Holy Week

” And Jesus cried out and said……” John 12:44a

Preachers. Some love them and some loathe them. There are different types of preachers all throughout the world and history. There are loud preachers, soft talkers, yellers, fire and brimstone, health and wealth and so many other ways to describe a preacher.

Jesus was a preacher. He was a very famous preacher, some might say arguably the best preacher of all time. I mean take a look at the sermon on the mount, some say if you want to know Jesus and what he was all about, read his sermon on the mount message. Seems to be the trendy thing right now…..I love reading Jesus’ teachings/preaching, I wish very greatly that I could ‘hear’ his sermons at some point or wish there were iPhones when he was alive there could be a secret society of people that keep all of his sermons that they were able to capture from wherever and whoever they could……ok, wishful thinking.

” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘ Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to who has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ Therefore they could not believe. Again Isaiah said, ‘ he has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them’. Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man rather than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:36b-43

Here we read a few things, first off we read that Jesus in the last moments with a crowd… hides himself from them? Why does he do that? Why in the last moments he has in a public place would he hide himself? Not a scholar by any means, but when you think about the weight that had to be on Jesus’ shoulders in this moment, after coming right out and saying that he is going to die and that he had to be lifted up on a tree…and knowing all of the things had had shown and done and healed in front of these people he was surrounded by and they still did not believe…..anyone would need a moment to breathe. Second, we see that this also fulfills another prophecy about Jesus that was written in the book of Isaiah. Another sign that the crowd did not realize at the time. Lastly, we see that there is fear amongst the people that did believe so they didn’t do anything with their belief. Imagine believing in something but because of the fear of what another group would do or say or ban you from doing……so you keep it hidden for no one to see and you never act upon that belief…..that sounds oddly familiar.

Then we read the last collection of words that Jesus gives before He celebrates the Passover with his disciples and those closest to him and his betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion.

” And Jesus cried out and said, ” Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does keep them, I do not judge him, for I did not come to the world to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment – what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father who told me.” John 12:44-50

Can you take a moment and read those words again and let them sink in……..breathe these words in…….

To be honest, I had a question about this text, and when asked it started an over an hour-long conversation about the entire Gospel of John. There is a lot in here to unpack, but let’s keep it simple.

First off, Jesus cries out. As a preacher, emotion is one thing that can be a great thing but also can be a hindrance. Because sometimes a preacher uses to much emotion that it takes away from the potential words he will say. On the other hand, emotion can evoke emotion in someone else which will allow what is being said to stick with the listener(s). So right off the bat, know that if Jesus was up in front of you or a group of people or He was preaching at church this Sunday and he was closing with these words…..His voice would be slowly getting louder and louder and louder until he might sound like he is yelling, but this is the main thing!

Second, Jesus here clarifies and cements why he is here. Jesus was sent to this place to save the world and not judge it. Jesus doesn’t discount or disregard the notion of judgement, but He, Himself came to this world to give the chance for saving to take place. There are lots of big philosophical words we could use, but simply put, Jesus came because the one who sent him Loves his creation and Jesus came to prove that to those who will hear the words and walk with Jesus the rest of their life.

Finally, Jesus wants us to know where He was sent from and who sent Him. Jesus and the Father are one, and Jesus is the majestic representation of the omniscient God that created everything through and with Jesus. Jesus wants us to know that He did not come from anywhere but the heavens and that the one in heaven is the one who has given him the strength and power and mission to bring all those that will believe to know and be known by the Father that Jesus knows.

If you do anything else today….rest in these words and know that Jesus desires to know you and for you be known. Jesus desires to walk with you as light in the darkness so that you may also become a light in the darkness. Know that Jesus is with God as the Holy Spirit is with us. Know that when you believe the words that Jesus says, you have a power in you that is released for you to be light in a dark world for all people to see.

Jesus. The reason for Holy Week.