John 12:9-50

“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out” (v31). Jesus referred to his own death as the moment when the power of the “ruler of this world” – our spiritual enemy – would be broken.  His “soul was troubled” (v27), yet Jesus was willing to go to the cross because offering Himself was the only way to set us free from our spiritual chains. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone” (v24). 

“If anyone serves me, he must follow me” (v26). Jesus calls us to give up trying to “win” by earthly means, and to follow His path of loving surrender to the Father’s will.