driving out the ruler

Good evening friends,

Today's passage shows Jesus talking with a crowd. He makes a point about clinging to our lives too tightly. We see this in our lives too; if we're too anxious about life, safety, health, money, whatever, we clutch it so tightly we don't really live. Jesus takes it a step further saying that when he is lifted up (on a cross) he'll draw people to him. He also says "the ruler of this world is driven out." This is the part I'll be focusing on Sunday. Jesus here suggests that the world as we know it is (partly, at least) ruled by evil powers, but with Jesus' death that power is defeated. We still see evil very powerful, but we hear a promise that evil's power won't have the last word. Even if we have to be realistic about the trouble in the world, we can also be hopeful that love will win in the end.

God bless,
Sam

John 12:23-36

²³Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

²⁷“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. ²⁸Father, glorify your name.”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” ²⁹The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” ³⁰Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.

³¹Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. ³²And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ³³He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. ³⁴The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” ³⁵Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. ³⁶While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.