John 12

ten•sion
   [ten-shuh n] –noun

1. the act of stretching or straining.
2. the state of being stretched or strained.
3. mental or emotional strain; intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement.
4. a strained relationship between individuals, groups, nations, etc.

Have you ever put on a pair of Chinese handcuffs? Chinese handcuffs only work if there is tension. As long as you are trying to pull your hands apart they will keep you bound, but the second that you push your hands to the center, you are free.

When I think of Jesus, I think of perfection. It is rare that I think about his humanness. My mind seems to focus more on His divinity. It is very rare that I ever think about the war that was going on inside of Jesus. It is very common for me to think about the war that is going on inside of myself. What do I mean when I use the word war? I mean the battle that Romans 7:15-21 talks about. The battle of what I want to do verses what God wants me to do. Listen to it in Jesus words from John 12:27-28 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Jesus is like me. Jesus is like you. He has a battle going on. How does He get to the point where He says “NO” to Himself? I think the answer lies just a few verses before when He says: (John 12:24-25 NIV) I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. {25} The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

What is God calling you to say NO to so you can say YES to Him?
How is God calling you to say NO to your addiction so you can say YES to Him?
How is God calling you to say NO to your body so you can say YES to Him?
How is God calling you to say NO to tension and push towards HIM?

I love God’s response after Jesus chooses correctly: (John 12:28-30 NIV) Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." {29} The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. {30} Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.

Father glorify your name through us as we die to ourselves in your community!


Brad Childers
March 28