LENT: DEATH GIVING WAY TO LIFE

John 12:24-26 Today is the first Sunday of Lent. As we begin a journey with the book, "40 Days of Decrease," the messages during this season will come from the daily readings in John 12-21 that are recommended in the book. We begin today with Christ's words in John 12:24-26, where Jesus provides His certain response to the awareness that His impending crucifixion was near. This response appropriately addresses the question... How can we prepare for the new life and growth made possible by Christ's resurrection? For new life to emerge, some old ways need to die. (v. 25) When Jesus spoke about how a single kernel of wheat needs to die to give birth to much more life, He was alluding to the coming reality of His death and resurrection. This truth, however, implies that our deeper experience of life will come as we, in God's strength, put to death that which stands in the way of His life springing more fully in us. The preceding stories John tells provide very practical examples of what needs to die... Empty Religious Ritual (Jn. 11:45-53) The religious leaders checked all the right religious boxes, but remained blind to all the signs Jesus performed to reveal who He was. Let us ask God to open our eyes to His loving truth and not be content with "going through motions." Lack of Authenticity (Jn. 12:4-6) Though Judas had spent much time with Jesus, He had many unanswered questions and was hiding some very real struggles with sinful behaviour. The reality of our questions and struggles need to be brought from dark hiding places to the light of God's love and truth. Surface Solutions (Jn. 12:12-13) The crowd that praised Jesus as God's Saviour was expecting a political and military Messiah, not One who would deal with their much deeper root need for forgiveness and restoration with God. Let us enter this Lent season with a willingness to let God deal with root issues in our lives.