A great reversal
by Tim Klein
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Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life (John 12:25).
Read John 12:20–28
And here it is again, a very similar text to those of the previous two days. Today, I want to speak about a great reversal – something we human beings find hard to appreciate. We don’t like to talk about losing our lives or giving things up for the sake of the kingdom. We would rather have it all.
If we could rewrite John 12:25, this is more like how we would write it: ‘Whoever loves their life wins it, and whoever loves their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.’
It’s quite a sobering thought to be reminded of how Jesus interprets the worth of our efforts in life. I consider some of those great blessings in my life – my family, my home, my guitar, my friendships, my achievements, my accumulated superannuation funds, those awards and certificates and so on – and wonder whether they contribute in some way to my eternal welfare. Surely they make a difference.
But Jesus reverses my expectations and values, making it clear that my eternal life does not depend on my own efforts. In a strange way, that’s comforting because the opposite is also worth considering: What about my failures, the mistakes I’ve made, the sins that dog my days? What do I really deserve? Certainly not life!
And here, once again, we encounter the gospel. Jesus puts aside his life. In the face of my sin, the dearly loved son of God, loved by his friends and those whom he served, lays down his life and loses it in an act of love for you, me and the world. In mercy, he dies our death and replaces it with eternal life.
So, what remains for you and me? Here, Jesus invites us to see our lives in his eternal perspective. We recognise that our lives, that all we gain and achieve in the final analysis, humanly speaking, finally amount to nothing. Instead, our sin and brokenness attract the mercy and love of Jesus such that he exchanges his life for yours and mine so that we can live with him forever.
‘Lord Jesus Christ, at the foot of your cross, I kneel today. In your wounds, I place my wounds. In your silence, I find my peace. In your sacrifice, I find my worth. Help me to never forget the love you poured out for me. Amen’ (Catholic Daily Prayer).
Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening.
Look ahead with confidence
by Tim Klein
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it (Matthew 16:25).
Read Matthew 16:21–28
Here’s a story of one of my young grandchildren – one of those memorable images this grandparent carries around with him. About 10 other little children were running from activity to activity, laughing and having fun together in our backyard. She really wanted to belong with them, but she was finding it hard to keep up and engage. They had all run on, and she stood there swinging one arm – like pumping herself up – till finally she took off and joined them. I loved it.
Being with Jesus can be a bit like that – recognising that his invitation is real and trustworthy: wanting to be with him, swinging our arms and finally running after him. What could possibly be better than living unafraid in a life of faith with him and his family?
Only six more chapters into the Gospel of Matthew, we encounter almost the same text as yesterday. How different is your life today from yesterday? Can any of us tell how any day will unfold as we hang our heels over the edge of the bed each morning? A simple browse of the death notices of the local newspaper reminds us of the fragility of our confidence.
What is the significance of our life? The words of ‘the Teacher’ in Ecclesiastes 1:2 are a sober reminder of the sum total of our lives.
If that’s the full story, why bother continuing? But it’s not. We continue by living with Jesus. How easily we can lose a sense of purpose and joy in life.
And so, we lose our lives and find them again in Jesus.
He reminds us that life with Jesus is full, even in the middle of struggles. Eternal life is assured. In baptism, we are welcomed into the kingdom of God.
How do we live in this kingdom? With confidence! Ecclesiastes 2:24 puts it this way: The best thing we can do is to enjoy eating, drinking and working. These are God’s gifts to us. So, live life to the full. Find an opportunity to love, serve, bless and praise the Lord every day.
We pray with Steve Kuban, who sang in 2014:
I will praise you with all of my life
I will praise you with all of my strength
With all of my life, with all of my strength
All of my hope is in you
My life is in you, Lord
My strength is in you, Lord
My hope is in you, Lord
In you, it’s in you.
Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening.
All or nothing
by Tim Klein
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it (Matthew 10:39).
Read Matthew 10:24–39
Have you ever been in one of those total commitment situations? They say to you, ‘It’s all or nothing! You’re in, or you’re out – no middle ground – not “fair weather” but of “rusted on” followers.’ This relates to Jesus saying, ‘No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money’ (Matthew 6:24).
Matthew 10 speaks about a committed relationship of faith and trust in Jesus. He invites us into equality with him – to be one with him – to be lost in him – our teacher and Lord. This profound truth is also expressed in the light of John 14:20: ‘In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.’
In Matthew 10:39, Jesus invites us to invest ourselves completely in him: no half measures, no sitting on the fence, no having a bet each way!
In the middle of all the voices that cry out to us, calling us to invest in this or that, the voice of the Lord invites us to entrust our lives to him. Nothing and no one else can give us the assurance of life he does. Our lives cannot be assured by financial investment, by building strong family relationships, by hard work and commitment to our vocations, by diet and exercise regimes – by any human aspect of our lives.
Only Jesus can give that all-embracing assurance.
Jesus isn’t asking for one-sided blind faith but for a mutual commitment. He attaches a promise, a blessing: ‘Join with me, and your life – your eternal life – is safe and secure. Travel with me, trust me through the ups and downs, the sins and successes of life, and I will forgive and keep you!’
This is so important for us in today’s world, where we are constantly offered choices, to review our commitments and ask whether there is a better way.
Perhaps right now is the time to refresh your commitment as a disciple and follower of Jesus.
Dear Heavenly Father, in this world of choices, of wins and losses, let your Holy Spirit continue to reassure us of this truth: whoever loses their life for Jesus’ sake will find it. Amen.
Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening.
