John 12:25 The cost of presence_

Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John‬ ‭12:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Hate your life” is a strong statement. Jesus didn’t say ignore it, dislike it, or have an aversion for it – rather, he said to hate it. Hate is a powerful word. It implies action. When you dislike something, you simply avoid it. When you hate something, you take steps to resolve it. Our soul and the trappings of our fallen nature will constantly shout at us while we are in this body. Even without a fallen nature, Christ was tempted by Satan right up to the end. Will I have any less of a struggle? The new birth has two requisite elements: water and spirit. Without water, or death, there is no room for the Spirit, or life. For men who have known nothing else but living under the fountain of the soul, once having received the Spirit-birth, the temptation is very strong to revert and offer the soul a place of preeminence. It’s natural. It’s what we have known. God originally designed our soul to grow and flourish, right along with my spirit which is interfacing with my Father, in order that we enjoy this life and all that is in it. But since sin entered the world our adversary now has a stake in the game (his food is to eat “dust” all the days of his life) the “Spirit connection” was broken and the path forward has been redirected through death. My mind must be renewed to a new way of viewing life – my life, and my death.

But death is not the goal, Spirit inhabitation is. In the context, Jesus is responding to the request of the Greeks wanting an audience with him. As admirable as their efforts are, there was a higher mission and purpose at play in this moment of the story. The lamb sacrifice was just about to be offered. Soon, the door would swing wide open for sons to occupy a place in heaven along with Christ allowing me to experience the goodness and the presence of God, just like he did. While in the flesh, Christ’s physical presence was limited to his body. It was not possible to duplicate his spiritual DNA and the presence of God he enabled to be in man while he was in his body. But the seed he was sowing would be in the hearts of men. It was coming! The presence of God would dwell in redeemed man… me, us, and continue to be demonstrated on earth. The closeness and unity with the Father would be manifest in similar signs as well as Jesus said in John 14. Jesus made the point: even greater signs. Meaning greater unity. Man would continue to be the extension of God on earth through Christ, and through the body of Christ.

“Hating my life” is making room for his Spirit and presence. It’s not a flesh-gratifying activity of self-flagellation, theatric humility, or even self-hate (for the one Jesus loves!)

The greek word for “life” according to Strong is: From psucho meaning breath (a) the vital breath, breath of life, (b) the human soul, (c) the soul as the seat of affections and will, (d) the self, (e) a human person, an individual. breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (distinguished from pneuma which is the rational and immortal soul.

The character of the soul can take many forms and in sum it is who I am by my outward expression: my love of hiking, skiing, my spouse, my expression in song, or in writing (even these words). As fun and important as these things are, my value of them should be nothing compared to his kingdom come. I yield the satisfaction, the requirement, the “right” of self-expression, self-pursuit, being known and understood, to something else. His presence. My essential person is still in tact. I will always like adventure, be averse to ambiguity, love creativity, enjoy stringed instruments, relish the sunrise, bask in the warmth on my face in summer – but these things pale in light of what is available and more expedient for sons of the kingdom now. For me, I would exchange them in a moment for the kingdom he offers me.

Living while dying is a challenge. Wouldn’t it be easier to simply die? But he asks me something more difficult. Count myself as dead, even while living, so that life from God may invade the dead places and from it spring fountains for life in the sons of the dying and dead.

The goal is not death or simply hating my life, it is to make room for God’s Spirit and his expression, which is much more valuable than my human expression.

The goal is inhabitation.

Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. Isaiah‬ ‭66:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Personally, There is a pull on me to succeed in this world. To profit, excel, have a good reputation, make a good showing. There are many things in this life to love (Phileo, have an affection for), yet inevitably, these affections position me among men. Above men. They justify me. Make me better. It is, in a word, pride. There is a comparison which takes place in my mind and judgment: am I better or worse than what I see? For me, hating my life means looking at another and recognizing the value that Christ places in them, no matter what condition I find in the person. Period.

In other places in the gospels, Jesus spoke about the need for us to count the cost, pick up your cross daily, deny yourself, be willing to hate those whose relationships have been for me the most grounding (our parents, spouse, children, and siblings), and give up our possessions. If a part of our body offends us, cut it off. All of these represent the strongest connections our soul has to this present life. And by comparison, our value of the kingdom and our love for God should be preeminent.

Following him costs us everything. And in the appropriate time, all things that belong to him are given to us.

It’s not a one-time decision, but daily, while in this body, in this life, my attention must be toward his kingdom. His Spirit. Death and hatred of my souls’ preferences and the sacrifice Christ asks of me seems so bleak. But it’s not. It’s a joyful thing. It’s the trading of an old, worn garment for a new one. As I make room for his Spirit I discover the glory of his kingdom. What an incredible promise to me!

The Water Song
Come, oh come! let us away–
Lower, lower every day,
Oh, what joy it is to race
Down to find the lowest place.
This the dearest law we know–
“It is happy to go low.”
Sweetest urge and sweetest will,
“Let us go down lower still.”
Hear the summons night and day
Calling us to come away.
From the heights we leap and flow
To the valleys down below.
Always answering to the call,
To the lowest place of all.
Sweetest urge and sweetest pain,
To go low and rise again.
by Hannah Hurnard from Hinds’ Feet on High Places.