The Departure Of Jesus From This World Series

Last time we ended our study with Judas being asked by Jesus to go and do quickly what he was going to do. Tonight we find Jesus talking about His approaching death. In tonight’s passage we will find that Jesus’ death did three things, so that is where we will focus our attention.

First, let’s look at what is meant by Jesus’ death brought a threefold glory. READ 31-32. Here we see that threefold glory.

1. First there was the Son of Man’s glory. The glory of Jesus was the cross. This was true in four senses.

a. Jesus was now ready to secure an eternal righteousness for man. He was now ready to take the final step as the Son of Man

• As the One who was the Servant of all men.

• As the One who was to secure perfect righteousness by dying as God willed.

• As the One who was to pay the supreme price in obeying God (to die).

• As the One who was ready to die in obedience to God’s will so that God could save man.

Jesus was now ready to make the final sacrifice for man, and He was ready to pay the supreme price to bring about the greatest event in all history: the salvation of man. The cross attracts and stirs men to give themselves to Jesus and to honor and praise Him. It’s in the cross that men find their salvation so the cross is the glory of Jesus.

Jesus was now ready to triumph over Satan by breaking Satan’s power over death and over the souls of men. He triumphed over the rulers, and authorities, and principalities, and powers. And He did it all on the cross. He destroyed the devil’s work. He broke the power and fear of Satan over lives and death. So there’s glory in the triumph and victory over Satan, especially over one so powerful and influential as Satan. Yes, the cross truly is the glory of Christ.

Jesus demonstrated what perfect sacrifice and self-denial, courage and strength, love and compassion really are when He died on the cross. So all this clearly shows the Son of Man’s glory.

2. Then there is God’s glory. The glory of God was the perfect obedience of Jesus. How was God glorified in Jesus’ death?

God was glorified by the supreme obedience of Jesus dying on the cross. That obedience glorified God. God’s justice was perfectly satisfied on the cross. His honor was restored by the cross, for the evil done against Him was justly punished on the cross. So the cross glorifies God. God’s love was perfectly demonstrated on the cross. He gave His ONLY Son to pay the supreme price FOR man.

3. Then we see there is Jesus’ glory in Himself. This glory is the resurrection, ascension, and exaltation. What is meant by “in Himself” (v.32)? There are two possible answers.

Jesus was asking to be glorified in God himself; with God’s Own Person, with His special presence and power and glory. Jesus was asking to be glorified in His own Person; to be infused with a manifestation of God’s presence and power and glory. This was done in the resurrection, the ascension, and the exaltation of Christ. Notice that Jesus said that God would immediately glorify Him. We will see this immediate glorification of Christ in chapter 17 when Jesus said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”

READ 33-35. This highlights point two. Jesus’ death demanded a new commandment. Jesus said He was departing, that He would only be with the disciples a little longer. So He gives them a new commandment about loving one another. And there are three reasons why the new commandment on love was needed by every generation of believers.

1. There are times when we as believers differ. There’s always a danger of us becoming critical, judgmental, and divisive. The disciples had just been struggling over who would receive the highest authority in Jesus’ new government. They had been divided. The need for this new commandment existed then even as it does today.

2. There are times when believers feel a keen need for Jesus’ physical presence. Have you ever found yourself yearning to have Jesus’ physical presence before you? Jesus knew we would. That’s the reason He said that the disciples would seek His presence. Sure, we have the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. But being human, believers need another human presence with them. They need a brother or sister, a genuine believer who loves them with the supernatural love of Jesus Himself. Jesus knew this so He commanded believers to love each other.

3. There is the need for some supernatural force to hold the disciples together. Jesus’ physical presence was what held the disciples together. But once He was gone, His followers would need something else to hold them together. They must stay and serve together in one spirit and purpose. But how? The new commandment is the answer.