Jesus Christ, to Him belongs all the Glory

Jesus Christ, to Him belongs all the Glory

John 12:27-36

1.      Jesus is glorified by the salvation of all people

Jesus came to save sinners and so all He did was in light of this purpose. Whenever we read the Gospels we are always to ask ourselves how does what Jesus does accomplish this purpose. As you all know He did not come to save the Jews only but also Gentiles. In this passage the salvation of the Gentiles is considered in that they came to seek Jesus. They had not only come to worship at the temple, but particularly to seek Jesus.

The Gentiles were in the plan of God of salvation. This was the promise God made to Abraham – I will make you a father of many nations. Therefore, James quoted the words of the prophet Amos, “… that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all Gentiles who are called by name,” (Acts 15:17). The point is that even the Gentiles were saved both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. People like Rahab of Jericho, Ruth the Moabitess, Uriah the Hittite and many others were all added in the plan of God of salvation.

These Gentiles’ coming to Jesus was very important for Him because this is what prompted Him to say, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” God is glorified when men are saved from their sins. He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1Tim. 2:4).

He was going to draw “all people” to Himself upon His being lifted up because He does not delight in the death of sinners. What a joy it is for us to know that we have been drawn to Jesus not by men or anything but by Himself. No one would be saved who is not drawn by Christ Himself to the life everlasting. He is the only giver of life and ALL who are drawn by Him are indeed saved from their sins.

Our task is to talk about Christ – the Saviour, who is willing and able to save all who draw near to Him by faith. Our responsibility is to point people to Him and He will be the One to draw them to Himself. We are not to draw them because we cannot; we are expected to point them to Jesus the Saviour by bringing them to the knowledge of Him through the gospel. So are you sharing the gospel with someone – children, husband, relative, friend? Do not be those who discard friends, always seek to make them know that there is a Saviour. You might not be able to explain very well – although you should. Then you can give them literature; make use of our audio sermons and video sermons. Pass them on to your friends. Give them tracts and engage them in discussions to do with all these literature… and Christ will be much glorified when they repent and put their trust in Him.

2.      Jesus had to be glorified through death

The hour had come for Jesus to be glorified, by the ingathering of the Gentiles to His covenant people. Moreover, the hour of His glory was in His taking a substitutionary role in dying on their behalf. The hour for the Son of Man to be glorified was in His taking the place of sinners on the accursed tree, to take away the wrath of God, to pay the penalty on their behalf, to be their Saviour. This would bring glory not only from sinners saved but also from God whose wrath would be appeased.

The glory from men is explained in the illustration of the parable of the grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying so that it does not remain alone but bears much fruit to produce much more. Jesus then was the only SON of God, but by His death, He brought many to God as SONS of God, He being the first-fruit among many brethren. Initially the promise to Abraham was to His seed but upon the death of Christ the seed would produce much more. He had to lose His life that He may find many more lives.

How much glory should we yield to Christ who has saved us so freely? How can we not sing, worthy is the Lamb who was slain together with the heavenly hosts? This is what we will forever sing in heaven, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." (Rev. 5:9-10) and again, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" (Rev. 5:12) and again, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" (Rev. 5:13).

Jesus was not going to run away from this hour of anguish and of pain. It was a terrible time for Christ, but He was not going to say, 'Father, save me from this hour'? Because, He had come particularly for this purpose I have come to this hour. (v. 27). He well knew why He had come – to die upon the tree and pay the ransom for His people, those who the Lord had placed in His hand, no one was he going to lose. “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. (John 6:38-39)

We are to sing praises to Him for He has saved us eternally and after all this is what we will do forever. Moreover, glory to the Son is living a life worthy of him – in obedient submission to Him. We are to have Him as the Lord and Master of our lives. We are to lives holy lives that are pleasing to Him so that others who say us may glorify Him who has saved us. We are to be willing to lose our lives for Him – yes it is denying ourselves, it is serving Him in word, in deed and with our resources.

We are told “Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. You have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." (vv. 35, 36) The word walk simply means ‘live’. This is what we were reminded last Sunday – to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love (Eph 4:1-2). Are we being the fruit of the Spirit? Are we always be fruitful just as our Lord was fruitful after His death, producing many sons of God after Him. We are also to show that we are the children of the light by our lives shining and being the salt of the world.

Let all that is within us praise Him for He has saved. How can we forget the benefits that we have received from Him? He demonstrated His great love for us in that while we were still sinners, He died for us!

3.      Jesus was glorified by the Father

The coming of Christ to save sinners was the will of God and so when we talk about the cross, we are talking about the will of God in our lives that might not necessarily be pleasant to us. Jesus came to do the will of God and He said that His food was to do the will of Him who sent Him and to accomplish his work.

For this reason, we see God on three occasions publically declaring His approval and the glory of His Son who obeyed Him to the point of death, even death on the cross! "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matt. 3:17). And again, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." (Matt 17:5).

The death of the Son was at hand (from here onwards in the gospel of John, it will be all in preparation for His death in Jerusalem). and so it was the time to say that so far, “I have glorified” His name. Please note that the Name of the Father is also the Name of the Son, for we are to baptize them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Jesus had come to glorify this NAME by His death upon the tree.

Because of His death, the devil, described as the ruler of this world was ultimately defeated – ‘He was cast out.’ Our task, thankfully is not to defeat the devil – he is defeated already by the Strong Man, Jesus Christ. ours is to rejoice with joy inexpressible for the redemption we have obtained from Christ, the Saviour. Thank God the devil is defeated – “and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”(Rev 20:10). The glory of the Son is that He ransomed all the elect of God and defeated all the enemies of God.

All these are for our benefit and so we are to live this life as those who have God to worship, hope of eternal life with Him and an inheritance incorruptible, that which does not fade away reserved in heaven for us who believe because of the promise, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1-3)