Psalm 98

¹ Sing to the LORD a new song,

for he has done marvellous things;

his right hand and his holy arm

have worked salvation for him.

² The LORD has made his salvation known

and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

³ He has remembered his love

and his faithfulness to Israel;

all the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation of our God.

⁴ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,

burst into jubilant song with music;

⁵ make music to the LORD with the harp,

with the harp and the sound of singing,

⁶ with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—

shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

⁷ Let the sea resound, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it.

⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands,

let the mountains sing together for joy;

⁹ let them sing before the LORD,

for he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness

and the peoples with equity.

Let’s Pray together…

Our Holy God... Loving Father… You’ve done marvelous things!!!

All of creation is yours. Nothing is beyond your power and reach.

We praise you, our glorious Lord and King...

LORD, thank you that you save us, and that you sustain us. Your faithfulness is unceasing even though we turn away from you and fail to obey… Thank you for your love and mercy.

Father, as we confess our sins now, please cleanse us. And by the power of your Spirit we ask for your help to live holy lives.

I invite everyone to take a few moments to confess your sin before the Lord...

Father, we can see that our lives fall far short of your glory.

Please forgive us.

Lord, you’ve given your life for us, and poured out your Spirit, but we fail to return your love with all our heart.

And we’re often selfish and proud; ignoring you, and neglecting others.

Please in your mercy cleanse and change us.

Lord, you’ve given us sure hope in Christ, yet we’ve followed the false hopes of this world. And when we don’t truly trust and obey you, we’re overwhelmed by self-pity, fear and worry.

Father, through the redeeming death of your Son on the cross, by your Spirit and through your word, transform and renew us to follow you with joy.

All this we ask, confident in your unchanging faithfulness. Amen.

God’s word says:

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

John 12:20-50 New International Version (NIV)

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[a] 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.

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message

and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[b]

39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

40

“He has blinded their eyes

and hardened their hearts,

so they can neither see with their eyes,

nor understand with their hearts,

nor turn—and I would heal them.”[c]

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Footnotes:

1. John 12:32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.

2. John 12:38 Isaiah 53:1

3. John 12:40 Isaiah 6:10

Some Questions for reflection or discussion...

What did you learn? Any new insights?

Was there a moment you felt stirred to action or a change of mind?

When has following Jesus via the way of the cross been costly for you? Can you think of a time or situation where you’ve “hated your life in this world”(v.25)?

When do you struggle with what John writes about in v.43 – loving the glory of this world more than the glory God gives?

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Praise Him, all creatures here below!

Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

¹⁴ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

"Go in peace to love and serve the Lord and your neighbour.