In and Within 22 Jesus' Prayer for Every Next Moment

[HKHaugan]

Again we turn to Jesus’ teaching on prayer but we take a different passage. It’s short, only seventeen verses that include a four-word prayer (Jn.12:20-36), but it is the study of the context and the circumstance that builds our foundation for prayer.

The context is a crowd gathering from different parts of the world for the annual celebration of the Passover Feast in Jerusalem. But it is also a messianic context in which John identifies the Old Testament prophecies as fulfilled in Jesus giving rise to the traditional celebration known as Palm Sunday. As Jesus entered Jerusalem there were shouts of praise and palm branches thrown before Him as many called Him the King of Israel.

The particular circumstance finds a mixed group. There were those who came because they had witnessed the raising of Lazarus from the dead and those who had heard about the miracle. Probably also included were curiosity seekers. Then of course, there were the Pharisees whose goal was Jesus’ death. But specifically mentioned is a group of Greek worshippers who wanted to meet Jesus. We have to ask, why? Most of us would probably have just responded, “Sure, have them come in,” but Jesus had something else in mind.

The answer Jesus gives seems completely obscure and unconnected to the circumstance of the Greek’s request, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, 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. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. “Now my heart 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 (John 12:23-27 NIV).”

The reason is gleaned from the context. The Greeks here represented several things. They were foreigners from a culture known for its philosophy and sophistication, ethnically different, yet still worshippers of the One God. Were they Greek Jews, Greek gentiles? We don’t know but ‘Greek’ emphasizes they were ‘outsiders’ therefore probably Gentiles who, like the Roman centurion (Acts 10:22), worshipped God and observed the major feasts. It is a foreshadowing of Jesus being not only the Jewish Messiah but also the Savior and Lord of all mankind. Thus His answer covers people in every culture everywhere.

So just what was Jesus saying here that seems like such a non-answer? Vss.30-32 give us that answer, “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” Three themes and three events will emerge that change history. They are ‘lifting’ themes and ‘lifting’ events that will cause everyone to be drawn to Him.

The themes.

You have the world’s judgment, second, the devil’s exposure and third, Jesus’ being lifted up.

First, judgment. Jesus will be the only standard by which we can measure what it means to be a human image of God. He is the only definition of the way to live for the heart, the only truth about reality for the mind and the perfect picture of a spiritual life in human action.

Second, the devil’s exposure. The hiding devil will be driven out in the open and driven out permanently. His methodology to separate man from God will be exposed and he will end up as the final loser.

Third, Jesus’ being lifted up. The Cross which the devil thought would get rid of Jesus was turned on him and has become the symbol of human accomplishment through faith.

The events.

There is the Cross, the Resurrection and the Ascension. Each of these events illustrate God’s plan for all mankind.

First, the Cross is the way of faith for every next moment.

Second, the Resurrection is the promise to all who believe in Jesus and

Third, the Ascension is the assurance of eternal life in Heaven after our resurrection.

Now back to the context. It is clearly messianic and leads us to the four words that make up Jesus’ shortest prayer that, for us, can fit any circumstance. Unlike philosophers only the unique Jesus can give an answer that sounds kind of ‘off-the-wall’ yet immediately practical and applicable at the same time. Again, it is not only the Greeks to whom He is responding. It is every one present. He is not only foretelling His death but also describing the method of life that brings eternal life into the present. It is death to what I think is best and yielding to what God thinks is best. He gives us the prayer that allows us to be free of fear and courageous in faith. It is a prayer that any person anywhere can give to the circumstance in which they find themselves in every next moment.

“Father, glorify your name (vs.28).”

The Father blessed this brief prayer, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again (vs.28).” The whole crowd heard its thundering sound, which Jesus told them was not for His benefit but for theirs and we should add, for ours as well.

So this brief prayer promises that when we go into any and every situation with intent to glorify the Father we do it by grace through faith in the name of Jesus. At those moments God is glorified and we are lifted up with Him and another moment is won for the Kingdom.

So as each of us comes to every next day and every next moment may we pray, “Father, glorify your name.”