How can the death of a person lead to their lifting?
Time and again, as believers, we encounter the paradoxical and seemingly ironic nature of the Christian faith. To the one who has, more will be given; and from the one who has little, even what they have will be taken and given to the one who has more.
God often hides the truths of His Kingdom within such paradoxes.
As I studied the book of John, chapter twelve—the days leading to the death and crucifixion of our Saviour—I came across this:
John 12:23 (GNB)
“Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has now come for the Son of Man to receive great glory.’”
John 12:24 (GNB)
“I am telling you the truth: a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it is dropped into the ground and dies. If it does die, then it produces many grains.”
Here, Jesus boldly declared that the hour had come for Him to receive great glory. If I did not know the story of His death and resurrection that followed, I might have assumed—through human reasoning—that this “glory” meant immediate victory: perhaps the punishment of the Jews and Pharisees for their disbelief, or even His crowning as king before them, wearing an “I told you so” expression as the true Son of God.
But Jesus, as the perfect example of who God has called us to be, took a different path. He walked the road to Golgotha, endured humiliation, suffering, and death. Yet, through that obedience and His profound love, He received the glory that the Father had prepared for Him.
I desire to live a beautiful life. After all, Christ has taken away my shame, reproach, and guilt. We are free because He completed the finished work. However, even within that finished work, our journey will still lead us through moments of persecution. There are times when we may wonder, “Have I sinned?”or “Is the enemy attacking me again?”
Yet, in every moment, God is declaring that the glory of the Father will be revealed. Through these experiences, He desires to use our stories to reveal His nature to the world.
This season is not only about what Jesus did; it is also about what His sacrifice is accomplishing in our lives. While the Jews may have longed for a powerful Saviour who would destroy their enemies, Jesus came to restore the broken relationship between God and mankind.
Accepting Jesus is not a guarantee of a trouble-free life; rather, it is the assurance that “I am your Shepherd, and you shall not want.”
Our resurrection story is found in our death. Just as we now enjoy the goodness of God because Jesus accepted death, we too may walk through “death-like” situations. Yet, Jesus is our example—these moments will ultimately lead to our glorification.
If Jesus rose, then we acknowledge His resurrection—and we call our own lives into that same resurrected power.
Stay revived!
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