Studies in John's Gospel. Pt. 64 God Glorified His Son & Christ's Suffering for us.

 Good Day to all of our Readers.

As we continue looking into John 12 it helps to remember that these events happen about 6 days prior to the Passover observance. 

Jesus was troubled in spirit as His hour came closer. 

John 12:27-29  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. 28)  Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29) The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 

After Jesus answered the Greek men and spoke of His glory and the necessity of the cross, He had more to say as His time on this earth drew to a close. John 13-17 is an extended teaching where Jesus prepares His disciples for carrying on Kingdom ministry after His death, burial and resurrection. Although there is much material to cover in those chapters, the timeline happens in just a few days. 

Jesus said that now His soul was troubled. The word "troubled" is a word that means to be agitated in your soul, to experience inner turmoil, to be disquieted or stressed. We may not always think that Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God would ever be agitated in His soul, but He was.

The question is why did Jesus have mental anguish? The answer is simple. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son, Jehovah in the flesh. He is everything that God is because He is God. He is sinless, pure and undefiled. He is the sum of all Divine righteousness and holiness. Jesus had never been touched by sin but as the Lamb of God on the cross, the entirety of all humanities sin was going to be placed upon Him. Jesus was going to die for our sin not His own. 

In Matthew's gospel we read that Jesus prayed to the Father three times that the cup containing sins pollution would be taken from Him, but that the Father's will must be done, not the Son's (Matthew 26:-46). Luke gives us a more graphic picture of the weight of carrying our sins and its impact upon Christ. 

Christ's agony came out in prayer. 

Luke 22:39-46  And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40) And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41) And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42) Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43) And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45) And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 46) And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. 

We see that Jesus' prayer time with the Father shortly before His betrayal and arrest was intense. He fell to the ground in prayer. The request was if it was the Father's will then Jesus wanted the cup taken away. However, each time the Son said "not my will but thine be done."

Jesus was taxed to the limit physically and spiritually to the point that His sweat had drops of blood. According to Wikipedia, Hematidrosis is a medical condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood, occurring under conditions of extreme physical or emotional stress.

The agony of Christ was so intense on all levels that the Father sent an angel to strengthen His Son. 

Christ's agony gave way to obedience and perfection. 

Hebrews 5:7-9  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;  8) Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9) And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 

The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us the spiritual perspective of Jesus's agony, that is alluded to when Jesus said His heart was troubled. Jesus experienced such agony in His soul that He offered prayers, supplications, strong crying and tears to the Father.

Why did Jesus endure all the agony? He learned obedience as a Son and was made perfect. That is, Adam failed and sinned but Christ, the second Adam did not fail the test. He was made perfect and therefore could die in our place and grant eternal salvation to all who believe on Him. 

The Father glorifies His Son.

The Father in heaven spoke and glorified His Son, Jesus Christ. The word translated "glorified" is the word "doxology" and it literally means words of praise, honor and glory to God. In this text, the Father was showing the glory of His obedient Son. He was clothing Christ with splendor and heaven's praise. 

People around Jesus heard the Father's voice. Some said it was an angel speaking while others said that it sounded like thunder. 

Acts 9:7  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 

This text is regarding the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who later was called Paul. Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians when Christ stopped him in his tracks and spoke directly to Saul from heaven. All those traveling with Saul fell to the ground and heard the Divine voice from heaven. This was similar to those standing around Jesus when the Father spoke from heaven to glorify His son. 

The Father spoke that they might believe.

John 12:30-33  Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31) Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32)  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33) This he said, signifying what death he should die. 

The Father spoke at the baptism of His Son. He spoke at the transfiguration of Christ and He spoke here. In all cases the Father demanded that those on earth honor His Son because of who He was and what He came to do on the cross. 

Why did the Father lavishly praise His Son? Because Jesus' death on the cross was His final judgment of sin and the death blow to the serpent (Gen. 3:15). In this text Satan is called the prince of this world. His power was broken when Christ rose from the dead. 

Jesus reached back to John 3 when He told Nicodemus that like Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up. He was speaking about dying on a cross. Jesus was willing to die on the cross bearing the sins of humanity because of His great love toward mankind. Thus, the Father honored His Son. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Jesus had a troubled spirit as the day of His death drew closer. We saw Christ had extreme agitation in His soul because of knowing that all the vile pollution of mankind's sin would be laid on Him, the holy, undefiled and pure Son of God.

Although not part of our studies in John, the book of Hebrews makes it very clear why God had to take on a human form in order to save us (Hebrews 2:5-18; 4:14-16; 10:4-14).

The sufferings of our Savior were real and deeply troubling to His soul. May Christ help us never lose sight of the agony He endured in order to bring salvation to all. 

The Father in heaven glorified His Son. May we too, offer words of praise, honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the worthy Lamb of God who did take away the sins of the world and who will save all who call upon His name.

Bob