John 12:20-36
"The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
This verse is challenges the way we see life. Jesus expresses similar thoughts in other places, like Mark 8. He teaches us that if we make life about ourselves, if we focus just on what we want. We will ultimately miss life. Life is found as we give our lives away. He sets the example for us.
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I hope that this verse doesn't really mean "hate his life." I like the Message interpretation: "In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal." I appreciate Ken's comment that "Life is found as we give our lives away." It seems that is the direction that we in our church are going as a result of many things but most recently our response to "The Hole in Our Gospel." Let's continue to pray that we are able to fill that hole in all that we say and do!
ReplyDeleteI really like the Message interpretation you quoted, Pat. I don't think Jesus is calling us to literally hate our lives and be miserable while we are here on Earth, I think He is telling us that we need to realize that it is fleeting, it is not permanent. We must put our hope and our focus on something greater, more permanent-like God. We can do this by loving those around us, helping those who need help. When we do those things it is then that we are giving our lives away, it is then that we are doing what God called us to do.
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