New Here?Tuesday of Holy Week 2021 Troubled
Sean Roberds | Mar 25, 2021
Tuesday
John 12:20-36
Troubled
Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, 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. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
Jesus Speaks about His Death
27 “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people[a] to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 34 The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah[b] remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.
Reflection
“Now My Soul is troubled” Jesus says in verse 27. We can’t ignore the humanity of Jesus. To do so would be to rob Holy Week of its passion and strip Easter of its celebration. Jesus suffered and was troubled. I imagine Jesus was troubled about all the suffering he would endure and of course death itself with all its haunting mysteries. But I am sure he was troubled about all he was leaving behind as well. Judas, his betrayal and what would come of him? Peter, his denial and would he recover from letting Jesus down and lead the church? The other disciples and would they remain? His Mom! Jesus had a lot to be troubled by in the days of Holy Week. Jesus didn’t hide his trouble. He didn't try to ignore his trouble or act as if he was beyond being troubled. He owned it! With a troubled soul, not beyond the trouble or over the trouble, with the trouble, Jesus continued to follow God’s will.
Questions
Think about places where your soul has been troubled.
Think about whose soul is troubled today.
What are helpful ways you can be present with people who are troubled?
