The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 7 April 2019 – The Glory of the Cross
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TOPIC: The Glory of the Cross
READ: John 12:20-32 King James Version (KJV)
20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
THE MESSAGE:
Some Greeks sought Jesus. Jesus had just been hailed as the coming King and Messiah by teeming thousands. “The world is gone after Him” (John 12: 19). Some Greek pilgrims who had come to attend the Passover Feast wished to see this Jesus who was being proclaimed King. What Jesus did was try to correct the misunderstood idea of the Messiah held by the world. He wanted to prepare both the Greeks and those standing around, for His death. He wanted to teach that the way to glory is not through triumph and praise, neither was it through domination and subjection but through death to self and through service to God and man.
The cross is the glory of the Messiah (verse 23). The cross brings forth fruit (verse 24). The cross demands man’s death to self (verses 25-26). Man must lose his life to bear eternal life. The cross fulfils Jesus’ cause (verse 27). The cross glorifies God’s name (verses 28-30). The cross judges the world – the prince of the world (verse 31). The cross draws all men (verses 32-33). To dodge the cross is to miss the crown. The way to glory is the way of the cross. To follow Him, we must take up the cross daily. Determine to boast in nothing save the cross of Christ.
Prayer: Father; please help me to carry my cross daily; may the power of the cross and its glory be manifested in my life.
