1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,571 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,161 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:15,441 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. 13 00:01:25,950 --> 00:01:30,471 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, a calming 14 00:01:30,551 --> 00:01:35,011 Speaker 2: scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day 15 00:01:35,881 --> 00:01:40,461 Speaker 2: God's word in your mind and on your heart. Right 16 00:01:40,561 --> 00:01:44,321 Speaker 2: after this short word from our sponsors, we will reflect 17 00:01:45,021 --> 00:01:58,251 Speaker 2: on tonight's scripture from John chapter 12. Tonight's reflection is 18 00:01:58,411 --> 00:02:04,011 Speaker 2: written by Britt Mooney and read by Kyle Norman. John 19 00:02:04,251 --> 00:02:11,430 Speaker 2: chapter 12. Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, 20 00:02:12,111 --> 00:02:16,901 Speaker 2: where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here, 21 00:02:17,071 --> 00:02:21,921 Speaker 2: a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while 22 00:02:21,961 --> 00:02:24,740 Speaker 2: Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 23 00:02:26,201 --> 00:02:31,021 Speaker 2: Then Mary took about a pint of Purinard, an expensive perfume. 24 00:02:32,101 --> 00:02:35,141 Speaker 2: She poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet 25 00:02:35,201 --> 00:02:38,281 Speaker 2: with her hair. and the house was filled with the 26 00:02:38,341 --> 00:02:44,101 Speaker 2: fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, 27 00:02:44,691 --> 00:02:48,990 Speaker 2: who was later to betray him, objected. Why wasn't this 28 00:02:49,031 --> 00:02:53,791 Speaker 2: perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It 29 00:02:53,871 --> 00:02:57,641 Speaker 2: is worth a year's wages. He did not say this 30 00:02:57,740 --> 00:03:00,641 Speaker 2: because he cared about the poor, but because he was 31 00:03:00,681 --> 00:03:04,561 Speaker 2: a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used 32 00:03:04,601 --> 00:03:08,340 Speaker 2: to help himself to what was put into it. Leave 33 00:03:08,381 --> 00:03:12,541 Speaker 2: her alone, Jesus replied. It was intended that she should 34 00:03:12,621 --> 00:03:16,831 Speaker 2: save this perfume for the day of my burial. You 35 00:03:16,871 --> 00:03:20,191 Speaker 2: will always have the poor among you, but you will 36 00:03:20,231 --> 00:03:25,391 Speaker 2: not always have me. Meanwhile, a large crowd of Jews 37 00:03:26,031 --> 00:03:29,770 Speaker 2: found out that Jesus was there and came, not only 38 00:03:29,811 --> 00:03:32,871 Speaker 2: because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he 39 00:03:32,911 --> 00:03:36,571 Speaker 2: had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made 40 00:03:36,631 --> 00:03:40,671 Speaker 2: plans to kill Lazarus as well. For an account of him, 41 00:03:40,761 --> 00:03:43,721 Speaker 2: many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and 42 00:03:43,761 --> 00:03:48,981 Speaker 2: believing in him. The next day, the great crowd that 43 00:03:49,061 --> 00:03:51,601 Speaker 2: came for the festival heard that Jesus was on his 44 00:03:51,661 --> 00:03:55,701 Speaker 2: way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out 45 00:03:55,741 --> 00:04:00,131 Speaker 2: to meet him, shouting, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes 46 00:04:00,211 --> 00:04:02,811 Speaker 2: in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King 47 00:04:02,851 --> 00:04:07,501 Speaker 2: of Israel! Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it. 48 00:04:08,421 --> 00:04:12,931 Speaker 2: As it is written, Do not be afraid, O daughter Zion. See, 49 00:04:12,991 --> 00:04:18,971 Speaker 2: your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt. At 50 00:04:19,010 --> 00:04:23,191 Speaker 2: first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after 51 00:04:23,270 --> 00:04:26,831 Speaker 2: Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had 52 00:04:26,871 --> 00:04:30,411 Speaker 2: been written about him, that these things had been done 53 00:04:30,451 --> 00:04:34,821 Speaker 2: to him. Now the crowd that was with him when 54 00:04:34,851 --> 00:04:37,331 Speaker 2: he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from 55 00:04:37,371 --> 00:04:42,491 Speaker 2: the dead, continued to spread the word. Many people, because 56 00:04:42,531 --> 00:04:44,811 Speaker 2: they had heard that he had performed the sign, went 57 00:04:44,871 --> 00:04:49,530 Speaker 2: out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, See, 58 00:04:49,671 --> 00:04:52,871 Speaker 2: this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world 59 00:04:52,931 --> 00:04:57,411 Speaker 2: has gone after him. Now there were some Greeks among 60 00:04:57,461 --> 00:05:00,561 Speaker 2: those who went up to worship at the festival. They 61 00:05:00,601 --> 00:05:04,931 Speaker 2: came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with 62 00:05:04,971 --> 00:05:09,531 Speaker 2: a request. Sir, they said, we would like to see Jesus. 63 00:05:11,051 --> 00:05:14,691 Speaker 2: Jesus went to tell Andrew. Andrew and Philip, in turn, 64 00:05:14,731 --> 00:05:19,931 Speaker 2: told Jesus. Jesus replied, The hour has come for the 65 00:05:19,951 --> 00:05:23,491 Speaker 2: Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, 66 00:05:24,671 --> 00:05:27,541 Speaker 2: unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, 67 00:05:27,561 --> 00:05:32,341 Speaker 2: it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, 68 00:05:32,461 --> 00:05:37,221 Speaker 2: it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will 69 00:05:37,241 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 2: lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this 70 00:05:40,401 --> 00:05:45,710 Speaker 2: world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me 71 00:05:45,771 --> 00:05:49,231 Speaker 2: must follow me, and where I am my servant also 72 00:05:49,271 --> 00:05:53,711 Speaker 2: will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 73 00:05:56,251 --> 00:06:00,630 Speaker 2: Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, 74 00:06:00,711 --> 00:06:03,931 Speaker 2: save me from this hour. No, it was for this 75 00:06:04,051 --> 00:06:08,901 Speaker 2: very reason that I came to this hour. Father, glorify 76 00:06:08,940 --> 00:06:13,861 Speaker 2: your name. Then a voice came from heaven, I have 77 00:06:13,901 --> 00:06:18,451 Speaker 2: glorified it and will glorify it again. The crowd that 78 00:06:18,471 --> 00:06:22,231 Speaker 2: was there and heard it said it had thundered. Others 79 00:06:22,271 --> 00:06:27,151 Speaker 2: said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, this 80 00:06:27,251 --> 00:06:30,651 Speaker 2: voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the 81 00:06:30,690 --> 00:06:33,891 Speaker 2: time for judgment on this world. Now the prince of 82 00:06:33,911 --> 00:06:37,831 Speaker 2: this world will be driven out And I, when I 83 00:06:37,891 --> 00:06:40,630 Speaker 2: am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all 84 00:06:40,690 --> 00:06:44,411 Speaker 2: people to myself. He said this to show the kind 85 00:06:44,451 --> 00:06:48,601 Speaker 2: of death he was going to die. The crowd spoke up. 86 00:06:49,791 --> 00:06:53,190 Speaker 2: We've heard from the law that the Messiah will remain forever. 