Bearing the Glory of Christ

Bearing the Glory of Christ.
John 12:20-32

Each Christian is called to bring glory to Jesus. Jesus lived a life that showed us how to give glory to God.

Jesus has entered Jerusalem, and there were some Greeks who had also come to the city. These Greeks wanted to see Jesus. When Philip and Andrew tell Jesus that some Greeks want to meet Him, Jesus takes the opportunity to talk about how to bring glory to God and that his time for glory has come.

And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 12:23‭-‬25 ESV

It seems strange that glory would come to someone through a brutal execution. Yet Jesus shows that in order for a seed to make much fruit, it must first die.

Jesus' death on the cross shows two attributes of God. That God is loving and just. Unless Jesus died on the cross, countless numbers would not be saved. Also, we see that God has a righteous standard of purity and cannot tolerate sin.

If we are honest, we cannot meet God's standards. We fall into sin and do not remain pure. No matter how much we try or much we want to, we just cannot meet God's standard. In fact, we were so lost in our sin, that we could not have a relationship with God. Yet, Jesus' death on the cross allowed people to see Jesus, so they could be saved.

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
John 12:32 ESV

It is not enough just to see and know Jesus, but are sins needed to be removed as well. Jesus sacrifice on the cross was a remedy for sin we could never remove.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 ESV

In order to remove sin, a blood sacrifice was needed. In order to remove all our sins, past, present and future, Jesus needed to be perfect and become sin itself.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

It is important to note that Jesus understood what he needed to do so others could be saved. Jesus understood better than us the severity of what he was to endure. No other person had, has or will have becomes sin. Jesus also knew that he would die a long and humiliating death.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
John 12:24 ESV

Jesus did not want to die on the cross or to suffer as he did. Jesus was a human being just like us.

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
John 12:27 ESV

saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Luke 22:42 ESV

We sometimes wonder why God who is all powerful and sovereign did not just declare us holy and avoid the pain and suffering of the cross. God is holy and this would go against his nature. This would go against his very laws.

but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:15‭-‬16 ESV

We gave the task to carry on the purpose of the cross. The purpose of the cross was to bring men to him. Drawing sinners to the cross, so that they would know Jesus and salvation.

God is still drawing people to the cross. He does not do this through magic, but through His people. Everyone in the church is supposed to follow the commission Jesus gives. It is not just the pastors who are to bring others to Christ, we are all called to lead others to Christ.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:19 ESV

What are we doing about our commission? How are we committing ourselves to Jesus and serving Him.

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
John 12:26 ESV

Our willingness is the most important ability we need to serve Jesus. God will be with us.

The glory of the Lord will be with us when the nature of Christ is also our nature. When we sacrifice our sinful ways, we glorify God. When we give up our rights, we glorify God. In other words, when we give up our lives, we glorify God.

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 12:25 ESV

The paradox is an old one, yet it speaks strongly with truth. To become the sons and daughters of God, we must die and be reborn. We see this message in seeds which grow and produce fruit. God wants us to have right relationship with him, and for us to become whom He has always intended for us to be. God wants this for everyone and not just for those who believe. Someone told us about Jesus. Many encouraged us to believe. Let us speak the truth and encourage others to know Jesus. Let us live the life that Jesus lived.