Cancer is a brutal path. For me, every step of treatment involved unspeakable suffering.
The long-term damage to my body, the chronic pain. I don’t have words. One day I will. But for now, I’m still taking it one day at a time.
But today, I want to introduce you to a friend who brings me great joy and companionship, Michele Cushatt.
You may have heard her voice, her story as co-host of Michael Hyatt’s This is Your Life podcast or a speaker at many large conferences. She, too, has fought a brutal battle with cancer, and learned much about what it means to relinquish control.
Her discoveries aren’t just true when it comes to health, but work and live and parenting.
As we dive into the #LentChallenge of #Beloved in John 12:12-50 for today’s reading, allow Michelle’s words and insights to wash over you.
Here’s Michelle:
“We call her Peanut. A term of endearment and evidence of her small stature. She’s a tiny slip of a girl, much smaller than the other ten-year-olds she calls her friends.
Don’t let her size fool you, however.
She’s also a pistol. Full of spit and fire and blessed with an unyielding will. She bosses anything that breathes and assumes control of whatever room she enters.
Including mine. At least, she gives it a solid try.
“Peanut, I need you to go pick up your room, please.”
“No,” she shrugs, continuing to play.
“You also need to finish your homework before you go outside.”
“I don’t want to,” she announces as she marches out the front door.
I haul her stubborn self back inside, of course, along with her stomping feet. She’s met her match in me.
I’m equally independent, with an added three decades of practice. Let’s just say I’ve honed the craft.
And I’m not going to let a fifty-pound peanut hijack my well-ordered house. No matter her spit and fire.
One of the greatest gifts my dad gave me was a sense of independence and a strong work ethic.
Dad forced me to stand on my own and take responsibility for my life. At times, these were hard lessons for a small girl to learn.
As a woman, however, I understood their value. These skills serve me well to this day.
But independence also fostered something less attractive: stubborn pride.
A determination to take control.
To keep all details and decisions about my life and relationships squarely in the palms of my own two hands.
Our current culture would probably applaud my vigorous independence and personal achievement.
But travel back a couple thousand years, and Jesus spoke a different word about the true path to success.
In John 12, we witness three key scenes: A dinner party, a kingly procession, and a death conversation.
It begins with a dinner party given by Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Jesus’ honor. The next day, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey to the cheers those hoping for a glimpse of their king.
The atmosphere is festive, celebratory, and full of excitement and anticipation.
Then, just about the time you think the disco ball is going to drop, Jesus interrupts the mood:
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” —John 12:24-25
What? This was not party talk. They’d just enjoyed a dinner party and parade.
Why did Jesus ruin it with his morbidity? Dead seeds? Hating life?
It didn’t make sense.
To many, it still doesn’t make sense.
We live in a world that values upward movement, constant productivity, outward displays of power and control.
We equate work with worth, success with significance.
If we want to be valued, we need to climb ladders, win power struggles, prove our ability to take charge, demand recognition.
Yet, in the midst of parties and parades, Jesus pushed back. And instead of cultivating fans, He readily turned toward death.
Unless a seed dies, it remains only a single seed.
Anyone who loves their life will lose it.
Both Mark 8:35 and Luke 9:24 record Jesus saying similar words. He begins his teaching in the context of His death. But then He turns the lesson to his disciples. To you. To me. He set the example, but He expected us to follow.
Unless a seed dies, it remains only a single seed.
Anyone who loves their life will lose it.
Simply, Jesus urged us to relinquish control. To let go. To resist all the world’s promises of fulfillment and instead find the secret to real and lasting life:
To Die.
Jesus’ words push hard against the swift and strong current of our wills and our culture, yesterday and today.
We are, in fact, proud. Independent. Determined to control our days and destinies.
Only we can’t. Jesus knew this. Sooner or later this truth becomes harsh reality.
Often it takes a tragedy or hardship we couldn’t predict or prevent to finally recognize the foolishness of our ladder climbing.
When the doctor calls with bad news.
When our child gets kicked out of school.
When, despite our excellent money management, the housing market collapses and we’re left with nothing.
What value is our pride and independence then?
Unless a seed dies, it remains only a single seed.
Anyone who loves their life will lose it.
The next time we’re tempted to lift our chin and march out the front door to take control of this one short life, let’s reconsider.
Rather than living to die, let’s die to live.
We have a God whose wisdom has no limits and whose love knows no end.
He has promised to lead us into a life we can’t imagine.
We can do it our way, with our peanut-sized perspective, or we can do it His, with His eternal one.
What did you least want to read but most need to hear in today’s reading?
(If you have any questions post them below. We’ll be collecting and gathering responses for insight from New Testament scholar, Craig Blomberg in the upcoming weeks).
Day 23: John 12:12-50 Discussion Questions:
- In what area of your life are you challenged to die to live right now?
- How does Jesus pave the path for you to die to live? What comfort do you find in knowing he knows the path of suffering?
- What practical steps can you take to relinquish the thing you least want to give up?
