Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 17, 2024

Date:  5th Sunday of Lent

Scripture Text:  John 12:20-33

Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

“I am troubled now.  Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that 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 there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today from John immediately follows the text recounting Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus knows his hour is coming. This text is “bookended” by two phrases that may not appear related at first glance: “Some Greek…’we would like to see Jesus’” and “I will draw everyone to myself.”  We see in these two verses the prophesy of Isaiah 52:15 about the “Suffering Servant” and how he shall startle many nations or draw in the Gentiles: “for those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it.”  Clearly, the news of the Greeks moves Jesus to declare “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Jesus announces that His purpose in coming among us will soon play out.

He does this in two ways: he speaks of the grain of wheat which upon dying produces fruit, and He speaks of being “lifted up from the earth” referring to his death lifted high on the cross. Jesus calls us to follow in His footsteps as servants, seeking the will of the Heavenly Father over our own, seeking to serve rather than being served.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Has Christ drawn me in to Himself? Am I servant of the LORD?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your beloved and only-begotten Son to us, to take on our human nature. Through Him, your great love for us and your desire for our salvation became clear and was realized. Through His obedience to You and your will, as servant and Son, He reconciled us to You. He, who is sinless, died for our sins, and through His resurrection, He defeated death. Send your Spirit, LORD, to stir within us during this holy season of Lent a renewed sense of awe at your unfathomable love for us and your Son as well as of your Son’s unfathomable love for You and for us. Grant that we may open ourselves to this transformative love so that we may be drawn wholly to You as your daughters and sons and to your Son, journeying as His disciples in faith, hope and love. We ask this in the name of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.