LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON NOTES
Read Peter's preaching notes....
“Practicing Resurrection”
John 12:20-33
5/10/26
The more things change, the more they stay the same: at least, how saying goes
add one thing: in order to stay the same, things must change
may seem backwards: let me explain
Week before death on cross, Jesus taught in J’lem during Passover festival
city crowded w/ people from all over: Pgh during NFL draft?
at one point, some Greeks approached Philip: asked to see Jesus
can infer a few things about this group of people
were Gentiles (non-Jw) , but had come to J’lem for Passover festival
likely “God-fearers:” Gentiles who respect Jw relig & wanted to follow
decent number of these God-fearers in region at time
God-fearers on the outside looking in: only allowed in very outermost part of temple
wanted to belong, but couldn’t: Jw relig very strict about: only Jws could wp as they did
theoretically possible for someone to convert, but in practice extremely difficult
Must have sensed something different about Jesus: wanted to meet him
asked Philip, Gr name, from Gr region, probably spoke Gr: felt could connect
Phil asked Andrew (one of inner core of disc) to join him in asking Jesus
strangest thing: Phil & And tell Jesus group of Grs want to meet
doesn’t really answer them yes or no
instead, launches into a teaching about seeds dying in order for harvest to come
as old saying goes, what does that have to do w/ price of tea in China?
did Jesus simply ignore Phil & And, go on w/ his own agenda?
or is there some sort of connection? I think there is
not 1st time in Jn’s gospel that Jesus says something that seems unrelated
but if stick w/ him, discover connection
If take away part about Grs wanting to meet Jesus, can understand his teaching
he’s talking about rez: he must die in order for salvation to come
he is the seed who must go to cross: from there, will draw all people to him
but message not only to explain meaning of his cruci: challenge for us as well
“Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life:” we are all seeds who must die for life to come
as follower of Jesus, must be willing to sacrifice: even life, if necessary
the new will only come if you let go of the old
Now that have sense of what Jesus said, see how relates to those Gks
were outsiders: weren’t allowed into faith: at least, the way things always had been
came to Jesus, hoping might be bringing something new: something might include them
and he was: remember what Jesus said
“When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
lifted up has double meaning: lifted up on cross, lifted up into heaven
Ascension Day this Thurs: when celebrate Jesus lifted up to heaven
“When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
all people: not just Jws, but everyone
not just good holy rtous people, but everyone: all people
all people, inc this group of Gks who came to seek him out
as Jesus had said earlier: “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (Jn 6:37)
Jesus will never drive away anyone who comes to him
and here are the Gks coming to him!
background doesn’t matter, kind of person you are, kind of things you’ve done
will welcome them all: this is the power of the grace of the gospel
Bible doesn’t explicitly tell us that Jesus welcomed the Grs
but when said would draw all people to himself, pretty obvious that he did
this is something new, even revolutionary
for centuries, Jws made point of being distinct & separate from all other people
ever since days of Ezra & return from exile
biggest thing to repent from: intermarrying w/ other people
world around them was blending together: local cultures absorbed into Hellenistic
but not Jws: refused to give up their particularities: esp Sabbath & kosher food
they were the weirdos of the Roman Empire: didn’t fit in, and didn’t want to
that’s what it meant to be a Jw at that time
“we’re different, want nothing to do w/ you”
And along comes Jesus: “I will never drive away anyone who comes to me”
“I will draw all people to myself:” no exceptions
this is something new: only possible if relinquish what had known before
and now Jesus’ teaching about the dying seed takes on deeper significance
yes, about his cruci-rez: had to die in order to bring in harvest
but also about us: told us it was when said must lose life to gain eternal life
that is what rez looks like in our daily life
release & let go of what once was, in order to gain what God has in store for us
5th Principle of Vibrant Ch Comm: rez: vibrant churches practice rez
release what once was in order to make room for what is to be
OU not a time capsule: have one of those outside lobby window
not here to continue doing what we’ve always done
people who founded OU in 1806 would not recognize this place!
only sang psalms, no instruments like organ, piano guitar
certainly no women in leadership: women & men sat separate
but don’t have to go that far back that far to see how much we’ve changed
~20 yrs ago, OU best known for Soup Supper: had held it for decades: no more
had large & active youth group, put on plays: now none
working on directory: looked at one from 2006: so many beloved people now gone
question: what are we going to do? lament & bemoan what we no longer have?
mourn for the seed of the past that has died?
try to hold onto life Jesus said we must lose in order to gain eternity?
or, do we welcome the Greeks? look toward the new that God is bringing?
yes, have lost some beloved members, esp in last yr
but God is also bringing new people, new ideas, new ways of being church
to be people of rez, can we welcome, just as Jesus welcomed the Grs?
