Life Through Death: Embracing Christ's Sacrifice

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Life Through Sacrifice

True life and eternal significance often come through sacrifice and self-denial. In John 12:20-26, Jesus uses the metaphor of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying to illustrate that His death will bring forth much fruit, symbolizing the spiritual life and salvation that will come to the world through His sacrifice. This passage challenges us to evaluate our priorities and align our lives with the eternal purposes of God. Jesus emphasizes that those who love their life in this world will lose it, but those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. This paradox invites us to embrace self-denial and sacrifice, trusting that in losing our lives for Christ, we gain eternal life. [01:08]

John 12:24-25 (ESV): "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 2: The Light of Faith

The Gospel of John is written to lead us to faith in Jesus as the Christ. The signs and teachings are carefully selected to reveal Jesus' identity and mission, inviting us to step out of darkness and into His light. This encourages us to share the Gospel with others, not as a leap into the dark, but as a step into the light of life. By believing in Jesus, we are invited to experience a transformative relationship with Him, stepping out of the shadows of doubt and into the clarity and hope that His light provides. [03:40]

John 8:12 (ESV): "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the light of Jesus? How can you share His light with them this week in a practical and loving way?

Day 3: Seeking the True Jesus

The religious leaders missed the truth of Jesus because they were blinded by their own expectations. This warns us against creating a version of Jesus that fits our desires, urging us to seek the true Jesus as revealed in Scripture. It is a cautionary tale that reminds us to be open to the true Jesus, not a version of Him that conforms to our own desires. By seeking the true Jesus, we allow ourselves to be transformed by His teachings and His love, rather than trying to mold Him into our own image. [19:54]

Matthew 16:15-16 (ESV): "He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'"

Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of Jesus. Are there any preconceived notions or expectations you have that might be hindering your relationship with Him? How can you seek to know the true Jesus more deeply?

Day 4: The Spirit's Role in Belief

While evidence and logic are important, the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in opening our eyes to the truth of the Gospel. This reminds us to rely on the Spirit's work in our evangelism and to pray for others to have their hearts prepared to receive the truth. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts, guides, and reveals the truth of Jesus to us, enabling us to respond in faith. As we share the Gospel, we must remember to depend on the Spirit's power and presence to work in the hearts of those we reach out to. [33:12]

1 Corinthians 2:10-12 (ESV): "These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."

Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide your conversations and interactions with others this week? What specific steps can you take to be more attuned to the Spirit's leading in your life?

Day 5: Confidence in God's Unstoppable Work

Despite opposition, God's purposes cannot be thwarted. The Gospel continues to spread, and Jesus' promise to build His church remains true. This gives us confidence and hope as we participate in God's mission, knowing that His plans will prevail. No matter the challenges or resistance we face, we can trust that God's work is unstoppable and that He will accomplish His purposes in and through us. This assurance empowers us to engage boldly in His mission, knowing that we are part of a story much greater than ourselves. [29:01]

Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV): "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in God's mission this week, trusting in His unstoppable work? How can you encourage others to join you in this mission?

Sermon Summary

In John 12:20-26, we encounter a pivotal moment where Jesus speaks about His impending death and its significance. Jesus uses the metaphor of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying to illustrate that His death will bring forth much fruit, symbolizing the spiritual life and salvation that will come to the world through His sacrifice. This passage is a profound reminder that true life and eternal significance often come through sacrifice and self-denial. Jesus emphasizes that those who love their life in this world will lose it, but those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. This paradox challenges us to evaluate our priorities and align our lives with the eternal purposes of God.

The Gospel of John is written with an evangelistic purpose, aiming to lead readers to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, they may have life in His name. John carefully selects signs and teachings of Jesus to present evidence of His identity, purpose, and power. These signs are not just miraculous acts but are meant to lead us to a response of faith, stepping out of darkness and into the light of life that Jesus offers.

