Author: garhamkwon

[John 12:34-43]  Idolatry – Loving the Glory of Men

Jesus explained that to gain eternal life, you must first lose it, and that even a small seed of faith can give fruit. Yet the crowd did not understand. This was because the interpretation of the law still held on to their hearts. However, Jesus is the completion of the law, because Jesus spoke, and he is the Word.

The crowds probably were not even aware of what they were saying. When Jesus said ‘when I am lifted up’, the people questioned ‘how can you say the Son of Man must be lifted up’. The phrase ‘lifted up’ seems to have very little connection to death. Instead, it usually refers to the transition to a higher level. It is going to the heights of the skies, not the depths of the abyss. (Of course, transcending into the sky could refer to a glorious form of death).

“The Son of Man must be lifted up” is closely related to the phrase “The Son of Man must be glorified.” Who is the Son of Man? John explains what the crowd failed to realise, despite having Jesus in front of them. He uses the Book of Isaiah.

Gregory Beale states in his book, ‘We become what we worship’, the titular idea of men becoming what they worship. The book interprets Isaiah 6:9-10 to mean this: “Do you like idols? If you like them so much, I will make you like them. Idols cannot see, hear or understand and lack a spiritual life. You will lack spiritual understanding and depth.”

Those who swear falsehood by the Bible; to them, the Bible is just another idol. In the same way, the law was the idol of the Pharisees.

Putting the Glory of Men before the Glory of God; this is Idolatry.

“We become what we worship – A biblical theology of idolatry”, Gregory K. Beale.

 

[John 12:20-33] God’s Children

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My father will honour the one who serves me.” [26]

‘Serving’ refers to servant looking after the needs of the master. Therefore, verse 26 can be paraphrased as “servants of Jesus must follow him. Where Jesus is, his servants are also there. And God accepts the servants of Jesus”.

People who serve Jesus are people who obey Jesus. For you to live within Jesus, and for Him to live within you, you must serve Jesus. Those who serve Jesus are precious in the eyes of God. They are considered to be God’s Children.

Greeks, who can be considered as those who are not shepherded by the ‘good shepherd’, came to see Jesus during the Passover. In Greek, the word used (to see Jesus) means to know. At the news that even other sheep want to know the ‘good shepherd’, Jesus proclaims that it was time for the Man of God to be glorified.

He then proceeds to hint at a death that is in no way glorifying. He goes from glory to death, then back to life, reversing everything. One death saves many lives. Those who strive to live will die, and those who give up their lives will gain eternal life. This eternal life means you are now a child of God, and that you serve Jesus and obey him.

Jesus also wanted to avoid death. However, death was Jesus’ task on earth, and he obeyed God’s will. God glorified him for his obedience, and will glorify him again. Jesus has set an example as a child of God. There is only obedience.

Jesus’ obedience declares that true authority lies with God the Father. The world’s kings can do nothing against this divine authority. Jesus led a life of obedience to the point of death. God values this obedience, and will also value the lives of those who live for Jesus. We will be accepted as children of God.

Is there a greater honour than being known as God’s children?

 

[John 12:12-19] Hosanna

Many people went out to greet Jesus, having heard he would be coming to Jerusalem from Bethany. Even before they could see him, they began shouting ‘Hosanna!’

‘Hosanna (O, Save Us), King of Israel, coming from God.’ The people expected Jesus to liberate them from the Roman rulers. They would have whispered among themselves, ‘He can bring the dead back to life. He will deliver us from the Romans.’ ‘Yes, I have seen him raise the dead with my own eyes.’

Rumours and stories of Jesus’ miracles were spread among the people, and this heightened the expectations of the crowd awaiting Jesus. Their excitement heated up their air to the point where the Pharisees were claiming that the whole world was following Jesus. (You could say the ‘Wanted’ poster for Jesus changed into a Presidential Candidate poster for him)

Then Jesus comes into sight from far away.

He is on a young colt.

// This image is far from the conquering king image the people were expecting. The shouts of ‘Hosanna’ probably would have died down. The crowd would have grown apprehensive. Suspicion would grow in their hearts.

Hosanna. O, save us.

This reminds us of the parable, in which, having been rescued from drowning, the person demands that the rescuer hands over his possessions. Jesus jumped into the water to save us, leaving behind his kingship. Perhaps we are less grateful for his act of love, but more interested in having his bag as well. Maybe we are living like that… 😦

He came on a young colt. He comes, not in the appearance of a conquering king, but as our ‘hosanna’ saviour.