Friday, May 03, 2019

2019.05.03 Hopewell @Home ▫ John 12:17-23

Questions for Littles: Who bore witness to Christ in John 12:17? What did this cause people to do in John 12:18? Who are speaking in John 12:19? To whom? What do they say about themselves? Whom do they say have gone after Christ? About whom does John 12:20 tell us? What had they come to the feast to do? To whom did they come in John 12:21? What did they ask him? Whom did Philip tell (John 12:22)? Whom did the two of them tell together? Who answered in John 12:23? What did He say had come?
Isn’t it interesting how quickly things can change? Our Lord knew this—especially of His own situation. Undoubtedly, He had seen this in the Psalms and learned it from Job and other parts of Scripture. Most of all, He knew that He had come to die.  He has just finished saying that Mary was anointing Him for His burial.

So, while the crowds swelled in number, and buzzed with the story of his raising Lazarus from the dead; and, while even Greeks now were wanting to see Him; and, while the Pharisees seemed to think they were losing any chance of putting Him to death; Jesus Himself is still focused upon His death.

It must have been shocking to Philip and Andrew. I know that it would have been to me. Finally, things seem to be looking up, and Jesus insists that He is about to die.

But the words with which He insists upon it are interesting, aren’t they? “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” There are other places where something like this is said using the term “lifted up.” That makes sense to talk about His death—lifted up on the cross.

But the term here is doxazo, related to our word, “doxology.” It means “to make or honor as gloriously great.” The buzzing of the crowds, and amazement at Him and popularity were nothing.

What would be truly glorious is when He is raised up on the cross, between Heaven and Earth, and displayed as the Son of God—equal in His sacrifice to all of the sins of all of His people against the glory of God.

What would be truly glorious is when He rose again from the dead, ascended into Heaven, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, and poured out His Holy Spirit upon His people. What would be truly glorious is when He began to draw all peoples to Himself.

The glory of Jesus is not a glory of what He can do for you in this life or how popular He can be. The glory of Jesus is the glory of God Himself who successfully redeems His people from the eternal Hell that they deserve, and into the eternal blessedness that belongs to Him.
How have you honored Jesus as God Himself? How have you recognized and responded to His glorious death, resurrection, ascension, session, and soon return?
Suggested songs: ARP24 “The Earth and the Riches” or TPH325 “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”

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