Introduction to Verse 24
Chapters 12-17 of John show us in fact what is revealed in type in the O.T.
Note the Tabernacle way of approach to God.
Describe:
The white linen fence.
The Tabernacle proper.
The Court thus formed.
The vessels of the Court.
1. As you enter through the gate you are brought face to face with the Brazen Altar. This speaks of death or sacrifice, the first requirement in our approach to God. Correspondingly notice the sequence in Chapter 12-17 in John.
Chapter 12 Jesus announces His impending death, See verse 24 and verse 32, on the Cross figurative of the Brazen altar.
2. In our approach to the holy of holies we now reach the laver—Describe—Those who serve must be clean.
Now compare Chapter 13 where Christ washes His disciples feet.
Now, with the sacrifice offered and accepted at the Brazen altar and the priests clean by washing at the laver, they now enter the holy place.
In this compartment there were three pieces of furniture
1. The altar of incense
2. The Table of shew bread
3. The Candlestick
It was in this place—shut off from the eyes of men—that the Priest’s served and communed with God.
This would correspond with Chapters 14-16.
The final phase of worship was the function of High Priest, who, alone entered into the Holy of Holies which contained, the (1) Ark of the Covenant (2) The Mercy Seat or covering for the ark. There he made intercession for he people. Surely this is the picture of Chapter 17.
In Verse 24 and Verse 32 the Lord foretells the death that He should die.
Because of His death, we have salvation.
Because of His death, we have life ever lasting.
Through His death alone could come the glory. Verse 23.
Verse 25 We find this statement in five other passages in the Gospels.
Matthew 10:39, 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24, 17:33.
He that loveth his life shall lose it means He who thinks more of his life now, in time, will lose it in eternity. But he that hates his life now in favor of the life hereafter shall keep it unto life everlasting.
Philippians 3:7-10; Colossians 3:1-4. What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world?
Verse 26 Service involves Following Christ.
One who serves and follows will be rewarded by God the Father.
An insight into the human side of the Lord.
Verse 27 Now is my soul troubled.
As God He knew that in a few days He would be made a spectacle of shame and woe. He was about to be made sin, for us who knew no sin. His holy soul shrank from the thought—Now is my soul troubled. He was about to become the Sin-bearer. What shall I say? = a question of anguish, perplexity and distress.
Then follows a short prayer = “Father save me from this hour.”
The next statement should never be detached from the short prayer.
But for this cause came I unto this hour.
Such statements as these, coupled with Matthew 26:42, O, my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it, Thy will be done, show the intensely human side of our Lord.
Verse 28 It was more than just submission and obedience that motivated the Lord, His great desire was that the Father’s name might be glorified.
“Father glorify thy name.”
Can we say like Paul: “That in all things, by life or by death, Christ might be magnified in my body.”
The Father’s answer came immediately.
I have both glorified it.
Did He not glorify it at Jordan—Transfiguration—and now.
Did He not glorify His name in the raising of Lazarus, would He not glorify it again in Christ’s own resurrection.
Verse 29 Those that heard could not understand.
Verse 30 This was a definite message to those who stood around.
Verse 31 This verse is anticipative.
He speaks of the work of the Cross as being completed. Quote.
Verse 27 Now is my soul troubled.
The Lord being omniscient knew what would befall Him.
He knew the writings of the O.T. prophets.
Isaiah 52 and 53. Psalm 22 and 69. Zechariah 13:6-7. 2 Corinthians 5:21.
He knew that in a few more days they would spit in His face, smite His cheeks, scourge His back, and nail Him to the Cross.
But this was not the real cause for His sorrow, there was something deeper than that. The physical suffering was nothing to the immeasurable suffering of His soul.
The hours of darkness—the cry My God etc.
The meal offering of Leviticus 2 which speaks of the Life of Christ was prepared in
1. A frying pan- Foxes have holes, etc. Show me a penny! Partly concealed—partly open. Wrath of God—malice of men—enmity of Satan were combined.
2. A pan (Flat plate)- What man saw. The Cross sufferings of Christ. They gaped upon me with their mouth—Poured out like water—they look and stare at me.
3. An oven- The hours of darkness (Gethsemane) shut off from the eyes of men. God—Holy—Righteous dealt with His Son on account of our sin.
What shall I say? Father save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. A statement like this reveals the depth of the heart of the Lord.
Father save me from this hour is the cry of His human heart.
But for this cause came I unto this hour is the revelation of His Divine nature.
Verse 28 Father glorify thy name.
The Lord’s great desire was to glorify the Father.
Note the three significant steps in these utterances of the Lord.
1. His sinless human soul shrank from the sufferings.
2. He expresses absolute submission to the Father’s will.
3. He desires the glory of the Father’s name.
Application
Father glorify thy name in me. Do with me what thou wilt, only glorify thy name. This is the utmost and highest desire of a believer. Paul as a prisoner in Rome wrote to the Philippians, “That in all things, by life or by death, Christ may be magnified in my body.”
The Father answers at once.
“I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
This can mean two things.
1. That the Father was glorified in His
(a) Incarnation
(b) Miracles
(c) In the Word that He had spoken
(d) Suffering and death.
2. Keeping the passage strictly in its context.
It could refer to the raising of Lazarus and also to His own Resurrection.
With reference to Lazarus “This sickness is not unto death, but unto the glory of God.”
Then God again would be glorified in the resurrection of His own Son.
The Voice from heaven—this was the third time.
1. At His baptism in Jordan. Matthew 3:13-17.
2. Mount of Transfiguration. Matthew 17.
Verse 30 This heavenly outburst confirmed again the fact of His Deity. It was a testimony to them.
Verse 31 This statement is probably anticipative.
He speaks of the work of the Cross as already accomplished.
Another example:
John 17:4 “I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” The result of this work is the judgment of this world, and the casting out of the prince of the world.
How and when this will be consummated is told in Revelation 12 and 20.
The death of Christ has laid the basis for the stripping of the prince of this world of all his power and has sealed his eternal doom.
Colossians 2:15 says that He spoiled principalities and powers and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them.
Verse 32-33 Christ crucified, lifted up, dying for sinner—making known the Love and Righteousness of God—is the Power that will draw all men unto Him.
Men will be drawn for salvation.
All men in a wider sense will be drawn unto Him (A) Gathered into the kingdom (B) Gathered for Judgment.
The Two Resurrections John 5:28-29.
The Rapture 1 Thessalonians 4.
The Great White Throne Revelations 19.
Every knee shall bow Philippians 2:9-11.