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The center of the Traditional Anglican Communion; adhering to the Holy Bible (KJV) in all matters of Faith and Doctrine, a strict reliance on the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, The two Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, the Two Creeds, and the Homilies and formularies of the Reformation Church of England.

Verse of the Day

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Devotion for Wednesday after the Fifth Sunday in Lent - The Continual Epiphany - 16 March 2016, Anno Domini



20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33  This he said, signifying what death he should die. 34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? 35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.  (John 12:20-36)

            The life of Jesus was a continual Epiphany beginning at the coming of the Gentile Magi and continuing here with the Greek proselytes to the Jewish faith represented in today's text. Unlike Zacchaeus, these Greeks did not come out of mere curiosity to see Christ - neither did the early Magi. They came bearing the germinating seed of faith planted by what imperfect news they had heard of the Lord Jesus Christ. They came to the Temple to the Court of the Gentiles. It is likely that our Lord was in the inner court where these men would not have been permitted. So they come to Philip. "And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus." Philip was a disciple that was open in approaching the Lord. The desire to see Jesus is a spiritual imperative not born of the independent desire of man, but results from a work of the Holy Ghost moving in the hidden chambers of the heart. It is an act of God and not of man.

            Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. Bringing men and women to Christ is not usually a result of the action of a single witness, but someone else may have sowed the Gospel Seed long before. The Seed lies in darkness over the ages of the growing season, germinates, and may burst forth into the Light of Day at a future day. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. (John 4:37-38) So both Philip and Andrew (who brought also his brother Peter to Christ) bring these men to introduce them to Jesus.

            And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. So these men would see Jesus, would they? They have come at a moment in which Jesus shall be viewed in a light far different than all hithertofore for His crucifixion is approaching. Jesus knows that these men have come to know Him, and He has little time remaining for teaching as He has done the past three years to His disciples. So He expresses as much truth as can be packed into a short sentence by the Divine Mind of God. He is telling these men that the time of His glorification is at hand, but these men may not perceive the dimension of that glorification on a crude cross at Calvary, so He adds - Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

            Only could the amazing and Creative Mind of God encase so much life in a tiny seed, but He does so. The seed is small and hard and demonstrates in its properties everything but life; yet, when planted in the soil of faith and nourished by the waters of the Holy Ghost, how vividly does life spring in abundance from that seed. It multiplies the life that it has by producing ten, fifteen, and hundredfold its own capacity. If we cherish the seed - and not its fruit - we may save it but lose it through mold and decay. But if we plant the seed (lose it to the soil of God's Garden) then we gain all. If we hold tightly to the physical attractions of this world, we will lose all, but if we lose all in the world and claim the treasures of Heaven, those treasures cannot be lost.

            27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. The overwhelming dread and hurt of His impending Passion is far more painful to One who knows all of it beforehand. Jesus knew precisely the humiliation and pain to come. He was deeply troubled. If He were not so troubled, then His sacrifice would have been diminished. Yet, even those dreads of such horrible suffering did not diminish the Lord's intentions to perform the Will of His Father. We are often confronted with discomforts, or even great sacrifices, in this life that we know we should rightfully confront; but do we not often surrender to the easy way out and, by so doing, reject the Will of God in our lives?

            Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. You may be sure God will send some sign of His seal on your life when persecution and tribulation arises. Unfortunately, our ears are often dulled by the irreverent voices and music of the world so that we can little perceive that Voice. "Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes." Jesus needed no confirmation from the Father that His name was glorified in Heaven, but you and I often need assurances from Heaven. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. Just as the brazen serpent was lifted up on the pole by Moses in order that all who were bitten by that Old Serpent (Satan) would live upon beholding that serpent on the pole, so would men who looked unto Christ crucified for their redemption might also have life eternal.

            Our Lord gave this above example for a purpose! This he said, signifying what death he should die. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? These men within hearing could not conceive of Christ crucified for God could not die - and He did not in the sense of death of the unrighteous. They could not comprehend the import and purpose of the crucifixion when viewed from the other side of the cross. But after the resurrection, they surely must have known it.

            Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. Jesus speaks with such simplicity and yet profound truth. Jesus is the Light of the World. If we are going on a march through the Marshes of Glen, do we choose to undertake such trek during the hours of darkness. The marshes of life are already dimly lit and need to be done during the greatest light of day available. Would we walk the mountain heights in stark darkness. If we did, our steps would be few. Suppose we have a maze of dangerous traps and snares through which we must walk. We have only a lantern to guide our foot. Would it be conceivable for us to extinguish the fire of the lantern and try the course in darkness? We must trust the Light of God above our own feelings and inclinations. His Light is true, and the lights of the world are deceptive.

            If we remain in the darkness of false philosophies and religions too long, we will grow the same scales over our eyes as fish kept in the caverns beneath the earth for centuries. Those who are intentionally blind are not able to see the Light of God.

            These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. These men could not see the Light that Jesus revealed to them. They were blinded by old superstitions and deceptions. Our Lord has warned us that rejecting the Light will result in its being taken away - so, our Lord departed, and did hide himself from them. What a tragedy for the Lord to be hidden from us for our lack of faith!

            While your spiritual eyes are able, be sure to seek and hold the Light of Christ!