87 00:06:53,931 --> 00:06:55,791 Speaker 2: So how can you say the Son of Man must 88 00:06:55,831 --> 00:07:00,770 Speaker 2: be lifted up? Who is the Son of Man? Jesus 89 00:07:00,811 --> 00:07:04,251 Speaker 2: told them, You are going to have the light just 90 00:07:04,371 --> 00:07:08,510 Speaker 2: a while longer. Walk while you have the light, before 91 00:07:08,551 --> 00:07:12,481 Speaker 2: darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not 92 00:07:12,541 --> 00:07:16,241 Speaker 2: know where they are going. Believe in the light while 93 00:07:16,261 --> 00:07:20,161 Speaker 2: you have the light, so that when you may become 94 00:07:20,281 --> 00:07:25,301 Speaker 2: children of light. When he had finished speaking, Jesus left 95 00:07:26,021 --> 00:07:30,901 Speaker 2: and hid himself from them. Even after Jesus had performed 96 00:07:30,981 --> 00:07:33,951 Speaker 2: so many signs in their presence, they still would not 97 00:07:33,991 --> 00:07:37,611 Speaker 2: believe in him. This was to fulfill the word from 98 00:07:37,711 --> 00:07:43,051 Speaker 2: Isaiah the prophet. Lord, who has believed our message, and 99 00:07:43,101 --> 00:07:45,581 Speaker 2: to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 100 00:07:46,701 --> 00:07:49,961 Speaker 2: For this reason they could not believe, because as Isaiah 101 00:07:49,981 --> 00:07:53,981 Speaker 2: says elsewhere, he has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, 102 00:07:54,841 --> 00:07:57,361 Speaker 2: so they can neither see with their eyes nor understand 103 00:07:57,401 --> 00:08:01,101 Speaker 2: with their hearts, nor turn, and I would heal them. 104 00:08:03,081 --> 00:08:06,571 Speaker 2: Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke 105 00:08:06,631 --> 00:08:11,771 Speaker 2: about him. Yet at the same time, many, even among 106 00:08:11,811 --> 00:08:15,311 Speaker 2: the leaders, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees, 107 00:08:15,371 --> 00:08:19,361 Speaker 2: they would not openly acknowledge their faith, for fear they 108 00:08:19,381 --> 00:08:22,081 Speaker 2: would be put out of the synagogue. For they loved 109 00:08:22,141 --> 00:08:26,641 Speaker 2: human praise more than praise from God. Then Jesus cried out, 110 00:08:27,531 --> 00:08:30,451 Speaker 2: Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, 111 00:08:30,471 --> 00:08:33,930 Speaker 2: but in the one who sent me, the one who 112 00:08:33,971 --> 00:08:36,581 Speaker 2: looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 113 00:08:37,721 --> 00:08:40,601 Speaker 2: I have come into the world as light, so that 114 00:08:40,681 --> 00:08:43,300 Speaker 2: no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. 115 00:08:45,060 --> 00:08:47,341 Speaker 2: If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, 116 00:08:48,141 --> 00:08:51,151 Speaker 2: I do not judge that person, for do not come 117 00:08:51,310 --> 00:08:54,470 Speaker 2: to judge the world but to save the world. There 118 00:08:54,550 --> 00:08:57,370 Speaker 2: is a judge for the one who rejects me and 119 00:08:57,411 --> 00:09:00,670 Speaker 2: does not accept my words. The very words that I 120 00:09:00,691 --> 00:09:04,530 Speaker 2: have spoken will condemn them at the last day, For 121 00:09:04,711 --> 00:09:07,391 Speaker 2: I did not speak on my own, but the Father 122 00:09:07,431 --> 00:09:10,351 Speaker 2: who sent me commanded me to say all that I 123 00:09:10,391 --> 00:09:14,501 Speaker 2: have spoken. I know that this command leads to eternal life. 124 00:09:15,801 --> 00:09:18,780 Speaker 2: So whatever I say is just what the Father has 125 00:09:18,821 --> 00:09:27,241 Speaker 2: told me to say. Light changes things and brings life. 126 00:09:28,521 --> 00:09:33,371 Speaker 2: Sunlight gives warmth and empowers growth. A candle at night 127 00:09:33,451 --> 00:09:37,170 Speaker 2: helps us see where we are going, keeping us from 128 00:09:37,251 --> 00:09:41,941 Speaker 2: falling into a pit. John 12 records Christ's words in 129 00:09:41,961 --> 00:09:48,001 Speaker 2: Jerusalem a few days before his crucifixion. First, Jesus teaches 130 00:09:48,181 --> 00:09:51,661 Speaker 2: to walk in the light, or else darkness will overtake us, 131 00:09:52,241 --> 00:09:57,351 Speaker 2: overwhelm us, steal and destroy us. A few verses later, 132 00:09:57,410 --> 00:10:01,410 Speaker 2: Jesus claims to be the light, and this was his purpose. 