Embracing Sacrifice: The True Glory of Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Curiosity as a Catalyst for Faith

Curiosity about Jesus can be a powerful starting point for faith. When the Greeks approached the disciples with the request, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus," it symbolized a universal longing that transcends cultural and religious boundaries. This curiosity is not just a fleeting interest but a profound yearning that God often uses to draw people closer to Him. It is through our questions and desires that we begin to discover the truth of His love and grace. As we seek to know more about Jesus, we open ourselves to the transformative power of faith, allowing God to work in our hearts and lead us into His kingdom. [02:38]

John 1:45-46 (ESV): "Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.' Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'"

Reflection: What questions or curiosities do you have about Jesus today? How can you actively seek answers and allow these inquiries to deepen your faith?

Day 2: Glory Through Sacrifice

Jesus' glorification through crucifixion challenges our understanding of glory. In John 12, Jesus declares, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified," referring to His impending crucifixion. This statement redefines glory, equating it with sacrifice and selflessness rather than worldly success or honor. The metaphor of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying to produce much fruit illustrates the necessity of His sacrifice for the salvation of many. Jesus' death on the cross was not a defeat but a divine victory over sin and death, showing that true glory often involves laying down one's life for others. [04:15]

Hebrews 2:9 (ESV): "But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone."

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace sacrifice and selflessness in your life today, reflecting the true glory that Jesus demonstrated through His crucifixion?

Day 3: Embracing a Life of Sacrificial Service

Following Jesus means embracing a life of sacrificial service. While Jesus enjoyed the good things of life, He lived for a higher purpose, calling His followers to do the same. This involves finding joy in life's blessings while pursuing a greater mission, mirroring Jesus' own path to the cross. Discipleship requires a willingness to lay down one's life for others, prioritizing service and love over personal gain. As we follow Jesus' example, we discover the true meaning of life and the fulfillment that comes from living for something greater than ourselves. [08:15]

Mark 10:43-45 (ESV): "But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection: Identify one way you can serve someone selflessly today. How can this act of service help you align more closely with Jesus' mission and purpose?

Day 4: Overcoming Spiritual Blindness

Spiritual blindness can prevent us from recognizing Jesus' truth. Despite witnessing His miracles, many people in Jesus' time failed to believe, prioritizing human approval over divine honor. This serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to seek God's praise above all else. When we focus on gaining the approval of others, we risk missing the truth and beauty of Jesus' message. By prioritizing God's honor, we open our eyes to His truth and allow our faith to flourish, overcoming the spiritual blindness that hinders our relationship with Him. [24:12]

2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV): "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you seek human approval over God's? How can you shift your focus to prioritize divine honor and overcome spiritual blindness?

Day 5: Jesus' Mission to Save

Jesus came to save, not to judge. His incarnation and sacrificial death were acts of profound love, offering salvation to all who believe. This message of hope and redemption is the heart of the Gospel, inviting us to trust in Jesus and experience the rescue He provides. By understanding that Jesus' mission was to save the world, we are encouraged to embrace His love and grace, allowing it to transform our lives. This assurance of salvation invites us to live with hope and confidence, knowing that we are loved and redeemed by a Savior who came to rescue us. [29:07]

1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV): "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."

Reflection: How does understanding Jesus' mission to save impact your view of His love and grace? In what ways can you share this message of hope with others today?

Sermon Summary

In John 12, we encounter a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, marking the transition from His public ministry to a more intimate focus with His disciples. This chapter begins with certain Greeks seeking Jesus, symbolizing the universal reach of His message. Their request, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus," reflects a deep yearning that transcends cultural and religious boundaries. This curiosity about Jesus is a powerful catalyst for faith, as God often uses such inquiries to draw people into His kingdom.

Jesus' response to the Greeks' request is profound. He declares, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified," signifying His impending crucifixion. This statement challenges conventional notions of glory, as Jesus equates His glorification with His death on the cross. The metaphor of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying to produce much fruit illustrates the necessity of His sacrifice for the salvation of many. Jesus' death is not a defeat but a divine strategy for victory over sin and death.

Furthermore, Jesus emphasizes the importance of following Him in sacrificial service. He enjoyed the good things of life but lived for a higher purpose. He calls His followers to do the same, to find joy in life's blessings while pursuing a greater mission. This call to discipleship involves a willingness to lay down one's life for others, mirroring Jesus' own path to the cross.

Jesus also addresses the spiritual blindness of those who reject Him, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy. Despite witnessing His miracles, many failed to believe, prioritizing human approval over divine honor. This serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to seek God's praise above all else.

Finally, Jesus' mission is clarified: He came not to judge the world but to save it. His incarnation, life, and sacrificial death were acts of profound love, offering salvation to all who believe. This message of hope and redemption is the heart of the Gospel, inviting us to trust in Jesus and experience the rescue He provides.

