John 13:31-32

When therefore he [Judas] had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. NASB

 

Notes:

1. Jesus said this after Judas left.
2. What Jesus said
1. The Son of Man is now glorified
2. God is glorified in Him.
3. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify Him [the Son of Man] in Himself.
4. And [if God is glorified in Him, God] will glorify Him immediately.

 

This is Jesus’ announcement that God’s plan is being put into action. Judas has gone. The Son of Man is being betrayed. The cross is soon.

 

And Jesus describes this as glory. For Himself. For God. God is glorified by Jesus as He goes to the cross, fulfilling God’s plan to redeem the world. If (and it really seems to be implying because, too) God is glorified in Jesus and what Jesus is doing, God will also glorify Jesus. God glorifies Jesus as a result of the fact that Jesus glorifies God. And as a result of the fact that Jesus glorifies God, God will glorify Jesus immediately. God is eager for His own glory to be accomplished, so He is eager to glorify Jesus. Jesus knows, therefore, that the cross is now very soon.

 

As anti-glorious as it sounds, the cross is the central focus here. But God’s glory is achieved here. We should praise God for what happened on the cross. Jesus’ glory is achieved here. We should praise Jesus for obeying and fulfilling His Father’s will. God sent Jesus to the cross not out of cruelty to Jesus, but out of love for His creation and Jesus. Through the cross, God not only redeemed the world, but He glorified His Son! Look how much reverence has been directed toward Christ by those who have understood the beauty and love He demonstrated, the redemption and restoration He accomplished! God sent Jesus to the cross for His own glory, yes. But He sent Jesus to the cross also because He loved us. And He sent Jesus to the cross also because He loved Jesus and planned to glorify Him. No one who willingly participates in the cross is harmed; everyone is blessed! Only those who oppose God and believe that they can work against His plan are destroyed – and justly.

 

Father, “O, the depth of the riches of Your wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable Your judgments! How unfathomable Your  ways!” How did You come up with such an amazing plan? Such a beneficial plan? With benefits not only for Yourself, but for Your creation, and even for Your crucified Son? I stand in awe of Your glory, displayed in the cross – the death of Your Son, Jesus Christ!