What Jesus Did : John 12:34-36 - Limited Opportunities
by Phil Ware
Limited Opportunities - John 12:34-36
The people said, "But our law says that the Christ will live forever. So why do you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?" Then Jesus said, "The light will be with you for only a short time more. So walk while you have the light. Then the darkness (sin) will not catch you. The person that walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. So put your trust in the light while you still have it. Then you will become sons of light." When Jesus finished saying these things, he left. Jesus went to a place where the people could not find him. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
So often, people think they will have plenty of opportunities to decide about Jesus. Satan ensures that this is not true. This was brought home tragically to me when a good friend of mine in high school was killed in a motorcycle accident a few months after I had tried to share Christ with him. He said, "I will do that when I am older. Christianity is for old people." He didn't take advantage of the light when he had the opportunity. His words will forever haunt me and remind me that God wants his grace to reach its mark. Let's share Christ with a greater sense of urgency for we don't know when the opportunity for someone to come to the Light will end.
Today's Prayer
Father, forgive me for not living with a greater sense of urgency, especially in my relationship with my non-Christian friends. Please be with me as I try to share my faith in Jesus with the following people: ... In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
There were some Greek people there too. These were some of the people that went to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover festival. These Greek people went to Philip. (Philip was from Bethsaida, in Galilee.) The Greek people said, "Sir, we want to meet Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew. Then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Now is the time for the Son of Man to receive his glory. I tell you the truth. A grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die. Then it grows and makes many seeds. But if it never dies, then it will always be only a single seed. The person that loves his own life will lose it. But the person that hates his life in this world will keep it. He will have life forever. The person that serves me must follow me. Then my servant will be with me everywhere I am. My Father will give honor to people that serve me. "Now I am very troubled. What should I say? Should I say, 'Father save me from this time {of suffering}'? No, I came to this time so that I could suffer. Father, do what will bring you glory!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have already brought glory to myself. I will do it again." The people standing there heard the voice. Those people said it was thunder. But other people said, "An angel spoke to Jesus!" Jesus said to the people, "That voice was for you and not for me. Now is the time for the world to be judged. Now the ruler of this world (the devil) will be thrown out. I will be lifted up from the earth. And when this happens, I will bring all people to me." Jesus said this to show how he would die. The people said, "But our law says that the Christ will live forever. So why do you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?" Then Jesus said, "The light will be with you for only a short time more. So walk while you have the light. Then the darkness (sin) will not catch you. The person that walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. So put your trust in the light while you stillhave it. Then you will become sons of light." When Jesus finished saying these things, he left. Jesus went to a place where the people could not find him.-- John 12:20-36 (ERV)
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