The Passion Week 2007 Day 4
Jesus predicts His death
Scripture Reading
John 12:20-50; Matthew 26:1-16
(view passages online)
Jesus knows now is the time for which He has come. This is the
culmination of His time on earth. God is about to glorify Himself,
through His Son, in an astonishing way to demonstrate the extraordinary
love He has for His creation. Jesus reinforces the values of the
Kingdom of God that He has spent the last 3 years building into His
followers. Values of self-sacrificing service, giving up ones own life
for the benefit of others (v 25-26). God Himself confirmed Jesus' life,
message and purpose once again, and Jesus declared that as He is lifted
up, on the cross and in our lives, He would continue to affect peoples
lives for the rest of time (v32).
Even after such a great confirmation by the Father, Jesus remained
under complete submission to Him. He continues to show that He is in
the world as one who had been sent (v44). Jesus also acknowledges the
level of His submission to the Father, for He never spoke on His own,
God always told Him what to say and how to say it (v49). If Jesus, as
God's son, was that submissive to the Father, how much of your life are
you willing to submit to God's control?
Prayer:
-
Thank God that Jesus demonstrated self-sacrificing service on your behalf to enable you to come into Gods presence even now.
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Confess the times you have not been willing to submit your speech, actions or attitudes to Gods will.
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Listen to the things He wants to change in you.
- Ask God that He forgive you and help you live the
self-sacrificing life that Jesus demonstrated for you, so that you will
become a "son of light" (v36)
-
Thank God for the love He has shown you through His son Jesus.
Meditation:
John 12:49-50
For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."