Be Glorified

“Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about Him and that they had done these things.” John 12:16

For some reason, as I read these verses this morning, the word “glorified” jumped out at me. I wonder, what does it mean to be glorified? Miriam-Webster Dictionary says, “Glorify: to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration to elevate to celestial glory; to light up brilliantly; to cause to be or seem to be better than the actual.” Strong’s Hebrew translation says, “to make glorious, adorn with luster, clothe with splendor; a) to impart glory to something, render it excellent; b) to make renowned, render illustrious; 1) to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged.

What struck me is the wording John chose. He is referring to Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. So I wonder, what does it mean to be glorified and what does it take to get there? We tend to think of glorifying as a positive, lovely, happy thing using words like ‘light up’ or ‘elevate’ or ‘honor’. And they are all true meanings. But Jesus didn’t get there without any troubles in this world! He first “spent His life” (see Isaiah 58:10) meeting the needs of the poor and oppressed, teaching, healing, and loving all who became part of His everyday life. That elevated Him to a position of being noticed by the religious authorities who were jealous and hard hearted. They made life difficult for Jesus and tried to block Him at every turn until they finally succeeded in killing Him using a tortuous death by hanging on a cross. He was betrayed by even His closest friends. How could John possibly refer to that as being ‘glorified’?

John could use the word ‘glorify’ only because the story didn’t end there. When people in this world had done every conceivable terrible thing they could to Jesus including killing Him, God used even that to bring His glory to the situation. He raised Jesus from the dead! I like the last Strong’s Hebrew meaning of the word: “to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged.” Whether or not we acknowledge Jesus Christ here and now, a day will come when “every knee will bow” (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10). He is and will be glorified!

For all the troubles we can endure in this life, nothing compares to what Jesus Christ had to deal with in this world. But Paul tells us that, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 That joy, knowing that God was going to bring glory out of the tragedy of the cross, was what caused Jesus to move forward through all of the pain. His joy isn’t only in His own glory, but Jesus said in His prayer in John 17, “I have given them [all who believe] the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.” John 17:22

When I am dealing with the troubles in this world, I need to keep my eyes on Jesus. He alone knows and understands every ill that can befall a person and how to endure it – keeping my focus on the joy of my salvation and the glory that is to come through Jesus Christ when we are together in eternity.

Lord, may Your glory be made known through my life on this earth. All thanks and praise be to You, the Living God, forever and ever.

Letting Go

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!” The crowd was shouting as they came out to meet Jesus. He was the one who raised Lazarus from the dead! Many were there when Lazarus walked out of the tomb. They believed him to be the Messiah and they were celebrating. John admits in his writing that the disciples didn’t understand what was happening until after Jesus had died and rose again. Prophecy was fulfilled right before their very eyes.

While the crowd was celebrating, the Pharisees were having a caucus. “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” John 12:19 Was it jealousy? Was it fear of the Roman government? It was obvious that their previous actions had not stopped this movement. It was getting out of control (well at least their perceived control).

In the midst of this celebration, Jesus is contemplating what is just around the corner for him. He did not get consumed by the popularity he was experiencing at the moment. He knew why he was here and what was going to have to happen yet to fulfill his purpose. So while the crowd is celebrating, he says, “The hour has come for the son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves must follow me and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” John 12:23-28

As Jesus anticipates his death, he is continuing to teach principles of life. There are so many things about dying that we fear. But death is merely a transition. Jesus likened it to the kernel of wheat being planted in the ground and the new life and many seeds that come out of it. I think of the caterpillar that goes into a cocoon and appears to be dead but eventually comes out as a butterfly. It transitions from a creature that crawls to a creature that flies gracefully – from a creature that eats leaves to a creature that drinks nectar from flowers – totally transformed.

Jesus said that the one who holds on to life with everything he has will lose it. And the one who gives up his life will gain it for eternity. He is not telling us to walk out in front of a car, but he is asking us to quit holding on so tight to something that won’t take us where we are to go. If we quit trying to protect ourselves and begin living as servants of God, giving our lives back to him just as he gave his life for us, just maybe we can make a difference in this world. If I am not holding on so tightly to my life, maybe I can allow others to vent their anger and not have to defend myself or others, but rather love them through it and allow them to experience healing. If I am not holding on so tightly to my life, maybe I can risk caring for someone with Aids or some other horrible disease. If I am not holding on so tightly to my life, maybe I can give my time and resources to help those less fortunate than I.

What would I get in return if I let go of my life, my control, my way? Jesus says he will give me eternal life. And I really look forward to that day. But even here and now, when people are willing to lay down their lives, their demands, their entitlements, good things often follow. Communities experience healing from prejudice, poverty, and turmoil. Friendships are restored. People experience joy and peace even here and now. It’s a win-win situation! Things get better here and eternal life with Christ to come. The Apostle Paul puts it this way, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

I think I would like to start trying harder to recognize when I am holding on to life and let go a bit and see what God can do with my willingness to let go.