GLORIFICATION AND LOVE.
John 13:31-35.
The inevitable process which would culminate in the self-sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf was reaching its climax. Jesus spoke of the reciprocal “glorification” of both “God” and “the Son of man” (John 13:31-32). In this we have the “glory” of the Cross (Galatians 6:14)!
The Cross is being viewed as a done deal. Using what we might call the ‘prophetic future’ tense, Jesus later tells His Father, ‘I have’ glorified You on the earth: ‘I have’ finished the work which You have given Me to do. He goes on, ‘And now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was’ (John 17:4-5).
In the Cross, the Father is glorified in that He is seen to be ‘both just, and the justifier of all who put their faith in Jesus’ (Romans 3:26). The Son is glorified in allowing Himself to be counted as ‘sin’ for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), being made a curse for us (Galatians 3:13) and shedding His blood for our redemption (Ephesians 1:7). Further, the Father glorifies the Son in raising Him from the dead (Acts 2:24) and receiving Him into heaven (Daniel 7:13).
When Jesus spoke of His glorification (John 13:31-32), He no doubt foresaw not only His death, but also His resurrection and ascension. He saw you and I, believers, ‘seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus’ (Ephesians 2:6). He also anticipated His coming again, not only for the remaining disciples, but for His whole church (John 14:3; Revelation 22:20).
We are struck with the tenderness of Jesus towards His remaining eleven disciples: He calls them His “little children” (John 13:33). Jesus gently told His disciples of His impending departure from this earth (John 13:33), and in the following conversation reassured them that they would follow Him soon. In the meantime, His disciples were to be marked out in the keeping of a “new” commandment of love (John 13:34-35). The old commandment of love was to be made new in the sacrifice of Jesus (John 15:13-14).
