature which wanted to live, He
accepted the Father’s will to die as an opportunity to glorify the Father. When
we contemplate Jesus’ attitude and of His own death on the bloody cross, we can
be helped to face our own hour of death and transform it into an hour of glory.
Consider today Jesus’ most glorious death –
I. His death brings new life
– I tell you the truth, 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. V.24
A.
New life is made possible because our sin, with all of its evil lusts is
drowned and killed. Our old sinful self, our old nature is terminated.
B.
In place of this old sinful self and new man comes forth and will arise to
live before God in righteousness, innocence and blessedness. Soon area farmers will be about the busy
season of spring planting. Jesus gives an illustration of what we have
experience time and time again. 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. V.24 Jesus Christ died once for
all that we might be given this new life.
Transition: The death of Jesus brings new life.
His death also glorifies the Father.
II. His death glorifies God -Father,
glorify your name!” Then a voice came
from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” – V.28
A.
The Father glorified the name of Jesus.
It was glorified first on the night Jesus was born. The angelic host
cried out in one voice; “glory to God in
the highest, and on earth, peace good will with men” (Luke 2)
B.
The Father glorified the name of Jesus a second time at the cross and
empty tomb. The Son gave Himself into the Father’s hands and the Father was
pleased with this ultimate sacrifice. The curtain in the midst of the temple
that once reminded the people of a great separation between God and man was
ripped in two. Now God and man are reconciled. Because of this reconciliation
you can be reconciled with your neighbor.
1. Satan might tempt us to think – what is
done is done. The past can’t be forgotten and the future is uncertain because
of a broken relationship.
2. Yet alienation will not last, it cannot
last. Because the Father and sinful men are now at last reconciled we have the
hope of reconciliation between people as well.
C.
The Father will glorify the name of His Son at His 2nd Advent – His 2nd
Coming. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Transition: The death of Jesus brings new life,
it glorifies the Father. In this most vicious death Satan is defeated.
III. His death defeats Satan – Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this
world will be driven out -V.31
A.
Jesus came for one purpose – the judge the world. To render a just
verdict He must defeat the enemy – Satan was totally defeated at the cross when
the Son of man cried out “it is finished!”
B.
Jesus tells us now the prince of this world will be driven out! On Election Day the people vote for the
retention of Federal judges. But, you see, a majority of votes are necessary
for corrupt judges to be removed. Yet, the corrupt of the corrupt was voted out
with the violence inflicted on an innocent man.
Transition: The death of Jesus brings new life
to a new people and in so doing it glorifies the Father. It is at the cross
that the Devil is defeated. It is through His death that people will come to
Him.
IV. His death attracts people to Himself – But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” V.32
A.
Christ was lifted up on the 3rd day when He broke down the door of
death. Death is the last enemy. It could not hold Him. Jesus has swallowed up
death in victory.
B.
This is what drew men to Jesus and continues to draw men to this very
hour. The early disciples had only one message- Jesus is alive and we are
witnesses to these events.
We are witnesses to the new life He
has given us. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and His appearance
to His disciples and the changed lives in those who have met Him is what has
turned this world up-side-down, or as we might rightly say has turned this
world now right-side-up!
The death of Christ on the cross is what draws
people. Our responsibility is simply to share Christ and Him crucified with
those we meet. When the cross is seen and understood, it draws men to the
Savior.
Passive Sentences –20%
Readability-76.2%
Reading Level-6.2
[1] Collect for Sunday of the Week of Lent 5, For All the Saints, A Prayer book written for and by the church copyright © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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