Daily Devotion

Daily Devotion for the Tuesday of Holy Week

JOHN 12:20-36

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

27 ‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.28Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’30Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.31Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people* to myself.’ 33He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 34The crowd answered him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Messiah* remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?’ 35Jesus said to them, ‘The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.

Do you remember the movie Groundhog Day which starred Bill Murray?  The basic premise of the movie is Bill Murray’s character, Phil Connor, relives Groundhog Day over and over again until he learns quite a bit about the town of Punxsutawney, the people who live there, the crew he works with and himself.  Every Friday I meet with a group of pastors who gather to pray and support one another as we serve.  Last week, via a Zoom Meeting, one of the pastors said, “This sheltering in place is like being in the movie Groundhog Day.  I keep living the same day over and over again.”  I have heard other people say the same thing about these unprecedented times we are living in.  Then this pastor went on to say that he felt like he was learning how to die to himself and the ideas about what he should be doing and just live each day as it unfolds.  He said he realized he really is not in control.  It seems to me those are some things which take place for Bill Murray’s character in Groundhog Day.  He dies to himself so he can live more fully.  

Today, I was struck by the gospel reading were Jesus says, “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”  These words seem to say that part of ourselves must die each day so we can fully live, fully reflect God’s love and light to the world.  My baptism serves as a reminder that I must die, at least some, each day, so I can more fully serve God and my neighbor.  This is the journey of Lent.

I am wondering, during these unprecedented times, where have you experienced dying to something?  I am wondering how dying to this thing, whatever it is, has produced fruit in you?  Do you like the fruit you are seeing?   
 

1 comments on article "Daily Devotion"

Jimmy Hull

I have been working on patience and dying to the old way of wanting to be in control.

God is great!

4/7/2020 6:18 PM

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