“I am troubled now. Yet what should I say?
‘Father, save me from this hour’?
But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.
Father, glorify Your name.”
(John 12:27-28)
Jesus expressed His inner turmoil about His impending death but resolved that it was the very purpose for which He came. Jesus remained committed to His mission. This moment captures the depth of Jesus’ humanity and His divine purpose. His unwavering faith and obedience is a powerful testament to His selfless love and sacrifice, qualities that we Christians should strive to emulate in our own lives. This moment serves as a reminder that even in our darkest hours, we can turn to God and find purpose and strength.
20 Some Greeks who had come up to worship at the Passover Feast 21 came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like 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 Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. 27 “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. 31 Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this indicating the kind of death he would die. (John 12:20-33)
In the garden of Gethsemane, under the olive tree, Jesus knelt and prayed, for all the world to see. His heart was heavy, His spirit in turmoil, yet He accepted His fate, to God's plan He was loyal. "Father," He cried, "if it be Your will, let this cup pass from me." Yet He knew His purpose, knew what He was destined to be. In His humanity, He felt the sting of fear, yet in His divinity, His mission was clear. His unwavering faith, His obedience so grand, a testament to His love, that on this earth did land. His sacrifice, His selflessness, His grace are qualities we strive to embrace. In our darkest hours, when hope seems out of sight, we remember His words, His promise of light. For even in suffering, in pain and in strife, we find purpose and strength, in the promise of eternal life.
Dear Lord Jesus, in the quiet of our hearts, we acknowledge Your sacrifice. You expressed Your inner turmoil about Your impending death, yet resolved that it was the very purpose for which You came. Despite the immense suffering, You remained committed to Your mission. This moment captures the depth of Your humanity and Your divine purpose. Your unwavering faith and obedience is a powerful testament to Your selfless love and sacrifice. These are qualities that we, as Christians, strive to emulate in our own lives. In our darkest hours, when we feel lost and alone, we remember Your words and Your sacrifice. We are reminded that we can always turn to God and find purpose and strength. Help us to follow in Your footsteps, to show love and kindness to others, to be obedient to God's will, and to find strength in our faith. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
In the old covenant, the Law was given externally, written on tablets of stone (Exodus 31:18). In the New Covenant, God promised to write His law on the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:33). This internalization of the Law is made possible by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:3). God promises to be our God, and we will be His people. The knowledge of God will be universal, from the least to the greatest. And importantly, God will forgive our wrongdoings and will remember our sins no more. This prophecy is seen fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the final and perfect sacrifice, whose death on the cross atoned for the sins of humanity once and for all (Hebrews 10:10). The New Covenant fulfills the Old Covenant. It doesn’t replace it. The Old Covenant was a shadow or a type of the New Covenant (Hebrews 10:1). The New Covenant, established by Jesus, provides a better way to God, offering a personal relationship with Him, internal transformation, and the assurance of eternal life (John 3:16).
31 The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they broke my covenant and I had to show myself their master, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives how to know the Lord. All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the Lord, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
In the vast expanse of the cosmos, a promise echoes clear, "God will be our guiding light, His presence ever near. From the mightiest of kings to the humble and the small, the knowledge of the Divine will be accessible to all. From the highest mountain peak to the deepest ocean floor, God's wisdom will permeate, His teachings we'll explore. No need for a compass, for His direction we'll know, in every heart His laws will be written, in every soul they'll grow. In the quiet of the night, under the star's soft glow, we find solace in the promise, reaping what we sow. God will forgive our wrongdoings, wipe our slates clean, our past sins will be forgotten, like they've never been. So let us walk this journey, with God by our side, in His promise, we find comfort, in His love, we confide. For we are His people, and He is our guide, in this covenant of forgiveness, in His grace, we abide.
Dear Heavenly Father, in Your infinite wisdom and boundless love, You have promised to be our God, and we are humbled to be Your people. Your divine knowledge, You have graciously promised, will be universal - from the least to the greatest, we shall all know You. We are grateful for Your promise of forgiveness. You have assured us that You will forgive our wrongdoings and remember our sins no more. This promise brings us comfort and peace, knowing that our past mistakes do not define us in Your eyes. Help us, Lord, to internalize Your teachings and live according to Your will. May we extend the same forgiveness to others that You have so generously given us. We thank You for Your new covenant, written not on tablets of stone, but on our hearts. May we always remember Your promises and strive to live in a way that honors You. In Jesus' holy name, we pray. Amen.