Key Takeaways

1. Curiosity about Jesus can be a powerful starting point for faith. God often uses our questions and desires to draw us closer to Him, leading us to discover the truth of His love and grace. [02:38]
2. Jesus' glorification through crucifixion challenges our understanding of glory. His death was not a defeat but a divine victory, illustrating that true glory often involves sacrifice and selflessness. [04:15]
3. Following Jesus means embracing a life of sacrificial service. While we can enjoy life's blessings, our ultimate purpose is to live for something greater, reflecting Jesus' own mission. [08:15]
4. Spiritual blindness can prevent us from recognizing Jesus' truth. Prioritizing human approval over divine honor can hinder our faith, urging us to seek God's praise above all else. [24:12]
5. Jesus came to save, not to judge. His incarnation and sacrifice were acts of love, offering salvation to all who believe. This message of hope invites us to trust in Him and experience His rescue. [29:07]
** [29:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Introduction to John 12
[00:43] - Greeks Seek Jesus
[01:16] - End of Public Ministry
[02:01] - Curiosity About Jesus
[03:10] - The Hour Has Come
[04:15] - Glorification Through Crucifixion
[05:21] - The Grain of Wheat
[06:07] - Jesus' Enjoyment of Life
[07:42] - Higher Purpose in Life
[09:06] - Following Jesus' Path
[12:13] - Judgment and Victory
[14:21] - Culture in Opposition
[19:21] - Urgency of Belief
[26:08] - Jesus' Last Public Words
[29:07] - Mission to Save, Not Judge

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: John 12

Bible Reading:
- John 12:20-36
- Isaiah 53:1
- Isaiah 6:9-10

Observation Questions:

What was the significance of the Greeks seeking Jesus in John 12:20-21, and how did Jesus respond to their request? [00:43]
How does Jesus describe His glorification in John 12:23-24, and what metaphor does He use to explain it? [03:10]
According to the sermon, what does Jesus' statement about being "lifted up" signify, and how does it relate to His mission? [15:49]
What does the sermon say about the spiritual blindness of those who rejected Jesus, and how does it relate to Isaiah's prophecy? [22:05]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the curiosity of the Greeks in John 12 serve as a catalyst for faith, and what does this suggest about the role of curiosity in spiritual growth? [02:38]
In what ways does Jesus' crucifixion challenge conventional notions of glory, and how does this redefine the concept of victory? [04:15]
How does the sermon interpret Jesus' call to follow Him in sacrificial service, and what implications does this have for modern discipleship? [08:15]
What does the sermon suggest about the dangers of prioritizing human approval over divine honor, and how can this affect one's faith journey? [24:12]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when curiosity led you to a deeper understanding of faith. How can you cultivate a spirit of curiosity about Jesus in your daily life? [02:38]
Jesus' crucifixion is described as a divine victory. How can you apply this understanding of glory and victory to challenges you face in your own life? [04:15]
Consider the call to follow Jesus in sacrificial service. What is one specific way you can serve others this week that reflects Jesus' mission? [08:15]
Have you ever found yourself seeking human approval over God's praise? What steps can you take to prioritize divine honor in your decisions and actions? [24:12]
Jesus came to save, not to judge. How does this perspective influence the way you view your own mission as a follower of Christ? [29:07]
Identify an area in your life where you feel spiritually blind or resistant to Jesus' truth. What practical steps can you take to seek clarity and understanding? [22:05]
How can you actively participate in sharing the message of hope and redemption that Jesus offers, especially with those who are curious about faith? [29:07]

Sermon Clips

It's good to be curious about Jesus it is and I hope that there's many today if you don't have a personal connection with Jesus Christ in your life I hope you're curious about him but God has used a simple curiosity about Jesus Christ to lead many people into his kingdom it is a good thing and to be encouraged when people are simply curious about Jesus Christ in any regard. [00:02:38]

Jesus proudly proclaims my hour has come now's the time it's going to get set in motion verse 23 the hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified now I wonder if you'd never read the Bible before and read that one line the hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified what would you think maybe think of an awards banquet you know it's like the Academy Awards and you know for Best prophet of first century Judaism Jesus of Nazareth and he comes up and accept this award and that's that's always glorified in French if you got any familiarity with the Bible you know what Jesus means by glorified right there don't you he means crucified. [00:04:15]

Most assuredly I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls him to the ground and dies it remains alone but if it dies it produces much grain he who loves his life will lose it and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life if anyone serves me let him follow me and where I am there my servant will be also if anyone serves me him my father will honor. [00:05:21]

Jesus enjoyed the good things of this life but he knew that his life was for more than the enjoyment of the good things of this life does everybody understand that he said my destiny the hour has come for me to die for me to be glorified for me to lay down my life and sacrifice and to give it to others for me to impart life to others by giving it for myself this is my call this is what God has given me to do I'll enjoy all the good things of this life but I'm gonna live for an even higher and greater purpose as well. [00:08:15]

Jesus says that the spirit of this world was judged at the cross you know if we understand that the cross represents the epitome the peak the top point of God's love for Humanity friends it also expresses the very lowest point of man's hatred and God came to earth adding humanity to his deity and all he did was walk around tell the truth help people and perform amazing miracles and mankind couldn't wait to kill them it doesn't get worse than that but this is what Jesus says that's gonna be judged at the cross. [00:24:12]

