Ep. 13 - S - John 12:20-33 When the Time Comes

"S" stands for Sermon. How do you prepare for the moment that matters? When everything is on the line, will you step up or run away? Will you willingly embrace what comes or will you writhe and fight against reality? While that is an open question for us, depending on the situation, it isn't for our Savior. When the time came for him to set his jaw, straighten his path, and silently suffer for the sins of the world in our place, he did not hesitate. He did not flinch. He fully embraced his purpose in coming to earth in the first place, which was to become the Savior we needed him to be so that all who trust in him would be saved. Jesus' why was clear. He came for you! May Jesus' determination to save us and his flawless actions on our behalf inspire us to be prepared for the times that will come for us, times of hardship and sorrow, persecution and even death. We too can face these with confidence and conviction because Jesus is for us, with us, and behind us now and forever! Use this as your Christian pep talk: Redeemed. I am redeemed. I am a child of God. No one can snatch me from my Father’s hand. Jesus died for me. Jesus rose for me. Jesus lives in me. I matter. God has called me. He has a purpose for me. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I am His. John 12:20-33 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. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. “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. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. This sermon was delivered on March 17, 2024, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Helenville, WI, and preached by Rev. Titus Buelow.