Text: John 12:27-36 11/28/2010
Thesis: Believe in Jesus lifted up for our salvation.
Last week we rejoiced over the great promise that the death of Jesus Christ, compared to a grain of wheat, will produce much fruit. Because of the glorification of Jesus Christ you and I can have life. Because Jesus was crucified, resurrected, and then ascended back to heaven we have forgiveness, hope, and purpose. Christ is worth forgetting all that this world has to offer. The Christian life spent serving and following Jesus enjoys life forever and it is the life that will be honored by the Father himself. In short, the work of Christ will produce a multitude of good things throughout the ages.
On the flip side, in the dialogue of our passage today we see Jesus and the people grappling with the horror of the cross. We’re going to work through three important aspects of the work of Christ. Christ refers to this work, in verse 32, with the phrase “when I am lifted up from the earth.” He’s using that phrase because its loaded with meaning. John has been big on emphasizing Jesus’ sayings that have double meanings. This double-meaning phrase is central to our passage and colors everything. Jesus used it to refer to the his physical lifting up when rough iron spikes will pierce him and pin him to that terrible cross. And Jesus used, ‘lifted up’ to refer to the truth that through his saving work (his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension) he will be exalted or lifted up before the entire world as the savior of mankind.
Scripture makes it abundantly clear that the glory of God displayed in the work of Christ is no small matter. The burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ is not even an important matter. The glory of God displayed in the work of Christ is the central matter for this life and the next. The fact that Jesus has been lifted up changes yesterday, today, and forever let’s be sure we understand exactly what is going on.
Read John 12:27-36
I. Preparing to be lifted up (27-30)
A. The cross troubles Jesus(27-28)
Following the great promises of verse 26 comes the startling reality of verse 27. Jesus says, “Now is my soul troubled.” As Jesus stands in the shadow of the cross he confesses a great reality. He is in turmoil regarding the events that lay before him. The hour has come. Jesus has come for this hour. So remember, the hour Jesus refers to is the hour of his great work of redemption. Jesus willing and intentionally takes our sins upon himself, God will pour out his wrath on Jesus because of those sins, the eternal Son of God will taste death, and then he will rise victorious over sin and the grave.
Here in this verse we see the perfect display of the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ. Jesus is looking toward the cross and expresses what is only natural for man: emotional turmoil. It is important to define exactly why Jesus feels this way about the cross. And your definition will depend upon what you believe the cross accomplishes. If the cross is only a good example of love, if Jesus is only a martyr because he did good loving things, then this inner turmoil is cowardice. He’s afraid to die. Jesus suddenly becomes less than others who have bravely faced a martyr’s death unafraid, bold, and unshaken. If the cross does not include Jesus experiencing the guilt of our sin and the wrath of God then Jesus’ turmoil is only cowardice.
But if on the cross Jesus becomes sin for us (2 Cor 5:21), if on the cross all our sins are laid on him (Is 53:6), if on the cross the righteous will suffer for the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18) and if on the cross Jesus will drain the cup (Mt 26:39) of God’s wrath (Is 51:17) because of those sins then the turmoil is justifiable. The One who has eternally existed will be crucified. The One who has been eternally honored and worshipped will be stripped naked and shamed. Think of the guilt you feel over one sin. Jesus has never known that feeling but he’s facing the guilt of the sin of the world. He’s always enjoyed perfect fellowship with the Father and Spirit. That eternal perfect relationship is about to be broken and the Son be forsaken because of your sin and mine. Jesus is about to take our sins upon himself, suffer, and then die under the fullness of God’s just wrath. The cross is troubling to Jesus because he is about to take your sins upon himself.
Now we’re going to get a glimpse into the mind of the Son of God. Verse 27 reveals Jesus’ inner dialogue as he prepares to be lifted up. In response to the coming pain of God’s wrath he asks himself a question, “what shall I say?” Should he say, “Father, save me from this hour?” This is the internal debate we all experience when facing the difficulty of obedience. Will I trust God and walk through the difficulty or should I attempt to change God’s mind? In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus will pray this prayer 3 times; simultaneously he graciously requests another way and faithfully trusts himself to the God who ordains extreme difficulty for the good of others. So what will Jesus say? What did Jesus say?