133 00:10:01,951 --> 00:10:05,991 Speaker 2: to be the light and save us from darkness. Darkness 134 00:10:06,151 --> 00:10:11,231 Speaker 2: has no substance. It's only the absence of light. Darkness 135 00:10:11,331 --> 00:10:17,361 Speaker 2: symbolizes death, emptiness. Further, Jesus equates light with the words 136 00:10:17,401 --> 00:10:21,641 Speaker 2: that he spoke. The light includes hearing the voice and 137 00:10:21,721 --> 00:10:25,321 Speaker 2: instructions of he who is the light. To be an 138 00:10:25,361 --> 00:10:31,161 Speaker 2: enlightenment means obeying Jesus' teaching. This goes beyond mere moral 139 00:10:31,241 --> 00:10:35,450 Speaker 2: instruction At the core, to follow the light begins with 140 00:10:35,501 --> 00:10:39,051 Speaker 2: believing what he says about the Father. and about himself 141 00:10:39,851 --> 00:10:46,471 Speaker 2: and the Spirit and us. From this relational reconciliation, living 142 00:10:46,651 --> 00:10:51,991 Speaker 2: and loving in truth, our lives then experience and exhibit 143 00:10:52,171 --> 00:10:57,261 Speaker 2: right action. Our primary goal is must be to draw 144 00:10:57,301 --> 00:11:00,661 Speaker 2: near to Christ, the light, and cling to him as 145 00:11:00,721 --> 00:11:05,161 Speaker 2: a person, hearing and obeying his voice of love, to 146 00:11:05,221 --> 00:11:08,101 Speaker 2: save us from the darkness that threatens to overtake us. 147 00:11:09,971 --> 00:11:12,810 Speaker 2: This will take us down roads of adventure and battle, 148 00:11:13,410 --> 00:11:17,411 Speaker 2: joy and sorrow, as we also become the light in 149 00:11:17,451 --> 00:11:21,910 Speaker 2: a dark world. And the end will be absolute good, 150 00:11:23,111 --> 00:11:31,041 Speaker 2: because we were with him the whole time. Heavenly Father, 151 00:11:32,061 --> 00:11:34,561 Speaker 2: thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, as the light. 152 00:11:36,101 --> 00:11:39,941 Speaker 2: He is under the darkness to save us. Draw me 153 00:11:39,981 --> 00:11:42,721 Speaker 2: near to you and teach me to walk in your 154 00:11:42,780 --> 00:11:47,141 Speaker 2: light so darkness won't overtake me. Let your words guide 155 00:11:47,181 --> 00:11:51,420 Speaker 2: my steps, transform my mind, and anchor my heart in truth. 156 00:11:53,301 --> 00:11:55,361 Speaker 2: I choose to believe what you say about the Father, 157 00:11:55,981 --> 00:12:00,871 Speaker 2: about yourself, and about who I am in you. Drive 158 00:12:00,951 --> 00:12:04,170 Speaker 2: out every threatening shadow that disrupts my vision of you. 159 00:12:05,431 --> 00:12:08,111 Speaker 2: Help me to take captive every thought that exalts itself 160 00:12:08,201 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 2: against you and replace those lies with your truth. Give 161 00:12:13,061 --> 00:12:16,441 Speaker 2: me the courage to obey your voice, even when the 162 00:12:16,481 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 2: path leads to battles or sacrifice, knowing that you give 163 00:12:21,141 --> 00:12:26,801 Speaker 2: resurrection and life. Fill me with you, so I shine 164 00:12:26,841 --> 00:12:33,521 Speaker 2: your light to others. In Jesus' name. Amen. How did 165 00:12:33,541 --> 00:12:37,681 Speaker 2: tonight's scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts in the 166 00:12:37,721 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 2: Your Nightly Scripture Forum discussion. 167 00:12:48,271 --> 00:12:53,751 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture 168 00:12:54,191 --> 00:12:58,491 Speaker 3: was read from the New International Version by Biblica All 169 00:12:58,551 --> 00:13:03,420 Speaker 3: Rights Reserved. Thank you, and we'll see you tomorrow night. 170 00:13:36,971 --> 00:13:38,401 Speaker 2: Thank you.