Today’s reading reminds us that we are closing in on the events of the Passion that we will remember more closely over the next couple of weeks. Although the Gospel of John appears to have Jesus in and around Jerusalem quite often, the events described in this week’s reading take place in the preparation for Passover, immediately before the final days leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is a fitting culmination to the Sunday gospels of Lent and prepares us for the account of the Passion that will be the gospel next week.

In the gospel Jesus says, ‘Anyone who loves (their) life loses it; anyone who hates (their) life in this world will keep it for eternal life.’ This can seem pretty tough! It challenges us about how much we cling to the ‘things’ of this life. Are we concerned about the labels on our clothes; the number of our friends; how much money we have; the sort of house we live in? If this is the ‘life’ that we place meaning on, then we will surely lose it. However, if we put aside the world’s focus on material things and focus our attention on others then we are assured of eternal life. 

Jesus said the ones who serve would follow him and the ones who would lose their lives would live forever. What does it mean to follow Jesus?