Verse 27, “But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” Jesus came to drink the cup of God’s wrath. He came to die. The cross was always the plan. As quickly as the debate began it ended. No matter the cost Jesus will go to the cross for you. The cross is troubling to Jesus and
B. Through the cross Jesus glorifies God (28)
Calvin says it best, “By these words [Jesus] testifies, that he prefers the glory of the Father to all things else, and even neglects and disregards his own life…the true regulation of all our desires is, to seek the glory of God in such a manner that all other things shall give way to it (Calvin, 35).
There is a two-fold reason for Jesus being lifted up. Here in verse 28 we see that Jesus is lifted up in order to glorify the name of the Father. In verse 32 we see that Jesus is lifted up in order to draw people from every tribe and tongue and nation to himself. The glory of God and the salvation of man are the two goals of the cross.
As we follow Christ we must remember the motive of Christ and seek to bring everything in line with his motive. Our desire must be to display the greatness, love, justice, and mercy of the Father in all that we do. And doing that, glorifying the name of the Father, will be costly. Serving Christ will cause us to enter into situations that are difficult. What will we do? What will we say? By God’s grace we will say with Jesus, “Father glorify your name.”
That’s Jesus’ commitment and it is His prayer. Then the Father answers, verse 29, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
C. We need to hear God speak concerning the cross (29-30)
While Jesus walked this earth the Father spoke audibly three times. Once at Jesus’ baptism, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Lk 3:22). Once at the Transfiguration, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Mt 17:5). And now as Jesus prepares for the cross, “I have glorified it and I will glorify it again.”
Each time the Father speaks he is verifying the deity or centrality of the Son. And why is the Father speaking? For whose benefit are these words uttered? Verse 30, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.” The majority of the people were clueless. Some thought it had thundered. Some thought possibly an angel had said something to Jesus. But they missed what was going on and what was going on was very important.
Put yourself in their shoes. The bible testifies that anyone hung on a tree is cursed. Deuteronomy 21:23 and Galatians 3:13 both state that anyone hung on a tree is cursed of God. Everyone will be tempted to believe that Jesus was not sent by God on this simple ground; he was a cursed man. It was a common belief, also from Scripture, that the Messiah would not die. Everyone will be tempted to believe that Jesus could not be the Messiah because he will be lifted up on the cross. Before Jesus’ death occurred they needed to hear that Jesus’ crucifixion was not outside of God’s will. Before Jesus is shamed and lifted up they needed to hear that this event does not degrade Jesus or deny that he is the Messiah. No, these things though apparently shameful at first will be the ultimate display of God’s glory.
The Father was glorified in Jesus’ life and the Father will be glorified in Jesus’ death. As we unpack the things that Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension secure it will become even more evident how it is that through the shameful cross the Father is glorified.
II. What Jesus being lifted up produces (31-33)
A. The cross produces my condemnation (31a)
Walking toward the cross Jesus states, “Now is the judgment of this world.” Listen to Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have turned away; we have turned—every one—to his own way.” Romans 3:10-12, “None is righteous no not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” We are a wretched lot and the cross proves it.
It is true that the cross displays the depths of God’s love. But it is also equally true that the cross proves how guilty and sinful each one of us is. If we are going to be reconciled to God, if we are going to be righteous, understand the glory of God, seek after God, turn to God, live worthy lives, and do good it will only be through the atoning death of Jesus Christ. The cross is judgment. Do you want an honest evaluation of how bad you really are? Do you want to know God’s opinion concerning the state of the world? Look at the Son of God naked and dying under the weight of your sin.
But here also is the good news for all those who believe in the light that is Jesus Christ. Our judgment has already occurred. The condemnation and guilt caused by our sins have been swallowed and removed by Jesus Christ. Every sin that separates us from God and others has been judged by God and punished by God on the cross. There is no condemnation for all those in Christ Jesus because on the cross he took it all on himself.
B. The cross severs Satan’s power (31b)
Verse 31, “now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” All those outside of Christ, either consciously or unconsciously, are following after the ruler of this world (Eph 2:2). All of us have turned away from God and were doing our own thing. Whether we want to admit it or not doesn’t change the fact that we are slaves to sin. Bound to go our own way. Bound to turn away from God. Bound to ignore the Father and get wrapped up in the things of this world. As such we are on the Devil’s team. And the only way off his team is to have the power of sin broken. When Jesus took my sins upon himself and died in my place under my guilt Jesus took the power of sin. He dethroned the ruler of this world. Jesus, according to the rules of God, took away all the devil’s ammunition.