As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded of the opposition Jesus faced from the religious leaders of His time. Despite witnessing His miracles and hearing His teachings, many were blinded by their own expectations and desires for a Messiah who fit their preconceived notions. This serves as a cautionary tale for us today, urging us to be open to the true Jesus, not a version of Him that conforms to our own desires.

Key Takeaways

1. denial and sacrifice, trusting that in losing our lives for Christ, we gain eternal life. This principle calls us to evaluate what we hold dear and to prioritize the eternal over the temporal. [01:08]
2. The Evangelistic Purpose of John's Gospel: John's Gospel is written to lead us to faith in Jesus as the Christ. The signs and teachings are carefully selected to reveal Jesus' identity and mission, inviting us to step out of darkness and into His light. This encourages us to share the Gospel with others, not as a leap into the dark, but as a step into the light of life.

3. The Danger of Preconceived Notions: The religious leaders missed the truth of Jesus because they were blinded by their own expectations. This warns us against creating a version of Jesus that fits our desires, urging us to seek the true Jesus as revealed in Scripture.

4. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Belief: While evidence and logic are important, the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in opening our eyes to the truth of the Gospel. This reminds us to rely on the Spirit's work in our evangelism and to pray for others to have their hearts prepared to receive the truth.

5. The Unstoppable Nature of God's Work: Despite opposition, God's purposes cannot be thwarted. The Gospel continues to spread, and Jesus' promise to build His church remains true. This gives us confidence and hope as we participate in God's mission, knowing that His plans will prevail. [01:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction to John 12:20-26
[02:06] - The Significance of Jesus' Death
[03:23] - The Evangelistic Purpose of John's Gospel
[05:06] - Stepping Out of Darkness
[06:16] - Context of John 12
[07:24] - Jesus' Final Public Words
[09:09] - Frustration of the Religious Leaders
[12:06] - Opposition to Jesus
[15:33] - The Question of Belief
[19:54] - Jesus' Claim to Deity
[23:29] - The Raising of Lazarus
[27:49] - The Unstoppable Gospel
[32:39] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[36:26] - The Light of the Gospel
[38:12] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 12:20-26
- John 20:30-31
- 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

---

Observation Questions:

What metaphor does Jesus use in John 12:24 to describe the necessity of His death, and what does it signify? [01:08]
According to the sermon, what is the stated purpose of the Gospel of John, and how does it relate to the signs and teachings of Jesus? [03:23]
How did the religious leaders react to Jesus' miracles and teachings, and what does this reveal about their expectations of the Messiah? [19:54]
What role does the Holy Spirit play in belief, according to the sermon, and how does this impact our approach to evangelism? [33:12]

---

Interpretation Questions:

How does the metaphor of the grain of wheat in John 12:24 challenge our understanding of life and death in the context of Christian faith? [01:08]
In what ways does the Gospel of John encourage believers to step out of darkness and into the light of life? How does this relate to the evangelistic purpose of the Gospel? [05:06]
What are the dangers of holding preconceived notions about Jesus, and how can these notions prevent us from seeing the true Jesus as revealed in Scripture? [19:54]
How does the sermon describe the unstoppable nature of God's work, and what implications does this have for believers facing opposition in their faith journey? [29:01]

---

Application Questions:

Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are holding onto worldly priorities that might be hindering your spiritual growth? How can you begin to prioritize the eternal over the temporal this week? [01:08]
The Gospel of John is written to lead us to faith in Jesus. How can you share the light of the Gospel with someone in your life who is still in darkness? What specific steps can you take this week? [05:06]
Consider a time when your expectations of Jesus did not align with the reality of who He is. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [19:54]
In what ways can you rely more on the Holy Spirit in your evangelism efforts? Is there someone you can pray for this week, asking the Holy Spirit to prepare their heart to receive the truth? [33:12]
Think about a situation where you faced opposition for your faith. How did you handle it, and what can you do differently next time to stand firm in the confidence that God's purposes cannot be thwarted? [29:01]
Identify one preconceived notion you have about Jesus that might not align with Scripture. How can you seek to understand the true Jesus as revealed in the Bible? [19:54]
How can you actively participate in God's unstoppable mission this week, knowing that His plans will prevail despite any challenges you might face? [29:01]

