John 12:29 Some said, “. . .it thundered.”
Gentiles came to see Jesus. (20) Their inquiry was the sign that the ministry of Jesus would soon overflow his homeland and sweep through the world. However, for that great movement to start Jesus had to die. Like a kernel of wheat that dies by falling to the ground and then lives by producing many seeds, so Jesus accepted his death on the cross.
His crucifixion was the event set by God to drive evil from the world. Lifted up on the cross Jesus promised to draw the people of the world to God and away from evil. The cross of Christ defeated sin which is any action, word or thought that takes us away from God and takes us to our death. Jesus who was himself the fullness of God in flesh died so that sin could do its worst to him, but then in the resurrection Jesus defeated death and the power of sin, and he fulfilled his promise to lift all who would look to him out of the clutches of evil and give them eternal life.
This mission of Jesus to enter that darkness away from God troubled his soul (27), but he took his cross so that the light of God would shine in the world, into every dark corner until God’s glory could be seen by all. So, Jesus prayed, “Father, glorify your name!” A voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” (28)
Some heard the voice. Some said it was thunder. (29) Amazing but true, some people were in the presence of Jesus and could not hear or see that the kingdom of God had come upon them. Those who believed were blessed by God’s grace. Those who only heard “thunder,” as it were, would have done well to have prayed for grace. Yet, worst of all, some believed but chose not to obey. (12:42-43) Troubled by the cross or fearful of criticism or anxious that they might be expelled from leadership, some who knew better chose to walk away. Through the centuries some believers, even Christian leaders, have lost their way. They have heard the voice of God and called it thunder.
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Books. Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul, Church, State, and the Birth of Liberty by John M. Barry. The author shows the development of the two understandings of America that were born in tension in the 17th century and continue to live in tension today: America as a Christian nation and America as a secular state that protects freedom of religion. This book is very heavy on history but worth the effort to read. If one wanted to take a short cut it would be possible to read the last 100 pages and still get much to make one think.
Trivial Prayers. “Praying frequently, then, really means learning to live our whole lives with God, praying to him out of the very stuff of our lives. Often this will mean that our prayer will seem very trivial, because much that happens to us is trivial. It is in fact an excellent lesson in faith and in humility to have to pray trivial prayers.” (Prayer, Simon Tugwell, p. 7)
Thanks once again, Bill. I know I have at times heard God speak and dismissed it as thunder. I pray that becomes less and less in my life. And thanks for the book recommendation. I just bought the Kindle edition and will start reading it in a few minutes.
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