Call to Gather, Pray and Worship God
Ephesians 3:17-19
May you be rooted and established in love; may you have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Re-written from this week’s prayer, this is a great blessing that, if realized, will leave you in utter awe for the Lord Jesus Christ.
May you be rooted and established, powerful, grasping and knowing – for then you will be filled with all the fullness of God!
Today's Scripture Story
The question posed in this week’s Scripture story comes from some Greeks at the Passover festival. For the story to make sense, it helps to know that Greeks (being non-Jews) were allowed only in peripheral parts of the Jewish temple grounds. In our reading, Jesus seems to be teaching in that area from which they are restricted.
Their question leads to an unexpected turn of events. As readers, we know Jesus’ death is looming. Those surrounding Him are not privy to this detail. But Jesus clearly knows this and yet does not fear of losing His life. He foreshadows that death with a kernel of wheat analogy that points to life for many coming through a death of one person – Him. But then He immediately points to his hearers, these potential followers, and warns of danger they face in trying to save their own lives.
To follow Jesus means to be where He is. And where is Jesus in this moment? A soul-troubling life-and-death hour for sure, but one prepared for Him by His Father. This is the hour God the Father prepared for Jesus for our sake. By his death we would experience life. Don’t shy away from moments simply because they are soul-troubling. God just might be right in the midst of that hour. Make sure to invite Him into the hour – just like our Lord and Savior Jesus, whom we seek to imitate.
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
Father God, when my soul is troubled, remind me to invite you into that experience and boldly cry like Jesus “Father, glorify your name!” Amen.
John 20:21
The
Great Sending
Word of the Day
John 20:21
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Prayer for the Month
Lord Jesus, we don’t know ‘who is who’ when it comes to hands and feet, eyes and ears. Whatever roles we play, let us work together as your body. We collectively submit to you as our head, agreeing work as one unit, united in Spirit and mission, to the glory of God our Father. In Your name we pray. Amen.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, individually, I pray that you give each of us a heart to know you (Jeremiah 24:7) and a desire for you above all things (Psalm 73:25). Help each of us to believe that we have a necessary place in the body, agreeing to work with each other united in Spirit and mission under your leadership. Let it be to the glory of God our Father. So I pray. Amen.