Hating Life
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: John 1-12: Come, See, Live!
John 12:17-33 (ESV)
17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
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.
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.
Sermon Outline
Jesus focuses us on what actually gives life.
1. Hating Life in this World
v19 “the world has gone after him”, vv20-21 “Greeks… ‘we wish to see Jesus’”
v31 “the ruler of this world”
v25 “…loves… loses… hates his life in this world… eternal life”
v24 “a grain of wheat… if it dies, it bears much fruit”
2. Judgement of the World
v31 “now is the judgment of this world”
v27 “my soul is troubled… but for this purpose I have come to this hour”
v32 “when I am lifted up… will draw all people…”
3. Glory and Honor for the World
v28 “Father, glorify your name”
v26 “…where I am, there will my servant be… the Father will honor him”
Prayer of Confession
Our creator, redeemer and sustainer, we confess we squander the lives you have given us. We have pursued the things of this world with confused hopes. Our actions have led to disappointment and caused grief. We have failed to look to you with faith. Forgive every sin of heart, mind and deed. We look to Jesus, who suffered judgment to free us from condemnation. We give glory and honor to him, and give thanks for your grace to us. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What do you love about life? What brings you joy and fulfillment?
What do you hate about our world?
Why does Jesus warn us not to love our lives? What is he warning us about?
What does it mean to hate your life “in this world”? Does Christianity encourage despair or self-loathing? How does Jesus actually bring us out of despair and self-loathing?
What is it about Jesus going to the cross that is meant to draw us to God? What are we meant to see or receive that we naturally desire and need?
How does the priority of seeking God’s glory, or glorifying God, help one navigate hard situations and decisions?
Do you believe that God will honor you? How can confidence that God honors those who trust Him give you increasing freedom from the opinions of others?