Saturday's Scripture Story
The Lord’s Prayer –
But Not That One
This prayer of the Lord’s, like many of Jesus’ recorded prayers, happened during the week of His crucifixion. In this account, He is foreshadowing His impending death.
The story begins with some Greeks who are gathered to celebrate the Passover Festival. They want to see Jesus, but as non-Jews, were not allowed in certain parts of the temple grounds. It seems their request was to have Jesus come to them since they were unable to go to Him. That request sparks the comment of Jesus in our story, where He reveals that His soul is troubled. After acknowledging that His hour has come, the moment He had been waiting for, He asks a rhetorical question of the people: Should He pray for deliverance? Of course not. This is why He’s here.
Read and find out what He says instead.
John 12:20-36
Jesus Predicts His Death
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.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Prayer
Jesus, once You were lifted up in shame for our sins, but now You are lifted up in glory to the right hand of God the Father Almighty where You are given all honor and praise. Be lifted up in my heart, my words, and my ways too – that in honoring You, the Father is glorified as well. Amen.