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John 12:27-36
Sermon at Evensong last night:
Gospel : John 12:27-36
Remember the 17th/21st Lancers, the Death-or-Glory boys? Their cap badge is a
grinning skull, with the motto "OR GLORY" underneath. Jesus is our Death AND
Glory Boy.
1. GLORY IS IMPLICIT IN CHRIST'S CROSS 27-30
Save me from this hour? No - only this way can the Father glorify Himself.
Compare the Battle of Britain, "their finest hour". "Never, in the field of
human conflict, has so much been owed by so many to so few" (Winston S
Churchill). Not to the Few here; but by the many to the One (Romans 5:17-19).
a. I have glorified My name.
There were thunders on Mount Sinai when Moses saw God's glory. Elijah saw
God's glory (1 Kings 19:11-12); Isaiah saw God's glory (Isaiah 6:1-8); cf v
31. Thunder is the voice of God in Psalm 29. Jesus said it was a Voice, not a
noise (30).
b. I will glorify it again.
There was darkness over Calvary from the 6th hour to the 9th hour. Then a
thunderbolt rent the Temple veil from top to bottom. Now we all have access to
the Holy of Holies "through the Veil" (Hebrews 10:20).
2. JUDGMENT IS EXPLICIT IN CHRIST'S CROSS 31-32
a. The Execution of Sentence. 31a
'Judgment' (Gk KRISIS; Heb Mi$:PaT) is the Verdict handed down; the Sentence
pronounced. God condemns our sin in the Person of His beloved Son, in our
place. He must suffer, that we might be saved.
b. The Expulsion of Satan. 31b
The prince of this world, the old serpent of Eden, is judged. When Christ
returns to reign, Satan will be cast out into the bottomless pit; and finally
into the Lake of Fire with the Beast and the False Prophet. Christ is the
rightful King of the Universe. "For he must reign, till he hath put all
enemies under his feet" (1 Corinthians 15:25).
c. The Exaltation of Christ. 32
"As Moses lifted up the serpent..." (John 3:14a; Numbers 21:4-9). There was
Life for a Look then; even so now. "And I, when I am lifted up (hUYSOW) from
the earth, will draw all men to Myself". Now He is very highly exalted
(hUPERUYOW), so that "at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father"
(Philippians 2:9-10). The world said "Crucify him!"; God said "Highly exalt
him!".
His Death and Resurrection has led to God's Glory and ours. Death AND Glory!
___________________________________________________________________________
In Christ,
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