John 12:20-33
5/10/26
The more things change, the more they stay the same: at least, how saying goes
add one thing: in order to stay the same, things must change
may seem backwards: let me explain
Week before death on cross, Jesus taught in J’lem during Passover festival
city crowded w/ people from all over: Pgh during NFL draft?
at one point, some Greeks approached Philip: asked to see Jesus
can infer a few things about this group of people
were Gentiles (non-Jw) , but had come to J’lem for Passover festival
likely “God-fearers:” Gentiles who respect Jw relig & wanted to follow
decent number of these God-fearers in region at time
God-fearers on the outside looking in: only allowed in very outermost part of temple
wanted to belong, but couldn’t: Jw relig very strict about: only Jws could wp as they did
theoretically possible for someone to convert, but in practice extremely difficult
Must have sensed something different about Jesus: wanted to meet him
asked Philip, Gr name, from Gr region, probably spoke Gr: felt could connect
Phil asked Andrew (one of inner core of disc) to join him in asking Jesus
strangest thing: Phil & And tell Jesus group of Grs want to meet
doesn’t really answer them yes or no
instead, launches into a teaching about seeds dying in order for harvest to come
as old saying goes, what does that have to do w/ price of tea in China?
did Jesus simply ignore Phil & And, go on w/ his own agenda?
or is there some sort of connection? I think there is
not 1st time in Jn’s gospel that Jesus says something that seems unrelated
but if stick w/ him, discover connection
If take away part about Grs wanting to meet Jesus, can understand his teaching
he’s talking about rez: he must die in order for salvation to come
he is the seed who must go to cross: from there, will draw all people to him
but message not only to explain meaning of his cruci: challenge for us as well
“Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life:” we are all seeds who must die for life to come
as follower of Jesus, must be willing to sacrifice: even life, if necessary
the new will only come if you let go of the old
Now that have sense of what Jesus said, see how relates to those Gks
were outsiders: weren’t allowed into faith: at least, the way things always had been
came to Jesus, hoping might be bringing something new: something might include them
and he was: remember what Jesus said
“When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
lifted up has double meaning: lifted up on cross, lifted up into heaven
Ascension Day this Thurs: when celebrate Jesus lifted up to heaven
“When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
all people: not just Jws, but everyone
not just good holy rtous people, but everyone: all people
all people, inc this group of Gks who came to seek him out
as Jesus had said earlier: “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (Jn 6:37)
Jesus will never drive away anyone who comes to him
and here are the Gks coming to him!
background doesn’t matter, kind of person you are, kind of things you’ve done
will welcome them all: this is the power of the grace of the gospel
Bible doesn’t explicitly tell us that Jesus welcomed the Grs
but when said would draw all people to himself, pretty obvious that he did
this is something new, even revolutionary
for centuries, Jws made point of being distinct & separate from all other people
ever since days of Ezra & return from exile
biggest thing to repent from: intermarrying w/ other people
world around them was blending together: local cultures absorbed into Hellenistic
but not Jws: refused to give up their particularities: esp Sabbath & kosher food
they were the weirdos of the Roman Empire: didn’t fit in, and didn’t want to
that’s what it meant to be a Jw at that time
“we’re different, want nothing to do w/ you”
And along comes Jesus: “I will never drive away anyone who comes to me”
“I will draw all people to myself:” no exceptions
this is something new: only possible if relinquish what had known before
and now Jesus’ teaching about the dying seed takes on deeper significance
yes, about his cruci-rez: had to die in order to bring in harvest
but also about us: told us it was when said must lose life to gain eternal life
that is what rez looks like in our daily life
release & let go of what once was, in order to gain what God has in store for us
5th Principle of Vibrant Ch Comm: rez: vibrant churches practice rez
release what once was in order to make room for what is to be
OU not a time capsule: have one of those outside lobby window
not here to continue doing what we’ve always done
people who founded OU in 1806 would not recognize this place!
only sang psalms, no instruments like organ, piano guitar
certainly no women in leadership: women & men sat separate
but don’t have to go that far back that far to see how much we’ve changed
~20 yrs ago, OU best known for Soup Supper: had held it for decades: no more
had large & active youth group, put on plays: now none
working on directory: looked at one from 2006: so many beloved people now gone
question: what are we going to do? lament & bemoan what we no longer have?
mourn for the seed of the past that has died?
try to hold onto life Jesus said we must lose in order to gain eternity?
or, do we welcome the Greeks? look toward the new that God is bringing?
yes, have lost some beloved members, esp in last yr
but God is also bringing new people, new ideas, new ways of being church
to be people of rez, can we welcome, just as Jesus welcomed the Grs?
Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | [email protected]
724-538-8672 | [email protected]