Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

John, The Love of God

There are any differing opinions about everything and many social media ways to express it. Some of us are sarcastic and demeaning. Some are loving and kind. Some of us are full of hate from fear that feeds anger. Some of us seem hopeless and very afraid…of everything. For the most part, however, we seem to more brave to express these opinions and attitudes lately on social media than in a face to face, let’s talk it out, kind of way. It seems to be a way to shout out…from the dark corners of life.

At this moment the world is in crisis. But there is Hope. There is a Light that is available to shed light on our dark places. At this moment, this Light can bring clarity and focus to our confusion.
Jesus said, I AM the Light of the world. He came to save the world in crisis then and now. He did not come to reject, condemn, criticize or offend. He came to extend love, mercy and grace. He doesn’t not resort to social media, He gave us His Word.

Our next passage is long but reveals the heart of God and the mission of Jesus. Read it slowly, savoring and understanding every morsel of Truth. “At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out.” We are only hours away from Jesus’s final act on earth….dying for our sin. He without sin died for all, the whole world. Crisis is over for those who believe.

John 12, The Message
20-21 There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: “Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?”

22-23 Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip together told Jesus. Jesus answered, “Time’s up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

24-25 “Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.

26 “If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.

27-28 “Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? ‘Father, get me out of this’? No, this is why I came in the first place. I’ll say, ‘Father, put your glory on display.’”

A voice came out of the sky: “I have glorified it, and I’ll glorify it again.”

29 The listening crowd said, “Thunder!”

Others said, “An angel spoke to him!”

30-33 Jesus said, “The voice didn’t come for me but for you. At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.

34 Voices from the crowd answered, “We heard from God’s Law that the Messiah lasts forever. How can it be necessary, as you put it, that the Son of Man ‘be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35-36 Jesus said, “For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn’t destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don’t know where you’re going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.”

Their Eyes Are Blinded
36-40 Jesus said all this, and then went into hiding. All these God-signs he had given them and they still didn’t get it, still wouldn’t trust him. This proved that the prophet Isaiah was right:

God, who believed what we preached?
Who recognized God’s arm, outstretched and ready to act?
First they wouldn’t believe, then they couldn’t—again, just as Isaiah said:

Their eyes are blinded,
their hearts are hardened,
So that they wouldn’t see with their eyes
and perceive with their hearts,
And turn to me, God,
so I could heal them.
41 Isaiah said these things after he got a glimpse of God’s cascading brightness that would pour through the Messiah.

42-43 On the other hand, a considerable number from the ranks of the leaders did believe. But because of the Pharisees, they didn’t come out in the open with it. They were afraid of getting kicked out of the meeting place. When push came to shove they cared more for human approval than for God’s glory.

44-46 Jesus summed it all up when he cried out, “Whoever believes in me, believes not just in me but in the One who sent me. Whoever looks at me is looking, in fact, at the One who sent me. I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in me won’t have to stay any longer in the dark.

47-50 “If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn’t take it seriously, I don’t reject him. I didn’t come to reject the world; I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I’m saying, is willfully choosing rejection. The Word, the Word-made-flesh that I have spoken and that I am, that Word and no other is the last word. I’m not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it. And I know exactly what his command produces: real and eternal life. That’s all I have to say. What the Father told me, I tell you.”

At this moment, remember…
–Jesus must die so that all, the world in crisis, can be saved and have a rich relationship with God.
–“We want to see Jesus”, said some visiting Greeks, but the time was up for Jesus to remain on earth. The Greeks and the rest of the world who believe will now see Jesus as Savior.
–Let this life go…reckless in our love for Jesus…and live forever.
–“If you want to serve Me, then follow Me.”
–“This is why I came in the first place. Father, put your glory on display.” The Voice of God replies! “I have glorified it, and I’ll glorify it again.”
–“The Voice didn’t come for me, but for you. At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. And I, as I AM lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.”
–“As you have the light, believe in the light. Than the light will be withing you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.”
–Many did not believe…just as Isaiah said.
–On the other hand, many of the leaders did believe. BUT cared more for human approval than for God’s glory. That is the crisis in the world today?
–“If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn’t take it seriously, I don’t reject him. I didn’t come to reject the world; I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I’m saying, is willfully choosing rejection.” –Jesus Crisis averted by our choice.

“The Word, the Word-made-flesh that I have spoken and that I am, THAT Word and no other is the last word.” –Jesus

Dear Heavenly Father,
At this moment, the world around us is in crisis because of sin unresolved. We pray for those who do not believe and need You desperately. We pray for those who believe but are hiding in the dark, thinking more about the approval of mankind. Shed your light on all the dark places in my life and cleanse every part. May we live redeemed lives, reflecting your light and your glory! Yes, to YOU be all glory, honor and praise! I believe. 
In Jesus Name, Amen