Readings:
Amos 6-9
John 12:20-50

Amos 6-9

Amos continues his prophesies against Israel and even includes Jerusalem in this one. He tells them that the well to do, and leading families of these kingdoms, they’ll be the first to suffer from the coming judgment because they’re so aloof about the problems currently plaguing the common people. They feel insulted from famine and disease, but that time of comfort and security is quickly coming to a close.

At the end of these first prophetic words, he closes with an oracle that Jeroboam will die by the sword, and this is taken back to the king. It’s twisted a little in that it’s said that Amos is conspiring against the king and saying he will die by the sword, but Amos isn’t actually conspiring against anyone, he’s just saying what God tells him to say. The king apparently doesn’t believe he’s conspiring, but also doesn’t want to hear these gloomy prophecies either, so he basically begs Amos to go back to his own land. Amos replies with what is essentially “I’d rather be at home, or anywhere but here, but i was tasked by God with this job and I have to speak what he tells me to.”

Because the priest of Jeroboam spoke out against Amos he gets a personalized message from God that his children will die by the sword just like the king, his wife will be a harlot and he himself will die in exile.

Despite all the doom prophecied in the book of Amos, it does end on a positive note. God will not utterly destroy Israel and he will eventually bring back a remnant from among the nations to rebuild the land and cities.

John 12:20-50

Some Greeks come and seek an audience with Jesus, this is in anticipation of the gospel drawing all nations to him. He then foretells his death and how it will be the defeat of satan, who has been the ruler of this world since the fall of Adam.

John closes out this chapter with a summary of some of the teachings of Jesus and an editorial note in the narrative that many believed but more than them disbelieved because of the hardness of their hearts. Also many believed but were afraid of the Pharisees so they hid their true feelings. This might be the case for Joseph of Arimathea, who buried the Lord and was a secret follower up until that time.

The reason we have what feels like an ending that’s tying up loose ends is that this part of John is ending. We’re now going to transition into the section of the book that focuses less on teachings of Christ and miracles he performs, and goes into the passion of our Lord.

Tomorrow’s Readings:
Hosea 1-3
John 13