John 12:20-36
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 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. [1]
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The verse that caught me this morning is verse 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.” Wherever He is, His servant will be.
Jesus turns around what I think is our usual way of thinking about His presence. For instance, I make plans. I plan my schedule, what I am going to do, where I am going to be. Then I pray that Jesus be with me and accompany me throughout my day. In other words, I want Jesus to follow me, and to be wherever I am.
I’m not denying that Jesus is in fact wherever we are. But that’s not the sense of what this verse is about. He’s speaking of His mission, why He came, and how the Father will honor those who take part in this. So instead of me asking Jesus to follow me, I am to be seeking to serve Jesus and follow him.
In other words my prayer is not just, “Jesus go with me today.” But also, “Jesus where do you want me to go?” Where are you working for your mission, Jesus? In whose life are you especially working? Do you want me to follow you there? Is there love that needs shown? A witness that needs made? A warning that needs given? Where are you going today Jesus? Show me so that I can go with you.
Do you see the difference? That’s why for me starting my day with Scripture and prayer and seeking the Word of the Lord for today is so important. I need to have spaced on my task list for Jesus to fill in. There needs to be room in my calendar for the day for Jesus to lead me in places I may not have been anticipating.
So my prayer today is imply that Jesus lead me, that He give me eyes to see where He is leading and feet to follow.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
[1] The New International Version. 2011 (Jn 12:20–36). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
