John 12:34

The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

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The crowd was not citing any one specific passage but rather a common understanding across Hebrew Scripture that the Messiah would live forever (e.g., II Samuel 7:13; Psalm 89:4; 110:4; Isaiah 9:7; Ezekiel 37:25; Daniel 2:44). This understanding seemed contrary to the idea of their Messiah dying on a cross. For this reason, Paul described the image of the crucified Christ as a “stumblingblock” for the Jews (I Corinthians 1:23). Because the crowd in John 12 could not fathom their Messiah dying, they began to question Jesus’ identity, despite hearing a voice from Heaven affirm Jesus just a few verses earlier (John 12:28–29).

Hans Christian Anderson told a famous story of an ugly duckling. A duck hatched a group of eggs, including one large, unattractive duckling. The ugly duckling endured much abuse at the beaks of his brothers and sisters and finally ran away to face the world on his own. The story shows the duckling enduring hardship after hardship until one day he was grown and the truth became obvious. He didn’t look like or fit in with his siblings because he was never a duckling at all; he was a swan all along.

Jesus’ identity was questioned constantly. He never quite fit into the mold people imagined would befit the Messiah. We all know the end of the story: He was Kings of kings, regardless. Your circumstances may not currently match the promises of God on your life. That’s okay. Just be faithful and wait for the end He intends.

That concludes our devotional for today. Let us finish with a word of prayer. 

WORD OF PRAYER

Jesus, I thank You for Your example, You stayed true to Your mission despite being misunderstood and questioned. Help me to trust in Your promises, even when my current circumstances don’t seem to match them. Teach me to remain faithful and patient, knowing that You are always working out Your plan for my life. Lord, give me the strength to trust in Your timing and the assurance that You will bring Your promises to pass in my life. May I walk in faith, confident in who You have called me to be. 

In the name of Jesus, amen.