Jesus Cried Out (John 12:44)

 


Saturday, August 9, 2025


Psalm 89:39-53

2 Samuel 16:20-17:14

John 12:36b-50


Observance: Mary Sumner, founder of the Mothers’ Union (d. 1921)


Jesus Cried Out (John 12:44)


And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.”


Against the backdrop of the prophet’s call of hard hearts and stubborn wills, Jesus cries out to the world. He knows the terrible difficulty of his mission, to bring people out of the darkness into the light of his kingdom. And yet he still cries out. Our Lord wants only one thing: for humanity to come into loving fellowship with their Father.


All of his life boils down to this one thing; even calling for people to believe in him is only so that people will believe in he who sent him. Jesus knows the love of the Father for humanity, and he cried out to the world about this love.


Our Father is not a stern taskmaster; he is not a mean overlord or tyrant demanding people bow and scrape to serve his own self-worth. He is our loving Father, and he sent his only begotten Son, the beloved, to draw people towards him in love. Jesus, filled with that love, cried out.


Jesus cries out for all to hear; are we listening? Do we hear with what passion he cries out? Are we aware, at least a little, of the great love Jesus has, because of the great love of the Father he has had first-hand experience of?


Christ our Prophet, who cries out to the world of the love of God: melt our hearts with that same love, that we may see you as you are, and love you as we ought.

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