V. 27 Jesus had just explained that His mission was similar to a grain of wheat that must be put into the earth and die in order to bring forth fruit. (John 12:23-26)
1. He also said that whoever wants to follow Him must have the same mindset.
2. The realization of His impending suffering and death caused His soul to be troubled.
3. Troubled- to agitate, to cause inward commotion, to take away calmness of mind, to strike one’s spirit with fear and dread.
a. Matthew 26:38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
4. Jesus hypothetically asked what most people would ask when feeling such fear: “Should I ask my Father to excuse me from this task”?
5. He answered His own question: “No, I won’t ask to avoid this; it’s why I came”.
V. 28 Albert Barnes– Father, glorify Your name.-“I am willing to bear any trials; I will not shrink from any sufferings. Let thy name be honored. Let thy character, wisdom, goodness, and plans of mercy be manifested and promoted, whatever sufferings it may cost me.” Thus Jesus showed us that God’s glory is to be the great end of our conduct, and that we are to seek that, whatever sufferings it may cost us.
1. After verbally re-committing Himself to the Father’s will, the Father responded.
2. “I have and will glorify my name”. How would the Father glorify His own name?
3. The Father had honored His name by sending the Son who spoke the truths from the Father, displayed the love, mercy and holiness of the Father, and healed and raised the dead by the power of the Father.
a. John 14:9 Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father”.
b. The Father had glorified His name through everything that the Son accomplished.
4. The Father would glorify His name by the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Son.
a. The death of the Son would extend the offer of salvation to all people.
b. It would display and accomplish the Father’s plan to forgive and redeem people.
c. Spiritual, emotional, and psychological wholeness and health would come to people.
d. Those who follow Jesus increasingly become the people they were meant to be.
Applications
1. We may become troubled as God asks us to do certain things. That’s not a lack of faith.
2. We have to ask ourselves, “Why am I here”? (Jesus said, “For this reason I came.”)
3. Apart from our emotions, we need to decide to obey God. We belong to Him
a. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
4. We need to realize that our obedience will bring Him glory.
a. Do you want your friends and loved one to have a higher view of God?
b. Obeying God brings Him glory, even if it involves our suffering.
c. It shows that we believe that His plan is better than ours.
d. It eventually reveals that His plan and His ways are better than ours.
Vs. 29, 30 The voice from Heaven wasn’t sent for Jesus’ benefit. He had decided His course.
1. It was sent to convince the listeners as to who Jesus was.
Vs. 31-33 The death of Jesus would be the final act towards the redemption of people and creation.
1. Jesus was not saying that then was the time for the judgment of people and nations.
a. That is a yet future event.
b. Turn to Revelation 20:11-15
2. He said that His death was initiating and glorifying the plan of God to offer salvation.
3. The death of Jesus would reverse the work of Satan, and supersede the work of Satan.
a. 1 John 3:8b For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
4. Regarding fellowship with God:
a. Satan tempted Adam & Eve to live independently of God, and disobey Him. They sinned. Sin brought spiritual separation between God and man.
b. Jesus’ death would pay for the sins of the world, and whoever receives His payment for their sins will be forgiven, and can enter into fellowship once again with God.
c. 1 John 1:3, 4 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
5. Regarding physical death
a. When Adam and Eve sinned, sickness and death came into the world as a result.
b. When a person follows Jesus, they are promised life after death, a glorified body wherein one will never again die.
c. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
6. Regarding sin and man’s propensity to sin. (See Romans 5:12-21)
a. Adam and Eve never knew sin, guilt or shame prior to following Satan’s advice. As a result of their sin, all mankind was born with an inclination to sin against God.
b. When one decides to follow Jesus, not only are they judicially forgiven by God, but they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who brings a desire for holiness. (Romans 8:1-11)
7. Regarding the righteous judgment of God.
a. God is loving but He is also righteous. Sin deserves punishment.
b. Jesus suffered as a substitute for the sins of all of mankind.
c. If a person will confess their sins and ask forgiveness, the Father has the judicial right to pardon that person because of the death of Jesus.
8. In all of these ways and more, Satan and his efforts against God and man would be conquered.
a. The fullness of victory has not yet been seen.
b. But the death of Jesus paid for the sins committed by mankind, and allows for anyone who follows Jesus to be forgiven, be born again, and begin experiencing Kingdom life.
Life Group Questions
1. What’s one thing you are really looking forward to this summer?
2. What is a higher view of God? And how can we come to that view? How can we help others come to that view?
3. The Father spoke from Heaven, but the people didn’t realize it was Him.
Why is it important to know that God does speak directly to humanity?
4. Jesus was making right the things Adam and Eve made wrong in Genesis 3.
Besides sin and death, what other things did Jesus make right and how should Christians try to live these things out?