- Using the Color Method, what stood out to you most from today’s reading?
- What do you find most challenging about today’s reading? What do you find most comforting about today’s reading?
Recommended Resources:
Poets & Saints by All Sons and Daughters
Day 1 | John 1:1-18 | Ash Wednesday: Your Invitation to Discover the Beloved
Day 2 | John 1:19-34 | This One Question Will Leave You Undone
Day 3 | John 1: 35-51 | What to Tell Your Children Before It’s Too Late
Day 4 | John 2:1-12 | The Shocking Miracle of Water Becoming Wine
Day 7 | John 3:22-36 | There’s a Hidden Slip N’ Slide in the Bible — I Found It!
Day 9 | John 5:1-17 | How to Overcome Jealousy
Day 12 | John 6:15-35 | What to Do When You Doubt God
Day 14 | John 7:1-39 | What’s the Difference Between Dead and Living Water?
Day 16 | John 8:1-1 | You Stumped Me… Again
Day 17 | John 8:12-59 | 7 Surprises in the Gospel of John
Day 18 | John 9 | What does spiritual blindness really cost you?
Day 22 | John 12:1-11 | What’s Your Signature Spiritual Scent?
Day 23 | John 12:12-50 | Here is a Method That is Helping Me Relinquish Control
Day 25 | John 15:1-11 | What Does a Vinter See in John 15?
Day 29 | John 16:1-15 | Little Known Ways to Be of Good Cheer
Day 31 | John 17 | The Truth About Soul Talk
Day 33 | John 18:12-40 | Was it Judas or Satan Working through Judas?
Day 35 | John 19:16-30 | What’s a Woman’s Role?
Day 39 | John 21:1-14 | Why is the Weight of the Wait So Heavy on Good Friday?
Day 40 | John 21:15-25 | The Most Powerful Lesson I Learned During Lent
“The next time we’re tempted to lift our chin and march out the front door to take control of this one short life, let’s reconsider.
Rather than living to die, let’s die to live. We have a God whose wisdom has no limits and whose love knows no end. He has promised to lead us into a life we can’t imagine. We can do it our way, with our peanut-sized perspective, or we can do it His, with His eternal one.”
Aside from every word written representing the neon sign message God is pressing into my heart this Lent, the above excerpt left me quite a visual to remember. Seems I have been walking through life since my three kids left the nest with a more desperate mindset for control than ever before. Little kids, little problems and big kids, big problems is the real deal. But your words helped me see a somewhat different perspective about the absurdity of what I’ve been trying to do: walk around each day with my chin in the air “trying to keep a peanut balanced on my nose.” I’m exhausting myself with the constant effort of trying to prevent the peanut from falling off. Meanwhile, since my eyes are always looking down at it, I miss what God is doing around me to show his wisdom has no limits nad love has no ends. Thank you, Michele. Prayers and blessings for you going forward.
Such deep self-awareness and wisdom, Shelby. I admire you. And I relate to your words. I have three grown boys (20, 23, 25) and three little ones (10, 10, 10). And it’s amazing how those big kids can come with big (and agonizing) reasons to worry and attempt control. I have to remind myself daily that I can trust the sovereignty and character of God. With you, friend.
Thank you for your honest reflection, Shelby! Prayers that you start seeing what God is doing in and through you. Hugs!
What is really meant by ‘die to live’? Is it dying to your old self, your old life? Like pruning the dead & unhealthy parts of a plant or tree to help the healthy parts stay healthy?
After facing cancer three times, I came to the stark realization of humanity’s (and my) obsession with control. We have such a will to live, to preserve and orchestrate our own lives! This has its benefits, but it also has a dark side … an obsessive side. The illusion of control can easily consume us, and will eventually destroy us one way or the other. But when we die to our need to be in charge—when we relinquish our authority and trust God’s sovereignty—that’s when we finally find true and lasting life. FREEDOM. And with it the kind of joy only experienced when we can savor today without the need to control or worry about tomorrow. Hope this helps, Liz!
God opened my eyes today. He showed me my bottom line issue. It’s all about my 2-gauge-steel-strong-willed control. And He showed me what true submission really looks like– it’s the surrender of Jesus’s will to the Father. I think my submission issues are really love issues, when I get down to it. Oh, how I want to love Him more than I love myself! I am praying that He’ll dig out His chisel, and start carving away the 2-gauge steel that surrounds my heart.
Again, I thank you, Margaret, for your obedience to His direction in your life. I am truly the beneficiary. I can feel my hear softening as I write. God is SO good.
Praying you continue to see how much He loves you, Candi! Hugs!
In my opinion to die to live must mean when you die, you will have a new spirit. He wants me to reach out in love to others by the Holy Spirit. Without that, I would be lonely. I know what path he has for me. It’s finding the right one so that when we make those decisions he will lead us the way to his Kingdom. There is only one way. The least thing I want to give up is my family cuz I care for them alot and don’t want to miss out on the great adventures!
Love that you’re engaging so much with the study, Nicole! Hugs!