John’s Gospel #12
BE GLORIFIED
CHCC: EASTER, March 23, 2008
John 12
INTRODUCTION:
We used the word “glory” or “glorify” in some of our songs today. Did you ever wonder exactly what that word means? I remember way back when I was a young guy and we had a “city-wide” revival. (Back then we lived in a rural area near Galveston. It wasn’t really even an incorporated “town,” --- but we called it a “city-wide” revival anyway.) One of the songs our “city-wide” choir learned was “Sometimes I feel like shoutin’ Glory!” (Of course you have to pronounce it, “Glo-rah” Some of the kids in my youth group joked about that song because --- for some reason --- they couldn’t remember ever feeling like shoutin’ Glor-rah!
It’s not a word we use a lot, but the word “glory” must be important. After all, it appears hundreds of times in the Bible. In John 12:28, God’s voice literally speaks from Heaven and declares: “I have glorified my name and will glorify it again.” It would be good to know exactly what that means! So I looked it up “glorify” in the dictionary and this is what it said: “Glorify: to give glory.”
Well, that didn’t help much. So I did a little research into the original Hebrew and Greek words that are translated as “glory” or “glorify” in the English Bible.
The most common Hebrew word is “Kabod.” (remember Ikabod? the glory has departed) It turns out there are 17 different Hebrew terms in the Old Testament that are translated, Glory. Here are some their meanings:
* to be lifted up
* beauty or dignity
* one who creates beauty
* royal attire
* a protective covering
* an ornament or jewel
* vigour or strength
* to flash forth light
* to shine, pure and clear
But that’s not all … In the New Testament, the Greek word “doxa” is translated Glory. It has these meanings:
* worship
* to magnify
* drawing attention to someone
* of highest value
* brightness
* royal splendor
* perfection
No wonder it’s hard to pin that word down! It carries a world of meaning. That makes sense. It takes a word FULL of meaning to describe our Great God.
1. Jesus glorified God in his Life, Death, and Resurrection
The Video we saw earlier today, reminded us of how Jesus gave glory to God through His Life, Death, and His Resurrection.
When the Angels announced His birth, they said, “Glory to God in the Highest.” And when the time came for Jesus to face his death, this is what he said: "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” John 12:23
His disciples probably pictured something that would seem “glorious” to them … something like Jesus being crowned King in the Temple. They had reason to hope that something great was about to happen. Just a week before, Jesus had entered the city on a donkey --- with hundreds of followers shouting “Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.”
When Jesus said, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified, his friends could NOT have imagined the horrible events that were about to take place. How could Jesus be talking about his own death? How could Glory EVER come out of death?
The scene we’re looking at here in John 12 is full of drama. Jesus said, "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ’Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" John 12:27-28
Jesus knew that his Death would tell the world more about God than any other event in history. I John 4:16 says, God is Love. God’s love flashed in all its Glory at the cross of Christ.
When Jesus cried out, Father, glorify your name! … his Father answered audibly … in a booming voice. Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." John 12:28
God glorified His name when Jesus died on the Cross. And God glorified his name again --- three days later --- when Jesus rose from the Dead!
Jesus glorified God through his Life, his Death, and his Resurrection. But that is only the beginning of God’s plan. Because of Jesus, we, too, can glorify God … through our own Death, Resurrection, and Life.
2. We glorify God in our Death, Resurrection, and Life
You’ll notice the words are in a different order for us. We have no ability to give Glory to God with our sinful nature. If we hope to Glorify God, the first step is to put our old self to death. Look at how Jesus explained this to his Disciples just hours before he was arrested:
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24-25
Jesus disciples must have wondered why he was talking about planting wheat at such a time. But in just a few days, they would finally understand what Jesus was telling them: in the Kingdom of Heaven, new life comes only after death.
I’ve been reading a book by a pastor named Erwin Rafael McManus. He tells about a conversation he had with his daughter, Mariah. He was explaining that Christians often face danger and even death. His daughter asked, “Has anyone ever tried to kill you, Daddy?”
And he answered, “Sort of.” She wanted to hear about it … and here’s what he wrote:
“I told her there was an ex-convict who let me know while he was in prison that as soon as he was released, he was going to bring my life to a close. Instead of waiting for him when he hit the streets, I found him in the projects. Knowing I had Mariah captivated, I did everything I could to heighten the danger and mystery of the moment. I paused right after describing the dingy room in which only the two of us stood face to face --- William holding open the same blade with which he had slit another man’s throat; me with nowhere to go.
Before I could go on, Mariah couldn’t keep it in. With panic in her eyes, she blurted out, “Did he kill you?”
Then he says, “It may seem cruel, but I refused to tell her. It’s possible that even to this day my daughter thinks her father is dead.” (The Barbarian Way, p.42)
That’s a funny story. But in a way, Mariah’s father IS dead. In a spiritual sense, every Christian is dead … because for anyone who wants to follow Jesus, the first step is to die.
Jesus invites us to participate in His own death and resurrection. He gave His life for us. And He asks us to give up our lives for him. He rose again, and he promises to give us eternal life.
Paul described this in Romans 6:3-5: Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
Years back, I heard a teacher trying to come up a way people could commemorate their connection to Christ. He suggested they write the date of their decision on a paper and nail it to a fence post. I guess there’s nothing wrong with that, but God had a better idea. (go figure)
Baptism gives a wonderful picture of what happens when we put our faith in Christ. In a very real way, our old self dies and a new self is resurrected. You see, baptism, is a burial. And burial is for the dead. You wouldn’t bury something that is still living. And you wouldn’t fail to bury something that is obviously dead.
Being lowered under water in Baptism represents that our old self has been put to death. Rising up out of the water represents the resurrection from the dead to a new life. This new life begins because we are united with Jesus in his death and resurrection … and it is a new life that will last forever.
Years back when our youngest daughter, Kimberly, was about 4, she saw her first baptism. We were explaining the meaning, and her response was, “I want to be bap-a-tized!” We talked her into waiting until she was old enough to pronounce it --- but the attitude was right.
More recently, Kim’s daughter, Morgan saw her first baptism. (Now you, knew I’d find a way to talk about one of my grandkids, right?) Anyway, when the baptism was over, Kim saw that Morgan had tears on her face. She asked what was wrong. Morgan looked kind of confused and said, “I think the tears are happy.”
There a reason that Jesus said, “You must become like a little child in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) Whether you’re 4 or 94, I hope you can see that Baptism as a wonderful Gift from God. No one should be Baptised with the attitude, “This is something I HAVE to do.” It’s a meaningful way we can respond to God’s love by joining in his death and resurrection.
CONCLUSION:
If you see the importance of Baptism, and if you want to do it, I highly recommend it! More important, God recommends it. All you need to do is talk to me or one of our church leaders. Or … you can come forward today and be baptized here and now on Easter Sunday. (The baptistery is ready; the water is warm.)
The point is, Baptism gives Glory to God --- by showing that we have joined with Him in His death and resurrection. So let me ask you this question: Are you dead yet? As Romans 6 says, If we join with Jesus in His death, we will certainly join with him in his resurrection.
On Easter Sunday, we remember the historical events that form the foundation for our faith. Jesus gave Glory to God through His life, death, and resurrection.
Jesus did all this so He could offer YOU a new life … a life that will last forever … a life that can start here and now … a life that will give glory to God. (Prayer)
