We read some verses today that are well-known but difficult to understand to our modern eras. Jesus says that we are to “hate” our lives. What does that mean? We are taught not to hate. To say to hate your life just doesn’t sit right with us. What we need to understand is when Jesus talks of hate, He is not talking about the emotion we so often think of, but He is talking about our priorities. We are to prioritize following Him; we are to prioritize obedience to Him. This means we place Him first. When we do that, we find the life that we are seeking: life now and life eternal.

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Good morning! It’s great to be with you on this Friday morning. I hope you’re doing well and have had a great week so far. I’m excited to wrap up the week together. Today, we’ll be continuing in John chapter 12, focusing on verses 20 through 26. This is a powerful passage, and if you’ve attended any Methodist graveside services, some of these words may sound familiar. These verses are often read during those services, so let’s dive in and explore their meaning.

Verses 24 through 26, especially, are used in Methodist graveside services as part of the committal. I’ve said these verses countless times throughout my ministry, and while they’re familiar to many of us, they hold deep meaning that is worth unpacking.

First, let’s take a look at Philip and Andrew. If we go back to John chapter 1, we meet these two disciples early in the story. Andrew was one of the first to follow Jesus, and he went and found his brother, Simon Peter, to tell him about the Messiah. Philip, likewise, went to find Nathanael to share the news of Jesus. Both Philip and Andrew are seen here in John 12 as individuals who bring others to Jesus. They have a reputation for connecting people with Christ.

This raises an important question for us: do we live in such a way that people know they can come to us and be led to Jesus? Do our lives radiate an invitation to know Christ? There was something about Philip and Andrew that made others feel comfortable approaching them to see Jesus. Do we as Christians give off that same sense of welcome and invitation?

Now, let’s focus on verses 24 through 26. Jesus says, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” This metaphor makes sense — a seed must be planted, in a sense “die,” in order to grow and produce more grain. In the same way, Jesus is teaching that we must die to ourselves to truly live. If we cling to our own life, our desires, and our priorities, we lose the life that God intends for us. But if we are willing to give up our lives for Christ’s sake, we find true, eternal life.

Jesus also says, “Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” This word “hate” can trip us up. We’re taught not to hate anything or anyone, and it can sound jarring to hear Jesus use this word. But in Scripture, the word “hate” here is not referring to the emotional hatred we think of. Instead, it’s about prioritization. Just as a seed must be willing to give up its life to produce fruit, we must be willing to let go of our attachment to this life — our own wants, desires, and paths — in order to truly follow Jesus.

Jesus isn’t telling us to hate our lives in the sense that we see ourselves as worthless or without value. On the contrary, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and God deeply loves each of us. What Jesus is emphasizing is that we cannot prioritize our own life and desires over His call. When we put ourselves first, we lose what truly matters. When we serve Jesus and follow Him, we find life in its fullest sense.

Verse 26 ties it all together: “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.” To truly serve Jesus means to follow Him, even when it means laying down our own lives, priorities, and desires. When we do this, the Father will honor us, and we will find the life that God has prepared for us.

So, as we reflect on these verses, we see that Jesus calls us to a life of service, sacrifice, and prioritization of His will over our own. By doing so, we find eternal life and the honor of the Father.

Thanks for joining me today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. If you’re in the Madison area on Sunday afternoon, we’d love to have you join us for the Fall Fest at St. Matthews from 4 to 6. I’ll even be in the dunking booth, so come on out! Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you Monday.