Page 52 - Living Light Spring 2024

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Toby Hole and are based on John 12:20-29 (NIV)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Isaiah 49:1-7, John 1:43-50 and Philippians 2:1-11
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very 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. 25Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in
this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour 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. 28Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Sunday April 28 - Welcoming strangers
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the
festival. John 12:20
The Jewish festival of the Passover is the greatest of all the Jewish feasts, when Jews remember with thankfulness God’s great deliverance of them out of slavery in Egypt. In Jesus’ time Jerusalem would have been packed full of Jews from all over the Mediterranean world who had come to worship at the temple. Perhaps you can imagine the babble of different languages as Jews from Persia, Greece and Africa mingle with one another in the crowded streets.
The Greeks referred to in this verse are most likely God-fearing Gentile Greeks, who have heard of this man Jesus, who is also in Jerusalem. We don’t know whether they are interested in following Jesus or whether they are just curious tourists. What is important is that they seem to have encountered some of Jesus’ disciples and are asking questions.
When I was in local church leadership, I used to pray every Saturday evening that there would be someone at the Sunday service who was new to our church and different from the rest of us. I prayed for numerical growth and diversity, and God answered my prayers. You might want to think about the ‘Greeks’ that you might meet with in church or elsewhere – those who are seeking faith and are different from others around them. Can you be the person who points them to Jesus?
Heavenly Father, please help me to be attentive to those who are different from me and are looking for your salvation. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR TODAY