More Than Just a Story - the Book of JohnSample

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” - John 12:23

This story is absolutely wild to me. Can you imagine being in the crowd of people that had been anxiously waiting for the hour to come and now it was finally here. Jesus was going to be glorified! I’m sure they were all standing there in anticipation and expectation for His rise to power and for His name to be lifted high.

Instead, Jesus predicts His own death. Talk about unexpected.

The people were looking for a Messiah - a savior who would rescue them and bring them love, healing, peace, and mercy. They were not looking for death.

But, Jesus’ soul was troubled at what was coming for him (v. 27). He felt the struggle of the people, but knew that this was the will of the Father (v. 28). The crowd, like many people would, challenged what that will of the Father was. They asked “How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up?”

When God’s plan was revealed, it was different from what the people had expected and envisioned. But when God’s will doesn’t match our expectations, we too, like the crowd, can choose to challenge Him or trust Him. When His ways surprise us, we have to remember that they don’t surprise Him. He has been formulating and planning since the beginning of time.

Instead of doubting what God is doing, we can continue to live in the truth of what we’ve seen and heard from Jesus. God’s will won’t always make sense to us. But when we can’t understand every detail of God’s direction, we can trust where He is leading us.

When has God’s plan in your life looked different from what you expected? Did you challenge Him or choose to trust Him?

What are some truths about Jesus that you’ve seen and heard in your own life that can help you trust Him more?