Todays readings… 2 Chronicles 10&11, Ezekiel 45, John 12
“THE WORD … WILL JUDGE … ON THE LAST DAY”
Today’s 12th chapter in John’s gospel is one of the most profound and thought challenging in the whole Bible! The atmosphere within human hearts of the choice between the broad and narrow ways was rarely so evident than in this time before the arrest of Jesus. The Master’s challenging observations jump out at us.
The envy our Lord’s popularity generated was increasing. The raising to life of Lazarus after 4 days in the tomb was significant in causing this. “So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.” [v.10,11]
John records the ‘agony’ in the mind of Jesus, and we are to learn that John was “the one whom Jesus loved” [20 v.2, 21 v.7] and he is able to record the words of Jesus, “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” [v.27] The humanity of Jesus is most evident here – and the words in Hebrews ‘jump’ into our minds, that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” [ 4 v.5]
At this moment after Jesus prays, “Father, glorify your name.” … a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” [v.28]. Yesterday we read how “the glory of God” was seen (v.40) in the raising of Lazarus. This was a foretaste of the raising of Jesus – but many were not to be aware of this, only those who believed in him. Wonderfully, on one occasion “he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time” [1 Cor. 15 v.6] What is the future for those who did not believe in him – despite the evidence! Later in this chapter we read, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” [v.48] How close are we now to the last day!? And the written word is available to all, let us make every effort to “receive” them – and daily show in our words and actions that we have done so.