April 1, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Lent 2025 – Day 12 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Week Jesus Dies
Read Section 5.20 (pages 153-155)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
Think about our homes at night, people don’t choose to walk around in the dark but rather we turn on the lights. We know this will make things easier to see, paths easy to navigate, and less mistakes or accidents will happen because we can clearly see. But spiritually so many choose to walk through life in the dark bumping into things, making messes, and getting hurt rather than just accepting the light of Jesus in their lives. Jesus makes it clear that He is that light and the only way to come to God is through Him. He is sacrifice allows us to see things clearly and pave a way to the freedom, joy, and peace we have with God in our lives.
The kernel of wheat. What a great picture. Jesus knew crucifixion was in his near future and was dreading it from a human point. But he knew spiritually he would step on satan’s neck walking out of the tomb and defeating death for all who believe. Driving by a church recently seeing all their liberal signs made me think when it comes to the resurrection of Jesus, they have said, So what!! What an absolutely terrible state of mind. Verse 25 had me confused for years. But Jesus is simply stating, who’s first in your life, You or Him! Verses 30-34. The people who praised him coming into Jerusalem are now starting to question. They had read scripture that the messiah would never die. Jesus speaks of his death. Well there goes their thoughts of Jesus setting up his earthly kingdom on earth. The tensing verses: How would we know what darkness is without light. Or sin is without forgiveness. How bright is our light shinning through the darkness?
Lent 2025 – Day 12
Jesus knew that His time was near to die on the cross for all mankind. He said that the Son of Man must be lifted up so He may draw all men to Himself. Many of the people didn`t understand that Jesus was the Son of Man. But He was, for He was the Son of God came down to earth to be born as a human being so that He could take our place on the cross. In John we are given much insight about this. John 1:1,14, we are told that Jesus is the word from Heaven and came and dwelt among men. That He was with God and is God. Part of the Trinity. Later in John 3:14 we are told that as Moses lifted up the servant in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. Remember in Numbers 21:4-9, the people of Israel complained against God and Moses and the Lord brought fiery servants to strike the people, so they died. The Lord gave the people an answer by looking upon a serpant on a pole that God had Moses make. If when they were bitten, if they looked upon it, they would be healed. This is a reference to Christ for if people trusted in Him, they would be saved. They had to believe. God bless you all.
Day 12
Lent 2025 – Day 12
”“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”“
John 12:27-29, 31-32 NKJV
These two sections really stuck out to me. The voice coming from heaven affirming Christ and His purpose to glorify the Father. A VOICE FROM HEAVEN. Could there be any doubt? Of course, now we could probably somehow produce an apparent voice from heaven, but I don’t think they have hidden loudspeakers back then.
The other thing I noticed was that Jesus’ resurrection would “draw all men to himself.” I couldn’t help but think of the verse that says “no one comes to the Son unless the Father draws him”, I believe that the gospel and the resurrection is the “drawing” of all men, if only we will hear and believe.
Jesus knew that the time had come when he would suffer and die so that through him people would have eternal life. He was determined to do what he came to do and was willing to do what would bring glory to his Father. May we look at suffering in the same way. Being reliant solely on God through it all, and giving him all the glory knowing that he will work it all out for good.