Easter Weekend Devotional Day 5
DAY 5 – Friday
Daily devotional
Read
John 12:24-30, Romans 6:4-7 Galatians 2:20 (Countdown to the Cross)
Ask
What does new life feel like to you? What does seeking him look like? Jesus continues to use every moment to teach leading up to his crucifixion. In John 12 we see this little story inserted that he used to illustrate the necessity of his death and resurrection.
Reflect
I am a gardener of sorts and I like using seeds. The interesting thing about seeds is that they aren’t plants. In fact the seed can do nothing on its own. It actually can sit for years and years and still be a seed. But when you let it fall to the earth and be planted the seed actually dies, it is no longer a seed. The single grains death then leads to life as it releases the inner-life power that the rough outer husk has held captive, and this life-giving power multiplies itself in successive grains and will clothe the whole garden with a harvest! Isn’t it fascinating!
Jesus was trying to explain to his audience just like a seed will never become a plant unless it dies and is buried, so the death and burial of Jesus was necessary to His glorification. Before there can be resurrection power and fruitfulness there must be death. When we ask Jesus into our hearts to rule and reign we are walking from death into life. We are a new creation. The old has passed away and the new has come. Let’s look at it further in Romans 6:4-7. It says that we have become united with Jesus in the likeness of his death and we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection. Our old self was crucified with him in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so we will no longer be slaves to sin, for he who has died is freed from sin.
Read John 12:24-26. To be a Christian is to serve Jesus, to follow him. We must be willing to serve Jesus. (Some of you are translating that as busy-ness.) We are not saved by service, but we are saved to service. (Hard one.) Jesus said, where I am, there my servant will be also. This isn’t forced slavery, this is chosen willing service that simply wants to be close to the Master. The reward for serving Jesus is to receive honor from God the Father. Read Mark 16:16a.
If you have experienced life in Jesus do you long to simply be with him? What does “with him” look like for you daily?