Sermon Clips

Truly truly I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls into the Earth and dies it remains alone but if it dies it Bears much fruit whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life if anyone serves me he must follow me and where I am there will my servant be also if anyone serves me the father will honor him. [00:58:12]

What Jesus is making clear here in this illustration is that his death is the basis is the source of spiritual life to the world that by his death he brings life to the world now in coming to each of these texts we have been fairly repetitive in in saying to one another it is very important that we understand each of these in light of the wider perspective of the entirety of the Gospel of John. [02:34:40]

The stated purpose of John in writing this gospel is not an academic purpose but it is an Evangelistic purpose and we know that from what he says in the 31st verse of chapter 20 quotes Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book but these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name. [03:13:59]

Part of the privilege that is entrusted to us is to say no no no nobody want you take a leap into the dark in fact what the Bible is asking us to do is to step out of the darkness and Into the Light of Life Jesus says I am the light of the world he that follows me will not walk in darkness so it's not leaping into the dark it is stepping out of the dark into the Embrace of Jesus. [05:28:31]

The Jews who are opposing him are right to conclude that Jesus is claiming deity that's that's their problem they realize that he's actually declaring himself to be the Messiah and their right to recognize that claim what they're wrong about is then assigning to him blasphemy because the irony actually is they are the true blasphemers they are within touching distance of the Messiah they are the ones who have been present to see his miracles to hear his words. [19:44:12]

Evidence itself does not compel belief you and I will never argue a single soul into the kingdom by the logic of our reasoning well says somebody does that mean that we should abandon any attempts to point people in a logical way to the consideration of the claims of Jesus no it doesn't mean that at all and the best that I have found in relationship to that is from the pen of Gres maen who was uh a teacher at Princeton before he uh began Westminster Seminary. [32:23:48]

There must be the mysterious work of the spirit of God in the New Birth without that all our arguments are quite useless but because argument is insufficient it does not follow that it is unnecessary what the Holy Spirit does in the New Birth is not to make a person a Christian regardless of the evidence but on the contrary to clear away The Mists from their eyes and enable them to attend to the evidence. [33:05:39]

The mysterious hand of the Divine Spirit dropped the living seed into a heart that he himself had prepared for its reception you get that that when a person comes to Faith in Jesus Christ and when they are actually surprised by it as as CS Lewis says that he was surprised by Joy what has happened there well it is a Divine work but it wasn't as a result of some great feeling it involved all kinds of elements. [34:02:39]

The God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel in the glory of Christ who is the image of God for what we Proclaim is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord with ourselves as your servants for jesus' sake for God who said let light shine out of Darkness has Shone into our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. [36:38:00]

These individuals who had the law who had the prophets who had Moses when confronted with the Fulfillment of all these prophetic words they said no they wanted a god of their own making they wanted a God who fit their expectations and that may be why some of us have never bowed our need to Jesus because we want him to be a certain kind of Jesus. [38:19:04]

Show us holy spirit we pray the only Jesus that there is and help us to receive him in all of his powerful fullness in order that by believing we might have life in his name. [39:44:31]

Thank you that we can read it ponder it and know that you speak to us through it it's such a mystery as we unpack these very passages that these individuals who had the law who had the prophets who had Moses when confronted with the Fulfillment of all these prophetic words they said no they wanted a god of their own making they wanted a God who fit their expectations. [38:19:04]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?

Life Through Death: Embracing Christ's Sacrifice

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Life Through Sacrifice

Day 2: The Light of Faith

Day 3: Seeking the True Jesus

Day 4: The Spirit's Role in Belief

Day 5: Confidence in God's Unstoppable Work

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Life Through Death: Embracing Christ's Sacrifice

Share