DCLM Daily Manna 2025: DCLM Daily Manna 13 June 2025: His Voice From Heaven
Text: John 12:27-50 (KJV)
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:
“Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”
41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
KEY VERSE: (John 12:44,45). Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
The Ministry 127 website features a story about artist Paul Gustave Dore, who lost his passport while traveling in Europe. At a border crossing, he was recognised by a guard who asked him to sketch peasants. Dore’s skilful and quick work convinced the guard, and his work confirmed his identity.
In today’s passage, amidst the antagonism of the religious bigots who perpetually refuted the authority of Christ, the Father spoke from heaven and confirmed His claims. Christ needed no authentication of His claims by men or angels. He had been with the Father from the beginning of creation, being the second person in the Trinity. Therefore, the voice that spoke was meant to convince the gainsayers that Christ was and is Lord indeed. He is the expected Christ, the Messiah, the Light of the world, and the One that must be lifted for the redemption of humanity. The unprecedented manifestations of God’s power and glory through Christ should have been enough proof of His messiahship, but the Jews sought a sign.
The Scriptures warn against the danger of rejecting God’s words and counsel. It is evidence of spiritual blindness, ignorance, and unbelief. The convincing and convicting power of the Holy Ghost will be lost, and one becomes a reprobate. Like the Jews, many refuse to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour today. Because they are deceived, they hold onto traditions and stereotypes about the Redeemer of humanity. Others are defiant because of their religious, ethnic, and political affiliations. Over time, they become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. The implication of such decisions is that they lose out here and miss the eternal life God offers us all genuine seekers.
The same Jesus rejected by the Jews and Gentiles today will ultimately be the Judge of the whole world. God’s love and salvation by grace is for all. However, He never forces anyone to accept His provision. As free moral agents, the onus is on us to accept or reject His offer of eternal life through faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Like Gustave, the renowned artist, Christ still confirms His lordship and messiahship today through countless signs and wonders. Open your eyes and see the signs written all over the universe to confirm His word.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Seek the Saviour, not the signs!
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 19-20
Daily Manna 13 June 2025
