Lent Day Thirty Six
“Unimaginable glory from unimaginable suffering”
John 12:23–26 The Passion Translation
23 He replied to them, “Now is the time for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 Let me make this clear: A single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat—all because one grain died.
25 “The person who loves his life and pampers himself will miss true life! But the one who detaches his life from this world and abandons himself to me, will find true life and enjoy it forever!
26 If you want to be my disciple, follow me and you will go where I am going. And if you truly follow me as my disciple, the Father will shower his favor upon your life.
It is really quite bizarre to think that Jesus referred to his looming crucifixion as his time to be glorified. This is madness, surely? Jesus was going to suffer the most unimaginable pain and shame and, in a way we can barely fathom, he was going to take on himself the guilt, blame and suffering of the whole world, for all time. The weight of even thinking about this would be completely crushing. But Jesus says he will be glorified! How can that be?
Jesus has a sort of X-ray vision that sees beyond the present suffering to a future we cannot conceive. A future so glorious, so beautiful, so full of the most perfect joyful life, that the suffering that comes before it is almost overlooked. The unimaginable glory is worth immeasurably more than the unimaginable suffering.
Unimaginable is the word. I have to admit that I cannot imagine all that Jesus our Saviour has in store for us. I can see and enjoy so much that is wonderful in this present life and the thought of losing any of it is not at all appealing. Yet it seems that Jesus wants me and you to set our sights higher. The best of this world is worthless compared to what he is keeping for us.
Whilst that is true, I think there are glimpses of the life to come in the present – or there can be if we live now with our eyes fixed on resurrection hope. If we live not for ourselves but for the love of God and for the love of our neighbours, we can begin to experience the true life that Jesus promises. Life in all its fullness is found in knowing the presence and love of the living God and sharing that love with our neighbours. Giving up of ourselves for the sake of others, just as Jesus has done for everyone, is the foundation for the community of hope that Jesus will make new when he returns. Giving up of ourselves to love God and to love our neighbours is the path to the most glorious life.
Nigel Adams
Nigel founded Hope Nottingham in 2010. This grew from nothing to become a network of community hubs and foodbanks, inspiring similar projects in Derbyshire and Kenya. Many of these community hubs are brimming with life as the helped and helper become a blessed community with Jesus at the centre: Communities of Hope. This is the title of his first book which tells the inspiring story and shares many lessons.
Since April 2024 Nigel has worked in a consultancy role for Transforming Notts Together, enabling all manner of Christian compassion ministry and especially church based community hubs: Communities of Hope.