John 12:27-36

John 12:27-36 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  The older I get, the more empathy I have for the people who were trying to follow Jesus.  It was hard, right -- they had this fixed vision in their heads of what the Messiah was supposed to be like, and then Jesus shows up and is different from that, and they get confused when he talks about his death, because they're anticipating that the Messiah will live and reign forever.  The darkness is closing in, Jesus is the light, and the people don't understand how to take the next step.
  The Good News of Christianity is that you and I don't have to have every single answer figured out.  We aren't taking a test to see if we qualify to be Christians.  No -- we fix our eyes upon Jesus, understanding that the cross and empty tomb have already occurred, and we trust that Jesus has done everything that needs to be done.  What is left for us is to follow, to try and figure out the next step, and to rest in the quiet confidence that comes with having an eternal salvation secured and a Savior who is stronger than anything else in this world.