WHAT DO YOU DESIRE MOST?

November 24, 2016

WHAT DO YOU DESIRE MOST?

John 12:20–50

Ian McManus

Central Truth

Jesus perfectly modeled how to live a life that glorifies God. Like Jesus, we should find joy in abandoning our wants and our desires and embracing the Father's perfect will for our lives instead, for the glorification of His name.

"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." (John 12:27-28)

Some Greeks Seek Jesus

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 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. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 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.

The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up

27 Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 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?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40 “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
    and understand with their heart, and turn,
    and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Jesus Came to Save the World

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

As a college student, I am often pulled in a hundred different directions socially, academically, and professionally. Everyone seems to have an answer to where happiness can be found. As Christians, we know a personal relationship with Christ is the only true source of joy, so we have to be on guard against the desires of our flesh that can falsely promise happiness.

In this passage, we see Jesus clinging to the will of the Father rather than satisfying the fleeting desires of the flesh. Theologian J.I. Packer points out, "Though [Jesus is] coequal with the Father in eternity, power and glory, it is natural to Him to play the Son’s part, and find all His joy in doing His Father’s will . . . ."

What an incredible scene! The Son, stepping down from divine dignity, came to earth for the sole purpose of glorifying the Father by executing His will.

So how do we glorify God? By living in accordance with His will for our lives! God intended us to find joy in our appointed work. Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 tells us, "There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?"

We have to remember that it is God who created the pleasures of this life. Let us seek Him and not the pleasures themselves. May the words of Psalm 73:25 be true in our lives: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you."

So rejoice in the Christ of your salvation! He alone is able to "satisfy your desire in scorched places." (Isaiah 58:11)

1. Are you “[loving] the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God?” (John 12:43). Are you praying for God to work to change your heart to delight in the Lord instead (Psalm 37:4)? What desires are you clinging to that are holding you back from a deeper relationship with God? Money? Praise? Success?

2. Are you finding your joy in God or in the pleasures He graciously provides? When you read your Bible, give, or fast, was it for the personal God that you worked (Zechariah 7:5), or were you relying on the works themselves? Are you seeking a personal relationship with God or a religion?

3. Are you finding joy in doing God’s will? Are you following Paul’s command in Romans 12:2? Remember, “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Though this may not manifest itself in health or prosperity or the things of this world, we shall not lose hope, for our hope is founded on the steadfast God of our salvation (Romans 5:2-5, James 1:2-4).