Jesus assured them I am with you only a little while longer the clock is ticking you must decide friends this is true isn't it we don't live forever there's a time for us to put our trust in Jesus Christ in who he is and what he did for us on the cross we must believe on Jesus while the light is there because that light will not last forever the Bible says that God's Spirit will not always strive with man that there comes a time where God says you want to go in this direction fine if you feel God tugging at your heart today two things first I'll be very thankful for that secondly don't put it off if you feel caught drawing you to him today now is the time to say Jesus I surrender to you Jesus I trust in who you are and what you did for me on the cross. [00:19:21]

Friends John is dealing with the great question if Jesus was so right if Jesus fulfilled all these things why didn't more people believe in him it's a true it's a valid question and obviously some people believed in him John's going to tell us about some people believe in just in a few verses some people did but why didn't more and he explains it and says it's a fulfillment of prophecy using two quotations from Isaiah that's Isaiah 53 verse 1 and Isaiah chapter 6 verses 9 and 10 John explained that this was prophesied that even though God was revealed to them they didn't accept it and that even though God had had offered himself to them their eyes were blinded and they did not receive him so friends here's the idea if Jesus has revealed himself to you do not reject him now not everybody rejected him. [00:26:08]

There were more people that believed in Jesus at the time of his earthly ministry than let on there were if you want to use the phrase secret believers they believed in Jesus to put their trust in him but there was something not fully formed not fully mature about their faith they couldn't confess him they couldn't declare their love and their allegiance to Jesus why couldn't they do it friends isn't that a sobering verse in verse 43 you saw they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God do you remember just in a few verses before this I didn't really talk about it was worthy to talk about in verse 26 jesus said something remarkable he said that if anyone served him they would receive honor from God you ever thought God honoring you well what greater thing could there ever be you know if an important person can honor you and look you could say well the honor from anybody means something good it sure does mean something but if somebody important great mighty in authority if they honor you it means a lot there must be nothing greater in all existence than to be honoured by God and Jesus said if you serve me my father will honor you it's a beautiful thing but notice this there were people these secret disciples they cared more about their reputation before man than they cared about the reputation before God. [00:29:07]

He who believes in Me believes not in me but in him who sent me and he who sees me sees him who sent me I have come as a light into the world that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness and if anyone hears my words and does not believe I do not judge him for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world he who rejects me and does not receive my words has that which judges him the word which I have spoken will judge him in that last day for I have not spoken on my own authority but the father who sent me gave me a command what I should say and what I should speak and I know that his command is ever lasting life therefore whatever I speak just as the father has told me so I speak. [00:29:07]

When you see me you have seen God and verse 46 I have come into a lot as a light into this world there's a choice between light and darkness there's a choice people I brought the light the darkness is out there you're gonna have to choose between the two but I kind of want to end with this last idea of Jesus verse 47 I did not come to judge the world but to save the world I've been thinking about that line from Jesus I did not come to judge the world but to save though my friends is it true that Jesus will judge the world yes the Bible says so Jesus himself says so he says so again just in a few verses he says at the same time I did not come to judge world and as I was thinking about it doesn't it occur to you that if the main work of God if the most compelling work of God was to judge the world then Jesus never needed to come from heaven to do that he never needed to add humanity to his deity to judge the world he could have just done it from a throne in heaven he didn't need to go to all the trouble he didn't have to come as a baby in Bethlehem he didn't have to live thirty-three sinless years he didn't have to endure the temptation in the wilderness he didn't have to endure all that constant annoyance from his disciples friends he didn't have to go through all that trouble to judge the world but to save the world he had to and that's why Jesus delights to save delights to open up the heart of God as big as it can be and to say judgment is out there but I have come I have descended from heaven to earth I added humanity to my deity and came as a man and walked among you and I'm gonna be lifted up upon a cruel cross to not only suffer its physical horrors but even bigger since the spiritual horrors all of that is there and it pleases me to do it if I can bring salvation to the world by doing friends this is your Savior Jesus Christ as the savior of the world and he came and did this to bring us the rescue we need we need a rescue from the devil we need a rescue from the culture around us that opposes Jesus but you know who I need the greatest rescue from me we say classically the Christian has three enemies the world the flesh and the devil the woman concerns me the most is the flesh me because nobody can torpedo my boat like I can so friends I say Jesus would you please come and rescue me would you please come and bring me your saving power I believe in you I believe in what you did for me on the cross Jesus Here I am I trust in you I could say the same thing this morning you can have your own faith in Jesus Christ he didn't come to the world to judge you but to save you he didn't need to go to all the trouble if it was just a judge but he was happy to go through all the trouble in everything that it encompassed to bring rescue to you. [00:29:07]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?

Embracing Sacrifice: The True Glory of Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Curiosity as a Catalyst for Faith

Day 2: Glory Through Sacrifice

Day 3: Embracing a Life of Sacrificial Service

Day 4: Overcoming Spiritual Blindness

Day 5: Jesus' Mission to Save

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Sacrifice: The True Glory of Jesus

Share