August 7
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FOLLOW ME & THE FATHER WILL HONOR YOU
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. – John 12:20-26
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After the raising of Lazarus, many people seek to see Jesus. The Greeks were some of these people. So, Philip and Andrew consulted Jesus if He was going to see these people. Jesus gave them an answer that reveals to them things about God’s plan. When Jesus says “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” in verse 23. He is declaring His deity again. He knows exactly God’s plan and timing because He is God Himself. When He says it is time for Him to be praised, then He is acknowledging that He never operates on His own but with His Father’s approval and timing. The next verse He says to Philip and Andrew is a revelation that has to do with what it cost to be a disciple. These Greeks were seeking to be part of Jesus’ Ministry.
Whenever Jesus says “truly, truly”, He is revealing a secret to whomever He is talking to. He is handing them truth. He speaks in parables and figures of speech to those who wants to follow Him and usually explains only to his 12 apostles the meaning because He has trained them three years already and can comprehend what He is revealing to them. Jesus talks about the cost of following Him in verses 24-26. He likens their lives to a wheat that needs to fall on earth and die so it can bear fruit. Whoever wants to follow Him must die to their own wants, desires or let go of all things that will not make Jesus their priority. In other words, nothing should be more important than Jesus. He explains that a disciple is present only where Jesus is. They must be slaves of Jesus. He becomes their master. They only do as the Master or Lord says. They lose their lives for Him.
Many Christians fail to understand the cost of being a follower of Jesus. They think it is just a religion they follow. It is becoming slaves of righteousness and truth.
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REFLECTION
• Why do one need to count the cost before following Jesus?