John 12:20-26 CSB
Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. [21] So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, "Sir, we want to see Jesus." [22] Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. [23] Jesus replied to them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. [24] Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. [25] The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. [26] If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Galatians 5:19-21 CSB
Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, [21] envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things-as I warned you before-that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Abandon Selfishness
People generally feel safer when they approach those who are like them, especially when they find themselves in the minority. These Greeks likely approached Philip first because he had a Greek name and hailed from Bethsaida in Galilee. They might have traveled from the Decapolis—an area of ten cities where Jesus had already performed many wonders, such as healing a deaf man, feeding four thousand, and casting out demons.
Jesus knew that the religious establishment would officially reject Him in just a few days. From this point on, His ministry became localized, focused on preparing His Apostles for His coming death. Yet, these seeking Gentiles pointed to a future time when believers would be scattered and the Gospel would spread across the known world to all nations.
This world has a powerful draw. The bright lights and the things of this world tell us a lie: that happiness is found in satisfying every whim. But the things that pull us away from God eventually capture us and make us slaves. Paul gives us the list in Galatians: sexual immorality, idolatry, hatred, selfish ambitions, and jealousy. These are the bricks used to build a path away from Heaven. People become deceived by their own vices.
The pull is great, and overcoming it requires more than just willpower. It takes believing in Jesus, possessing the Holy Spirit, and making a conscious choice to follow the Spirit. The Spirit gives us the power to deny the world. We are told to take on the full armor of God. This means praying for strength before the temptation even arrives and staying in the Word.
The actions of those around us are contagious. There is a saying: If you keep going to the barber shop, you will eventually get a haircut. If we stay in environments that tempt us, we will eventually fall. By removing ourselves from people and places that pull us down and instead hanging out with those who share the light of Christ, we find strength. Do you have a pastor or a healthy friend in the Lord you can confide in?
The rewards of following the Lord are massive, both in this life and the next. In the same chapter of Galatians, we see what following Jesus produces: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is the “much fruit” Jesus spoke of. When we let our selfish desires “fall to the ground and die,” we aren’t losing anything of value—we are making room for a Kingdom that breathes these beautiful things every single day.
Reflection Questions
- Are there places you are going or people you are spending time with that make it inevitable that you will “get a haircut” (fall into old habits)? Where can you go this week to be around “healthy Christians” instead?
- Jesus says we must “die” to our old life to produce fruit. What is one specific “work of the flesh” (like an outburst of anger or a selfish ambition) that you need to let fall to the ground and die today?
- Do you find yourself trying to be “good” on your own power, or are you actively praying for the Holy Spirit to give you the power to deny the world’s draw?
Prayer
Father,
We thank You that Your Kingdom is open to everyone who seeks You. Help us to recognize the lies of this world that try to make us slaves to our own desires. Give us the courage to walk away from the “barber shops” of temptation and the humility to lean on our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let the old self die so that Your Spirit can produce the fruit of love, joy, and peace in our lives.
Amen.
