3/17/10 John 12 - I was late with the post and had a connection issue.
The Hour Has Come
(Jn 12:23)23And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
John presents his gospel account with one thing very much in mind; Jesus is on a divine timetable concerning His purpose to glorify God the Father. Back in John 2 Jesus responds to his mother at the wedding in Cana with “My hour has not yet come.” In John 4 Jesus tells the woman at the well that an hour is coming when worship will not be limited by place or be demonstrated as outward actions. He indicates that hour has arrived. In John 5 Jesus is teaching the Jews about an hour which is coming when the dead will rise again when they hear his voice. John also states that Jesus hour had not come when His enemies were attempting to seize Him in John 7 and 8.
Now in John 12 the hour has come for Jesus to prepare for His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man the majority of the time. When this title is used in the gospel of John it is used connection with His authority of future things, and anticipating His death and suffering.
Jesus is anticipating that His work on earth is nearly done and then He will be glorified by the Father, because He has faithfully and perfectly carried out the work that He was sent to do. In the next chapter Jesus says that He is glorified after the departure of Judas from the last supper, because the divine timetable is right on time. Jesus knows His time to bear the sins of the world is now just hours away (John 13:30-31). It can be thought of as the final minutes of a game when the one team has such a substantial lead that there is no way the other team could come from behind and win. Jesus at this point anticipates the Father’s glorification and thus His own glorification.
Today look past the suffering that you may be enduring at the moment and look to Jesus for your comfort, strength, and encouragement. Jesus is our example as He kept the end goal in view and that was to glorify His Father in heaven and thus be glorified Himself. The same is for us, set your mind on the goal finishing your work for the Father faithfully.
(Ro 8:16-18)16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. 18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Believers and followers of Jesus Christ can anticipate an hour that will come when we too will be glorified. Since Jesus has overcome sin, death, and the grave, our hope is found in Jesus who has been glorified by the Father. Since Jesus has been glorified we to look forward when we will hear His voice call for His own to received their glorification (John 5:25, 28-29).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I look to you in the midst of my suffering during this earthly trek. I praise You that you have been glorified in Jesus Christ. I praise Jesus for taking my deserved suffering for my sins against You Father. I look forward to the eternal joy that will be for all the children of God when they received their glorified bodies. No one but you can provide a glorified body to mere men, but Your great and awesome power makes You unique in your ability to do the miraculous. I thank Jesus who has made it possible. Praise Him. Praise Him. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in Jesus perfect name. Amen.