Sermon Central
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Glorify His Name
Contributed by David Richardson on Apr 21, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: As Christians, we have to understand one simple thing: Every person on this earth has been placed here to do one thing and one thing only, and that is to glorify God.
Title: Glorify His Name
Scripture: John 13:31-35
Introduction:
We said at the beginning, and throughout our study of the Gospel according to the Apostle John, that Jesus was on a time line.
Seven times, He says “a time is coming.”
John continually uses words such as, and the next day, or, two days later, or a week later to continue to indicate to us not only that Jesus was on a time line, but that in being able to keep that precise time line He had to know all things. He had to know what had went on in time past, what was going on in the present, and how it would eventually impact the future, namely His death on the cross.
By reading through the book of John, we can see that Jesus knew all things, and that He was surrendered to the task He had been called on to do.
Listen to these time indications in John:
John 2:4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."
John 4:21 Jesus declared, Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
John 7:8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.
John 7:30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.
John 7:33 Jesus said, "I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me."
John 8:20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
John 16:4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.
Chapters one through 12 tells us about Jesus’ life and teaching of the twelve, but then, beginning with verse 13, the tone changes. After this point, there is no more teaching. The disciples have had their training; they have had their practicum. There is only one thing left for Jesus to do. There is only one more thing that He must make sure of, according to the time line that He is following, and that is cross.
Our scripture passage:
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. 33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
In our verses that we have before us today, Jesus begins His final hours with the disciples. Jesus begins His final path to the cross with one word. From this point on, Jesus will be actively heading in the direction of the cross. What is that word? Now…
Jesus has just told Judas to get on with his conspiracy. To get on with his evil plot to turn Jesus over to the Jewish ruling council. Judas leaves the group.
Then, Jesus turns His attention back onto the rest of the disciples. And He says, “NOW.” Or, from this point, henceforth, hereafter, is the Son of Man glorified and God s glorified in Him.
Now is final stage set in motion. Now is reason that Jesus came to earth about to be realized.
In these verses, we also have one word that is repeated: glorify.
As Christians, we have to understand one simple thing: Every person on this earth has been placed here to do one thing and one thing only, and that is to glorify
God. That is the foundation.
Picture in your mind an upside down pyramid with glorifying God at the bottom and you’ll see the proper Christian life, the proper Christian path.
Picture in your mind a single element or molecule from which all other elements have their beginning and you’ll see the proper Christian life and path.
Glorifying God is the root of man and from that root everything receives its start and nourishment.
Glorifying God is the well, and from that well we draw fresh water that nourishes our service to God in our lives.
