Daily Dose of the Word of God - John 12: 17-19

Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor

Transcript

Gregg DeMey  0:07  

Good morning and welcome to Elmhurst CRC's Daily Dose of the Word of God. It's Thursday, April 10, and this is Gregg DeMay, Lead Pastor at the church. It is still the season of Lent - a time of year when we are seeking to die a little in order to live a lot - as we journey with Jesus toward the cross.  Today's reading is from John 12, verses 17 through 19.

Gregg DeMey  0:34  

Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Gregg DeMey  0:58  

It's hard to overstate the power of the positive momentum that was on Jesus' side at this moment (right before Palm Sunday). There are three different sized groups mentioned just in these couple verses. First, there's the crowd mentioned in verse 17 - a crowd that has experienced amazing things because they spent time with Jesus. They had witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and they can't stop talking about it! These people are jesus fanatics! The second group is that there are, "many more people, those who heard from the, 'Lazarus is alive!' eyewitnesses and have started following Jesus themselves in hopes of seeing another sign or wonder." Wat might this incredible rabbi from Nazareth do next? And then third: the Pharisees. They admittedly dejected and defeated in a kind of way. "The whole world is going after Jesus!" Despite their obstructive efforts to the contrary, a crowd and a sense that the whole world is going along with Jesus seems like unstoppable positive momentum. What could go wrong?

Gregg DeMey  2:16  

All these years later, there's still a vast number of people eager to follow after Jesus. But, I wonder how many of us would still have the desire if there suddenly was a change in momentum from positive to negative - from supportive to deadly. When suddenly, there is a cost or a net negative to being associated with Jesus. The crowd shrank back in the day and many people turned their backs - the weight of the whole world fell upon Jesus shoulders.

Gregg DeMey  2:46  

Friends, if you are willing to walk with Jesus through the events of Holy Week, you will see how many fall away when the going gets tough; even those who are close to him.

Gregg DeMey 2:59  

Let's pray. Lord Jesus, we want to follow you. And if even on this day there is a cost to pay -a loss in social credibility, people thinking less of us, rolling their eyes at us, maybe even insults or opinions that we must be dim or dumb to believe in you - help us to count that cost. You are worth it and your presence and your peace are a better treasure and prize than anything else that this world can offer. Keep us close to you for your own sake, amen.