John 12

 One thiught for me from today’s reading is that Jesus was fully God and fully man. Jesus walked with so many, listened to countless questions, and tried to teach what His kingdom is all about. The woman who spent so much for a brief time of worship was criticized, yet Jesus didn’t condemn her complete devotion and worship. Everywhere He went in the last few months before the crucifixion, turmoil and polar opinions flew. How do we navigate all the issues in our world if we are following Christ?  

“Wherever your story takes you, you’ll never arrive there first, because your Lord is already there in sovereign presence and power, and he rules that place in infinite wisdom and holiness.” - Paul David Tripp, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense

“And so with a troubled soul, Jesus cries to His Father in heaven and in loving response, His Father speaks back to Him. 

“Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” (v. 28) 

When God’s voice came from heaven, some heard thunder (a natural, unbelieving explanation to the supernatural); others said they heard an angel. 

Jesus said God’s voice was for our sakes, and that He is lifted up in death so that He could draw people to Him. But even when He walked among men, they saw His light but refused to believe He was their Savior. Most people choose instead to walk in darkness.” - J Vernon McGee

“When it talks about his troubled heart, it means you've been there unsettled, stirred up. It's like when you have those sleepless nights. And in this moment, we're confronted with Jesus' humanity.

As God, he knows what he's facing, but as a man, he's troubled by what is to come. He was about to endure betrayal of loved ones, horrible injustice, terrible torture, a horribly painful public execution, the rejection of his father, and death. Perfect Jesus looked at all of these things with dread.

You can be comforted in this. Jesus understands your fear, your anxiety, your dread. He knows what it's like to face the unthinkable.” - Paul Tripp

“God in whom all is created was hung as if he were a sinner on the cross. He is cast out and destroyed. And, in that way, God became more deeply united with humanity than we ourselves can believe.”

Excerpt, Following Jesus

Henri J. M. Nouwen