God forgives the sins of those who sincerely repent and believe in Jesus Christ. The New Covenant established by Jesus Christ, promises the forgiveness of sins. This is seen as a fulfillment of the Old Covenant. This divine forgiveness offers believers the promise of eternal life. Jesus Christ often preached about forgiveness and demonstrated it in His interactions. He forgave those who crucified him, setting a powerful example for His followers. No matter how far we may stray, we can always return to God, who is merciful and ready to forgive.
3 Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 4 Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. 12 A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 13 Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. 14 Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 15 I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you. (Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15)
In the heart of the repentant, a promise divine, God's forgiveness flows, like sweetest wine. Believe in Christ, and sins are washed away, under the New Covenant, in His love we stay. A fulfillment of the Old, the New stands tall, promising forgiveness of sins, once and for all. This divine grace, a gift so free offers believers life eternally. Christ, our Savior, preached forgiveness wide, in His actions, no resentment did He hide. Even those who crucified Him, He forgave setting an example, showing how to behave. No matter how far we stray, or how we deceive, we can always return to God, if we truly believe. For He is merciful, ready to forgive, in His boundless love, we forever live.
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You today, humbled and in awe of Your mercy. We acknowledge that You forgive the sins of those who sincerely repent and believe in Jesus Christ. We are grateful for the New Covenant established by Jesus, which promises the forgiveness of our sins and is a fulfillment of the Old Covenant. We thank You for this divine forgiveness that offers us the promise of eternal life. We remember how Jesus often preached about forgiveness and demonstrated it in His interactions. He forgave those who crucified Him, setting a powerful example for us to follow. No matter how far we may stray, we take comfort in knowing that we can always return to You. You are merciful and ready to forgive. Help us to follow in Your footsteps, to forgive as we have been forgiven, and to show others the same mercy You have shown us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is both fully human (experiencing suffering and learning obedience) and fully divine (being the source of eternal salvation). In His humanity, He expressed deep emotions as He prayed to God. His prayers were heard because of His reverence, showing His deep respect and submission to God. Like Jesus, regular communication with God through prayer can help us develop a deeper relationship with Him.
Despite being the Son of God, Jesus learned obedience through His sufferings. This highlights the human experience of Christ and His willingness to submit to God’s will, even in suffering. His journey wasn’t easy, but through His trials, He was made perfect. After going through suffering and being made perfect through it, Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.
7 In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of His reverence. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; 9 and when he was made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:7-9)
In the realm of the divine, yet walking as a man, our Lord Jesus Christ, in His grand salvation plan. Experiencing suffering, learning obedience in strife, yet fully divine, the source of eternal life. In His humanity, emotions deep and raw, praying to God, in reverence and awe. His prayers were heard, His submission so profound, in regular communication, a deeper relationship is found. Despite being God's Son, through suffering, He trod, highlighting the human experience, submitting to God's rod. His journey wasn't easy, through trials, He was led, yet in His suffering, perfection was bred. After enduring suffering, made perfect in His strife, Jesus became the source of eternal life. For all who obey Him, salvation is near, in His divine promise, we find comfort and cheer.
Dear Lord Jesus, we acknowledge Your dual nature as both fully human and fully divine. In Your humanity, You experienced suffering and learned obedience. You expressed deep emotions in Your prayers to God, showing Your deep respect and submission. Like You, we strive to communicate regularly with God through prayer, seeking to develop a deeper relationship with Him. We are inspired by Your example and strive to follow in Your footsteps. Despite being the Son of God, You learned obedience through Your sufferings. This highlights Your human experience and Your willingness to submit to God’s will, even in suffering. Your journey wasn’t easy, but through Your trials, You were made perfect. After going through suffering and being made perfect through it, You became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey You. We are eternally grateful for this gift and strive to live our lives in obedience to You. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Pericope:
II: The Book of Signs
THE COMING OF JESUS' HOUR
John 12:20-33
III: Oracles in the last years of Jerusalem
THE NEW COVENANT
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Second Book of Psalms 42-72
THE MISERERE: PRAYER OF REPENTANCE
Psalm 51:1-21
III: Jesus, Faithful and Compassionate High Priest
JESUS COMPASSIONATE HIGH PRIEST
Hebrews 5:1-10
Reflection Source:
Copilot in Edge
