Glory of the Cross
J O Buswell
The word “glory” of course means magnificence, splendour, or that which is admired. In John’s gospel, there are passages in which the word clearly points to the cross showing that it is in the cross that the glory of God is supremely revealed.
One such passage is found in John 12. Jesus is teaching; the crowds are there. Philip and Andrew had just brought the Greek visitors and presented them to Jesus. “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (vv 23-24).
No Cross, No Crown
After a few words in regard to the sacrificial nature of discipleship: “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour” (vv 25-26). Jesus continues, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” (vv 27-28).
In the light of what Jesus had already said in verse 23, “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified,” it is quite clear that Jesus was alluding to His crucifixion. That John uses the word “glory” here to refer to the cross, throws light upon verse 16 of the same chapter. “These things [the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jesus’ triumphal entry] understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified [i.e., His crucifixion and subsequent resurrection], then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him” (John 12:16).
It was not until after the cross that the disciples recognised the full significance of the prophecy which was fulfilled in His triumphal entry into the city. No cross, no crown.
Cross and Throne
The use of the word, “glory,” in John 12 sheds light on the saying, “Jesus was not yet glorified,” in John 7:39. The “streams of living water” flowing from the hearts of believers, that is, the missionary programme for this age, was not to begin until after the cross.
The reference to “glory” in John 12:41ff does not only refer to the cross, but also the throne. In the preceding verses, John quotes Isaiah 53:1, “Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?” In explaining the strange fact of unbelief John further quotes, “He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them” (Isa 6:9 as quoted in John 12:40). It is immediately after these sad words that John remarks, “These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him” (John 12:41). Seeing “His glory” doubtless refers to Isaiah 6:1, “I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.” Isaiah’s vision was a preview of the supreme glory which was to be manifested in the cross.
John continues, “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (vv 42-43). For the rulers who, in a way, believed in Jesus but would not confess Him, because they preferred the glory of men to the glory of God, for them to confess the Lord Jesus would have meant persecution and suffering, the glory of the cross, which is indeed the glory of God.
Ashamed of the Cross?
It is disgraceful for a Christian to be ashamed of Christ and His Gospel. No believer should hide his faith. He must declare it openly, and be prepared to suffer for it. If Christ was not ashamed to be humiliated openly in order to save us from our sins, how can we be ashamed of confessing His Name and preaching His Gospel to others? Calvin said, “In the cross of Christ, as in a magnificent theatre, the inestimable goodness of God is displayed before the whole world.”
In John 13 the crucifixion is referred to as the glorification of Christ. Judas had just taken the morsel of food and gone out, when Jesus said, “Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him” (vv 31-32).
That the cross is the supreme revelation of the glory of God is brought out with the greatest richness in John 17. The prayer of the Lord begins, “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: … I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (vv 1, 4-5).
Jesus’ prayer to His Father in heaven, “The hour is come, glorify thy Son …” refers directly to the cross. This glory which Jesus had before the world began surely points to the fact that Jesus was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev 13:8; 17:8; 1 Pet 1:20; Eph 1:4). It had been decreed from before the foundation of the world that the glory of God should be supremely revealed in the cross of Christ. Christ is now saying, in effect, “Just as in our eternal decree, the glory of redeeming love was to be accomplished in the cross, so now let it come to pass.”
This also explains John 17:24 where Christ prayed, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” Jesus was praying that some of His disciples might see the crucifixion so that they might tell the story the more effectively. Surely it is significant that we have the eyewitness story of the cross from some of those who loved Him. The story of the glory of the cross may be read in all its fullness from the divinely inspired, eyewitness accounts as found in the Four Gospels.
When John said, “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), the words “we beheld his glory” include supremely, though not exclusively, the glory of the cross.
Principle of the Crucified Life
Another aspect of the glory of the cross is highlighted in the Lord’s high priestly prayer when He, with reference to His disciples, said, “I am glorified in them” (John 17:10). “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:22). If the supreme glory of the earthly life of Christ was His earthly sufferings and ultimate death on the cross, then it follows that Christians must likewise live the crucified life since the same glory has been passed on to them by the Lord.
The Lord’s words to Peter in John 21:18-19, “signifying by what death he should glorify God,” speak clearly about this principle of the crucified life. If our lives exemplify unselfishness and self-sacrifice, or in other words, if we live the crucified life, it will not be so difficult for men to believe that we really have a crucified and risen Saviour.
The way of the cross is the way of life. That was why Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt 16:24-25). The world thinks of the cross as Christ’s shame and defeat, but in reality it is His glory and victory, and ours too if we belong to Him.
Easter Sunrise Service, April 12, 2009
Easter Sunrise Service, April 12, 2009 will be at the Labrador Park, 7am. Bus leaves Newton Food Centre Carpark at 6.30am sharp. For those driving, please park at Carpark B. Bring along your own sitting mats/chairs. For enquiries, please contact Dn Tan Beng Lee at 98719796.
