In this week's text, Jesus tells us that his soul is troubled, but instead of stopping there, he doubles down on his relationship with God—"Father, glorify your name." Megan invites us to test and try this text to see if it can actually stand up under the hardest stuff we face as God's sons and daughters. If Jesus is who he says he is and God loves us like he says he does, then we must contend with our own responses to God when we encounter trouble of various kinds. Does it look like Jesus' response?

Let's study together.

Grow Together

Read this from the Bible together:‍

John 12:27-28

27 “Now my soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

Some key statements and questions put forward that are important for us to talk about…‍

"Now my soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save me from this hour?" Jesus shows his cards. He expresses the condition of his heart in this moment. In this statement, Jesus assigns a personal cost to following God's plan for his life. Have you been tempted to believe that following God should feel good if you're doing the right things? Why does personal cost honor God in your commitment to him?

What should I say—Father, save me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. Jesus mentions "this hour" back to back. The first time he asks God to save him from it. The second time he submits to God's glory in it. Why do you think some of the most trying and difficult hours in our lives also hold the most potential to glorify God and fulfill our purposes?

Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” What do you think of when you think of God's glory? Have you ever been in such a trying time that God's glory doesn't seem worth it? What might that reveal about your relationship with God?

Next Steps

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"Jesus showed his cards, bet big, and made it rain down with God's presence. Where do you need to do the same?" Jesus invites us to be honest with God, bet on him with our entire lives, and have great expectancy that he will show up in ways we don't expect when we do. Which part of the way Jesus interacted with his dad reveals the most about where you need to grow: showing your cards, betting big, or expecting his presence to show up?

“'God isn’t interested in getting you to a better destination—he is wildly committed to getting you home." Are there parts of your life where you are asking God for a better destination instead of believing that he is getting you ready for eternity? Why do you think its so easy to want the better part now instead of later?

‍"A story built on comfort, on predictability, and on self-glorification isn’t a story. It's an opening scene. God wants more for you than an opening scene life." Where are you comfortable in your life? Can you pin point an area of your life that hasn't progressed since your "opening scene", when you first met Jesus? What do you need to leave behind in this season that can help you opt into the great adventure God has planned?

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