Glory is that which makes one impressive and worthy of recognition. Hebrews thought of this in terms of weight. One who was impressive because of wealth or position was said to be weighty and worthy of honor, and to honor someone was to weigh them down with gifts and praise. One glorified someone important by noting how worthy of glory that person was.
The week before Passover, as people from all over gathered in Jerusalem to prepare for the feast, rumors spread about this man Jesus who had done incredible things. A few Greeks, amazed by the stories, approached Philip for access to Jesus. Philip consulted with Andrew, and they two approached Jesus.
Jesus responded with a strange comment. “Now the time is here for the Son of Man to be glorified.” He said, “If I be lifted up [on the cross] I will draw all people to me.” Jesus went on to describe grains planted to die so that they could produce. He restated the paradox that one preserving his life would lose it, and one giving up his life would find it. He spoke of being troubled in spirit and asked should he be spared from the hardship ahead, concluding that it was his purpose to come to this time to glorify the Father. “Father,” he prayed, “be glorified.”
We don’t really know if those Greeks ever met Jesus.
At Passover Jesus sat with his disciples and described his coming death, burial, and resurrection. He explained why he must go, but they struggled to understand. He spoke of the Holy Spirit, through whom he would make himself known to them. He said the Holy Spirit would glorify him.
Then Jesus prayed. “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”
The paradox is that all this talk of glory, weight of importance and prestige, is leading to a humiliating crucifixion and agonizing death. In the Roman world the cross is the place reserved for those who go against government and culture. Every aspect of the experience was intended to humiliate. Stripped naked and carrying the cross through streets crowded with jeering, spitting rent-a-mobs. Ceremoniously having arms and legs nailed to it in a manner designed to bring the greatest pain and suffering. Slow, agonizing death by torture and suffocation. It was designed to be the ultimate form of humiliation.
Yet Jesus chose this method with which to be glorified. The Son of God, granted authority over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as God had given him, came to his glory “lifted up” on the Roman instrument of tortured degradation. Jesus provoked it. The Jews arranged it, and the Romans carried it out.
Yet it is there on the cross that Jesus came into his glory, sacrificed once and for all for the sins of mankind reaching back to Eden and for all time. Though reduced to a nothing in Jewish and Roman standards, he was lifted to the highest importance, sitting at the right hand of God.
Paul the apostle points out Jesus …
humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:8-11).
Jesus went on to the Father, reconciling the world to himself, leaving us in the place of glorifying him to others around us. We point to him, we represent him. We point to a cross that to the world is humiliation but for Jesus is the throne from which he rules our hearts.
We also are meant to follow him … to a cross. “Take up your cross,” Jesus said, “and follow me.” Paul told the ornery Corinthians, “I am determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Interpretation: Set aside everything you lust for and let me see you crucified with Jesus. He said later, “You are not your own, you are bought with a price. Glorify God in your bodies.”
It seems to glorify Jesus we go to a cross of our own. It may not be the instrument of Roman shame, manipulated by the Sanhedrin, but it is a cross where our own pursuits are laid aside and we choose self-sacrifice over self-exaltation.
Peter reminded his churches in Asia Minor, “Be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Glorify Jesus, by taking up a cross of humility and following him. Want to be great in the kingdom? Be servant of all.
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (BCP)
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