The devil has no claims on you. He has nothing to hold against you. When Jesus was lifted up Satan was thrown down. He is a defeated enemy running for his life; grasping at straws. Do not submit again to his selfishness and foolishness. He has been defeated by the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the world’s true ruler. The cross secured his rightful place.
C. The cross draws us to Jesus (32-33)
Jesus said, verse 32, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” What does Jesus use to draw people to the holiness and powerful life that only he provides? Is it your testimony? Maybe it’s the idea that God loves you and had a plan for your life? What does Jesus say draws all people to him? It is his atoning work. Do you feel crushed under guilt and judgment? You need Christ crucified, resurrected, and ascended. Do you feel defeated and at the mercy of this world? You need Christ, the One who was lifted up and dethroned the ruler of this world. Do you feel that your life is meaningless? You need Christ who empowers you to fulfill his mission of glorifying the Father through the salvation of the nations.
How will souls be won? By you and I preaching Christ and him crucified. We must speak of his death. We must be clear concerning the type of death and what that death provides. The cross produces my condemnation and salvation. The cross severs Satan’s power. And the cross draws us to Jesus. If that is what the cross provides let’s look now at
III. What Jesus being lifted up demands (34-36)
A. The cross demands that we think biblically about Jesus (34)
The temptation of that day is still a temptation of today. We latch onto one promise of God concerning Jesus and demand that it be the one defining promise of God that rules out all others. Verse 24, “So the crowd answered him, ‘We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”
They latched onto the promise of forever rule, probably Psalm 89:4 speaking off the king from David’s line, “I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.” And Psalme 110:4, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.’” So the people latched onto the promise of forever and took it to mean forever in person on the earth. So when they hear Jesus making messianic claims but also stating that he will die there is a conflict. We think you’re the Messiah and we’re hearing you say you have to die. But the Messiah won’t die. Who is the Son of Man? Maybe he’s not the Messiah. We’re confused.
We must fight for biblical and systematic theology. Understand what that passage is saying in its immediate context and understand how that passage fits into the larger system of Scripture. Let that passage speak and let that truth shape the whole. We get are in grave danger when we refuse to listen to the whole of Scripture and we are in grave danger when we refuse to let each passage speak. What did Jesus demand from them? What does Jesus demand from us?
B. The cross demands that we believe in Jesus right now (35-36)
Jesus’ answer sounds initially a bit confusing but the point is simple. He’s telling us to listen to him and believe what he is saying. As we continue to follow him and listen to him he’ll teach us and make himself ever more clear. As we gaze at him we’ll be transformed and look more like him (2 Cor 3:18).
So he tells the crowd that time is running out, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light.” He’s calling us to believe. We might not have everything figures out. Tomorrow might be very vague. But this much we know we are drawn to Jesus; drawn to his life that glorified God in every way. We’re drawn to his death that gives us life. If there is any desire in you to follow the Jesus you see through these pages then go.
All those that do not go after Jesus are lost. “The one who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.” He’s confused. Every effort is fruitless. Every turn brings uncertainty. No matter what he has he doesn’t have what he needs. This is the futility of your life without Christ always going but never getting anywhere.
Right now as the Spirit draws you to Christ, “While you have the light, believe in the light.” Today is the day. Now is the time. And know this: believing in Jesus is not like joining the Lion’s club. Believing in the light makes you become a son of light. The things that characterize Jesus are to become the things that characterize you. The love of the Son for the Father will be implanted in you and begin to grow. As you see Christ through his word he will change you. Your life will become less important and the glory of God will become more important. Serving like Christ and following Christ will become priorities and you will experience joy, humility, and purpose like never before.
This morning, while you have the light, while the good news of Jesus Christ crucified, resurrected, and ascended lies in front of you, believe in Him. Reach out to Him. It’s simple but changes everything. Your sins which nailed Jesus to the cross, repent of them. Tell God that you are sorry that you turned away from him and put your trust in Christ alone. Believe that his death takes away every ounce of punishment you deserve. Believe that his life provides every ounce of holiness that God requires. Repent to God, place your faith in Jesus Christ, and you will become a son or daughter of light. You will have life eternal in that very moment. For those who desire Christ now is the time. Let’s pray.
By and For the gospel 