Gospel Introduction John 12:20-33 28 March 2009

Gospel Introduction John 12:20-33 28 March 2009

In tonight Gospel reading, our Lord revealed to the Gentiles the purpose of his coming, to lay down His life for His sheep.

The time was less than a week before Crucifixion. He had already shown himself as the Resurrection by raising Lazarus from the Dead; He had fulfilled for His own people an ancient prophecy concerning His humble but triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. Now it was time for the Gentiles to be given a lesson concerning the reason for his coming. The Gentiles were here reprensented by the Greeks.

The enemies were plotting to kill Him, the Greeks wished to see Him....

The hour has come for the son of man to be glorified....

He reminded us the importance to die to ourselves.... not to clinch to the things of this world... He reminded all of us that resurrection requires death.

“It is good that Lazarus died. For then, he will rise again.”...

What shall I say: Father, save me from this hour? This is a crucial observation that speaks deeply about our love for this world. We are often not ready or prepared to die. We secretly hope for resurrection but we do not want to die..... So we hang on to our lives.... We hung on to our trophies, our dreams, our dark areas, our worldly desires, our material kingdom here on earth..... We want to preserve them, or we are simply afraid to let them die..... It is such a paradox.... without letting them die, how can there be resurrection?

As we approach the final week of the Lenten season, let us practice resurrection, let us practice dying.... dying well....

“It is good that Lazarus died. For then, he will rise again.”

Tonight, Jesus uses the wheat grain as an analogy for us,.... if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. If you clinch on to your life you will lose it, if you hates this world, you will have eternal life....

Let us all rise and receive the Good news.