There are many things that we can learn from the life of Jesus. His love for His Father, His desire to do His will, His total obedience and submission, His compassion, His bold courage in facing His critics, but the greatest lesson we could ever learn was how he handled His greatest assignment: Paying the penalty for our sins. We tend to ask why me? His response to the suffering He was about to face was both shocking and humbling for me.
Shortly after raising Lazarus from the dead, the jealousy of the Pharisees and leaders in Jerusalem had reached its zenith. They wanted Jesus gone for good. Jesus knew of their plotting, but He was also working with the timetable established by His Father so He avoided being around them. See John 11 for the entire account. Six days before Passover Jesus went to visit His friends Lazarus, Mary and Martha. More Jews showed up to see Lazarus while others plotted how they could kill both Jesus and Lazarus. They blamed Lazarus for the defection of Jews from the religious sect to believing and following Jesus. To make matters worse the multitudes made a great coronation of welcome for Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. Read the account in John 12. Jealousy is a disease of the heart that only the blood of Jesus can scrub out.
Some Greeks wanted a special audience with Jesus but Jesus instead avoided the distraction by stating His purpose for not only being in Jerusalem but for coming to earth. Satan always wants to distract us away from carrying out the plans God has for us. We must remain focused at all times. When Philip told Jesus that the Greeks wanted to see Him, the answer He gave to Philip was not what he or they expected. We never found out what the Greeks wanted, because Jesus didn’t allow Himself to be sidetracked. Let’s read together.
“He replied to them, “Now is the time for the Son of Man to be glorified. Let Me make this clear: A single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat—all because one grain died. “The person who loves his life and pampers himself will miss true life! But the one who detaches his life from this world and abandons himself to Me, will find true life and enjoy it forever! If you want to be My disciple, follow Me and you will go where I Am going. And if you truly follow Me as My disciple, the Father will shower His favor upon your life. “Even though I am torn within, and My soul is in turmoil, I will not ask the Father to rescue Me from this hour of trial. For I have come to fulfill My purpose —to offer Myself to God. So, Father, bring glory to Your Name!” Then suddenly a booming voice was heard from the sky, “I have glorified My Name! And I will glorify it through You again!”
John 12:23-28 TPT
We pray for our troubles to go away. Why don’t we pray that the Lord will be glorified in our problems? Jesus never asked the Father to rescue Him. Instead He prayed that the Father’s Name would be glorified through His submission. When Jesus prayed that the cup would be taken away, He wasn’t asking to be delivered, but that what He was about to drink would not bring separation from the Father. He did everything for His Father’s glory, our sin was about to cause something Jesus had never experienced before. Even though temporary, the thought of having His Father turn away from Him as our sins were poured on Him was more devastating than the cross. That cup and what it represented, was what He prayed would pass, but He pivoted to nevertheless, not My will but Yours.
While the multitude shouted hosanna, the soul of Jesus was troubled. Being God, He knew all things. His desire was that all would be saved, but He knew that was not to be. He wept over Jerusalem. He knew that in His inner circle was a betrayer. He knew they’d all scatter and He’d be left alone. He knew the cost of submission yet He chose it. But He also saw a great victory. Victory that is now ours.
Robert J Morgan wrote: God doesn’t waste suffering. If He leads us into impossible spots, He will deliver us in His own time, in His own way, and for His Name’s sake. Our job amid the difficulty is to learn our Lord’s simple but submissive prayer. What shall I say? Save Me from this hour? No, Father, glorify Your Name.
Isn’t that what our life in Christ should be about? Bringing glory to His Name in every situation? We are always looking or asking for a way out, forgetting to say, nevertheless not my will but Yours. Let us not be like the Israelites who forgot the great deliverance they received when they got to the Red Sea. Let us not forget His provision when we get to bitter waters. Never forget how He protected and carried us through the valley. Look up in the midst of whatever you’re facing and ask How can I glorify You in this situation? He will show us how-If the question comes from a submitted heart.
Here’s how He gains glory in our lives as we remain submitted to Him: see Exodus 15
His enemies are defeated
His children are delivered
His Name is exalted
remembering His goodness
When we lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving
When we never give up and never doubt His Word
What He allows and or permits, is never without purpose. May we submit our will like Jesus and hear Him say in response to our prayer:
I have both glorified it (His Name) and will glorify it again. John 12:28b
“God, glorify Your Name! Yes, Your Name alone be glorified, not ours. For You are the One who loves us passionately, and You are faithful and true.”
Psalms 115:1 TPT
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
December 10, 2021