Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

John 12: 20-24

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very 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."

Jesus said about "glorified", wouldn't it in reference to the Greeks coming to see him as mentioned in verse 20? The disciples might think so and they promptly told Jesus with lots of enthusiasm. How did Jesus reply? The first sentence sounded all right, "the hour to be glorified has come!" the disciples would agree, "we know we've followed the right person!" because they saw the miracles performed by Jesus, they were incredulous, especially when Jesus commanded them to go in pairs to heal the sick and cast out the demons, and the demons yielded! You can imagine the disciples spoke and walked with bravado, "because we follow Jesus!"

When Jesus asked, "Who do people say I am?" Everyone rushed to answer, "You are John the Baptist!" "You are Elijah!" "You are one of the prophets!" they could not hide their pride no matter what. When Jesus asked, "Who do you say I am?" Peter, so outspoken, immediately proclaimed, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Messiah, the Savior, and your kingdom shall endure forever!" The implication was: "Our royal jobs will endure forever!" They expected with great excitement to have a part in this kingdom. "Jesus Christ as King!" That really would be a glorious moment.

The second sentence of Jesus Christ did not sound good at all. Jesus said, "Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed." The glory is in fact that he would be persecuted and died on the cross, because the road to glory mentioned by Jesus is actually a road through the cross. Brothers and sisters, if Jesus did not die on the cross, if Jesus did not arise from the dead, overcoming the power of death and sin, then there is no solution to mankind's problem with sin. But thank God, Jesus Christ is here! He even died on the cross for us, rose from the dead, bringing us eternal hope! Hallelujah!

Pray with Pastor Tong

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Lord, thank you, because you fulfill the glorious work for our sake, as well as paving a road of glory for our walk. We ask the lord to help us to take up the cross and follow you. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!