DAY 12 // JOHN 12:25 // "THE KING, THE SACRIFICE" // IAN HAUSER

“Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12:25

I love John 12. The chapter kind of plays like a hype track for the rise of Jesus, the everlasting King. This happens only to reveal that Christ came not to live forever as an earthly power, but to die and return so that we may receive true eternity.
So let’s rewind! John 12 starts with Jesus having a feast prepared in his honor, like a king. Then He gets anointed with oil, like a king. He eventually rides into town with people cheering and waving palm branches, calling him a king. Yet the truth is that He came into town not to be crowned, but to be killed. He was prepared like a sacrifice.

See, many people in the crowd were waiting for a great warrior king to destroy Rome & conquer the world under the might of Israel so that they may have worldly power, worldly comfort, and worldly gain. They wanted to maintain or better their world. But they were blinded to the idea that what Christ was establishing wasn’t chariots or armies, but rather charity and families.

This blindness was nothing new to Israel. They cried about having no king over Israel and denied God’s control in The Old Testament. They received Saul, complained against the actions of Saul, received David, and then rebelled against David and led him to exile. They also took Abesolon. When they were hurt by him, they begged for David’s return. The story goes on for at least three more books. Israel (and humanity) proved it could never be satisfied with an earthly king.

The truth is that this world is not our focus; it isn’t our eternity. Christ knew he had to bridge the gap between a perfectly righteous heaven and the people of a broken world. This world doesn’t need Christ to teach us how to fight, rule, or control things; we need Him to teach us how to serve, sacrifice, and not seek out power but rather freely give what we have to & for others. The power God gives is not finite like money, or violent like armies; instead it’s love, peace and joy. These can never be taken, but can be freely given or thrown away. Though I will say there is no resource, no power structure, no person or position of authority in this world worth throwing away our love, peace or joy for.

If we are to be men and women who serve Christ, we must walk in his footsteps and sacrifice.
May we, this year, sacrifice our ego and walk in Christ-like love.
May we, this year, sacrifice our fear and walk in Christ-like joy.
May we, this year, sacrifice our worldly desires and walk in Christ -ike peace

Prayer Focus: Pray for PASTOR LARRY & DEB as they minister nationally with Exponential