BE THOU MY VISION
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Opening Prayer
Lord God, please use your Word to empower me; give me what I need to follow you more faithfully and bring you glory.
Read JOHN 12:20–36
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Reflect
‘Sir … we would like to see Jesus’ (v. 21). Make this your prayer as you contemplate God’s holy Word today.
Have you ever been involved in drafting a vision or values statement for a church or other organization? It’s challenging to sum up in a few words the core of your corporate identity and what matters to you. It might be easier to use a picture. Jesus does this when he learns that some Greeks in Jerusalem have asked to see him. Instead of showing them his physical appearance, he describes the essence of what he’s about by using an illustration: when a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it takes root and grows to produce many seeds (v. 24). Jesus is talking, obliquely, of his imminent death, through which many will receive eternal life. He is clear that this is the most important aspect of his calling and identity at this critical moment in his ministry.
Having drafted a vision or values statement, our next step is often to work out our collective strategy. What action do we need to take to implement this vision? Jesus is clear about this too. He tells the crowd that he is setting a pattern to be followed by those who are in his service (v. 26). Like all of Jesus’ followers, we are called to devote our lives to him—and if we do, the Father will honor us.
Finally, we might record when our actions need to be completed. For Jesus, the timescale is urgent. ‘Now is the time’ for the evil one to be driven out (v. 31). The timescale is urgent for his disciples too. They must walk while they still ‘have the light,’ before darkness comes (v. 35). Jesus refers to himself as the Light of the World. He encourages his disciples to believe in him while he—the Light—is still present with them. We can all learn from the urgency of Jesus’ call.
Apply
Do you have a sense of how God is calling you, personally or as a church? Remind yourself—or pray for his revelation.
Closing prayer
Jesus, I ask that you make your plan for my life mine. Please help me follow in your footsteps, focused on doing what you call me to do and eager to see you use me for the sake of your kingdom.
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