INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Over the next seven weeks leading up to Easter together we are going follow the teachings of Jesus that took place during the final week of His life.
• For context earlier in chapter 12 we have the triumphal entry into Jerusalem which marks the beginning of the last week of Jesus life.
• The crowds were following Jesus in great numbers in part because of the raising of Lazarus (verse 17). Jesus is going to take this opportunity to give what is basically His last public sermon.
• Jesus knows this is His last week on earth, He knows He is going to be betrayed, beaten, crucified and will die by weeks end.
• When you drop down to verse 27 Jesus admits that His soul is troubled over the coming events but He knows it was for this purpose that He came in the first place.
• Since Jesus knows this will be His final week through His preaching, teaching and example Jesus will take His disciples into some deeper water. He is going to make them dive into the deep end of the pool now.
• The subjects and issues Jesus will teach and preach about are important enough for Him to use some of the precious time He has left to impart these things to us.
• The title to the message this morning is Paradoxes of Life. What is a Paradox?
• The dictionary defines the word as follows: a statement, proposition, or situation that seems to be absurd or contradictory, but in fact is or may be true.
• In verses 24-26 Jesus is going to share three important paradoxes pertaining to life.
• Let us begin with verse 24.
• SLIDE #2
• John 12:24 (ESV) Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
• In this verse we see the first paradox that Jesus is trying to get across to the crowd.
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. Death can produce life. V24
• Jesus is trying to let the folks know that His time is short; He is not going to be the type Messiah they were looking for.
• In verses 27-34 Jesus speaks of His impending departure.
• When you drop down to verse 34 you see the crowd is confused because they are looking for an earthly Messiah.
• SLIDE #4
• John 12:34 (ESV) So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”
• The paradox alluded to in this verse is the fact that death can produce life.
• Jesus uses the example of a grain of wheat. For it to produce fruit it has to be put in the ground and it has to die in order for it to produce fruit.
• Jesus in the context is speaking of Himself and how His death and subsequent resurrection will be a fruitful event for all who will follow Him.
• Jesus must die giving his life to bring new life to mankind.
• When a seed dies, it produces fruit. Life comes by death. This principle is true not only in nature, but it is also true spiritually.
• When you think about this paradox in reference to our spiritual life, we must die in Christ in order for us to become fruitful spiritually.
• When we are separated from God because of our sin, we need to be born again. The old self needs to die.
• A couple of weeks ago we examined this thought a bit.
• SLIDE #5
• Romans 6:5–7 (ESV) 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
• This is spoken in the context of one who has been baptized in to Christ.
• When we are immersed into Christ our old body of sin is crucified. This death frees us from the bondage of sin.
• Before this “death” happens, we were enslaved to sin; it always had its hooks into us. We were somewhat helpless in its grip.
• Even when we look at this life, when it is over many believe it is all over. Death in truth is the gateway to eternal life.
• Paul struggled with this dynamic in his life.
• SLIDE #6
• Philippians 1:20–25 (ESV) 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
• Paul was keenly aware that the end of his physical life was not the end of his existence.
• He also knew that he was here for a purpose. Our life is not about getting through it as shortly or quickly as possible, it is about savoring every moment, making sure that we maximize our life for Christ!
• Let’s examine verse 25 for our next paradox.
• SLIDE #7
• John 12:25 (ESV) 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
• SLIDE #8
II. Holding on to life too tight can cause you to lose your grip. V25
• We have a tendency to think that if we hold on to something really tight that we will not lose our grip or that we will do better by holding on tight.
• There are a lot of examples where holding on too tightly is not good. Baseball bat, golf clubs, firing a handgun are but a few.
• We can do the same thing in relationships with others, we can hold on so tight that we smother the other person to the point we can drive them off.
• Jesus tells the crowd that whoever loves their life will lose it.
• That sounds a bit awkward doesn’t it?
• This phrase denotes someone who lives to only serve themselves. Jesus is not telling us not to enjoy life, but He is calling us to a high calling that we will dig into in a bit.
• Suffice to say the one who loves his life is the one who only lives to serve themselves.
• The issue here is who is first in your life? What are your priorities? Your priorities reveal who you really love. When we live for self, we run the danger of losing the very thing we are trying to hold on to.
• When we love self more than we love God, we will come up very short in the end.
• We see folks all the time who proclaim love for other people, but when you look at the priorities of their life, you can see who they really love.
• Love is sacrificial; many people look at the word sacrifice as it being a four-letter word.
• When you look at the other end of the verse you see Jesus speaking of hating their life and how that will gain them life.
• When one loves God and is willing to lose his life (hate his life), the things of this world are hated in contrast to the things of God.
• Jesus does not mean we are to hate our life, but rather our love for God is so great our love of life pales in comparison!
• This verse is a play on the Greek term psychē, which refers to the essence of a human’s personality or life force (cf Matt. 10:39; 16:25).
• Once someone trusts Christ, he is given new life. This new life is a gift from God for service, not for personal use. Believers are stewards of this new life. We are freed from slavery to sin to become servants of God. Utley, R. J. D. (1999). Vol. Volume 4: The Beloved Disciple’s Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John. Study Guide Commentary Series (113). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.
• SLIDE #9
• Luke 9:23 (ESV) And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
• Jesus tells us the cost of following Him.
• Paul goes deeper
• SLIDE #10 WOW!!!!
• Galatians 2:20 (ESV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
• This leads us to verse 26.
• SLIDE #11
• John 12:26 (ESV) 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
• SLIDE #12
III. Being a servant in this life gives you the highest honor. V26
• Paradox number is this, when you look around it seems as those who are being served have made.
• Who doesn’t want an entourage around them to take care of them? Looks great. Those are the folks who seem to get the highest honor. In this life that may be true.
• But in eternity Jesus is telling us the one who will be honored is the one who serves.
• Look at Matthew 23:11-12
• SLIDE #13
• Matthew 23:11–12 (ESV) The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
• John 12:26 gives us some insight as to how we can tell if we love self more than Jesus.
• Jesus equates serving Him with following Him.
• This verse tells us we are to CONTINUE to follow Him. It speaks of an ongoing relationship that leads us to follow!
• We follow Jesus by serving him, and by serving him we maintain our relationship with him.
• If you are not serving Him you are not really following Him. If you are serving Him, are you maintaining a relationship with Him?
• When we look at our life, does it reflect that we are serving Him? What does it mean to serve Him?
• It means that we take up our cross and follow Him daily. It means as Paul tells, that to live is Christ!
• The issue of serving comes down to commitment, love and priorities. When these line up we are in good shape.
• When we live for self, it is an empty existence. It leads to a dead end! No pun intended
• Jesus tells us that IF we serve and follow, and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
• To serve and follow Jesus means making radical life-style changes. What about your goals, interests, hobbies, career choices, habits?
• To follow Jesus means going the way he went—not the way of earthly power and honor—but the way of humility and death. Everything Jesus did was for God’s glory.
• When we choose to follow him, we must live for God’s glory alone. This does not mean we have no fun, no joy, no security. Rather, it simply means all that we do is for God’s glory alone.(LIFE APPLICATION COMMENTARY)
CONCLUSION
• Paradoxes of life. Jesus shares them with us, now we have to decide what to do with them. Ignore them or embrace them.
• In verses 35-36, Jesus is calling the crowd to believe in Him! Do you? Will you answer the call? We offer it to you today!
