Text: John 12:27-36, Title: Points of Aim, Date/Place: NRBC, 2.24.13, AM
A. Opening illustration:
B. Background to passage: Continuing in John with the final teachings of Christ. The Christian life is about
loving Christ, and engaging Christ, so we look now at the continuation of his teaching regarding the
glorification of the Son of Man through the cross and resurrection, as well as our calling to hate our lives on
this earth (note David Platt sermon). After noting the anguish of his soul, reminding us that this is no stoic,
emotionless Jesus, he gives some aims, some goals, some purposes of the death and resurrection in addition
to the glorification of Jesus. He says that this is the reason that He came, John 3:16
C. Main thought: Four purposes of the death/resurrection of Jesus
A.
Glorify the Father’s Name (v. 28)
1. I want to separate this from last week’s thoughts on the glorification of the Son by talking specifically
on the glorification of the Father. Make a couple of comments on the trinity. Talk about the extent of
the bible’s testimony on doing things for the sake of His great name, and also why that is good. Jesus
prays for God to glorify His name, God says that He has (through Jesus’ life and ministry), and the will
(through Jesus’ death and resurrection). There is much glory in a God who loves us so much that he
would sacrifice His only begotten Son, especially in such a horrible way, for ungodly, rebellious sinners.
2. Phil 2:9-11,
3. Illustration: THE CROSS: The Son sets us free by becoming a curse for us and thereby removing the curse
from us, by taking all our guilt on Himself thereby clearing us of guilt, and by "binding the Strongman"
through His death, thereby setting us free from Satan's kingdom. Oh, what a cross! Alexander Whyte "It
is the picture of violence, yet the key to peace. It is a picture of suffering, yet the key to healing. It is a
picture of utter weakness, yet the key to power. It is a picture of capital punishment, yet the key to mercy
and forgiveness. It is a picture of supreme shame, yet the Christian's supreme boast. It is a picture of death,
yet the key to life. It is a picture of vicious hatred, yet the key to love." What irresistible love.
4. Remember: when you see and think of the cross and resurrection, meditate on the God who planned and
supervised it. Think of the reasons for this plan. Think of the faithfulness, the love, the power, the grace,
the mercy, the loving kindness, the sovereignty, etc. of our heavenly Father. Dwell on the cross as a
means to increase your affections for God. Again, the true Christian life is about desire and affection.
Also remember that the reason that the world exists and the reason that you exist is for the glory of God.
So look at your life. Are there things that bring glory to God? If we asked your co-workers, does he/
she make you think about God a little higher? What things that you do elevate perceptions of God the
Father in the lives of others in the church? Does your love for/passion for/joy in God spill out? What
adjustments can you make? Could be as simple as smiling more; could be better FB posts; could be more
public attributing things to God? Could be saying “Lord Bless You” or “God loves you” to all that you
meet; could be sharing the story of God’s change in your life; could be changing the way you spend your
money or time, or the way you treat others, or the participation in missions…
B. Seal Judgment of the World (v. 31)
1. One of the next things that Jesus indicates
is an aim of the cross/resurrection is the judgment of this world.
There are numerous occasions where God speaks of the fact that the world will be judged, most of which
are in the future. But there is a sense in which the cross forces a division between those who choose
Christ and those who don’t. There will be a separation between the sheep and the goats, but the terms for
separation are drawn up at the cross. The world, and the people of the world are in rebellion against God.
The symbolic nature of the crowds taunting and cheering at Jesus’ crucifixion points to the rejection of
Christ by the world. And those who reject Christ are rejecting God, and their eternity is already decided.
There will be no hope, no reprieve, no stay of execution, no pardon for those who do not believe, love, and
follow Christ.
2. John 3:18, 5:23, 16:9
3. Illustration: tell the story about the prisoner working at Camp Jubilee, “No, you don’t understand, God is
dealing with you and what you do with it is eternal.”
4. As believers we are called not to be hyper critical or overly judgmental. However, it is clear that God has
condemned those who do not believe; and to inform people about it in love, publicly proclaim it, or defend
the exclusivity of Christ, and the sure judgment to come to those who reject them is not being judgment.
God is doing the judging, and to reject the cross and submission to Him who hung upon it is treason
against our Maker. If you die in unbelief, your eternity is sealed. You will spend an eternity apart from
God because you decided not to surrender to Him, receive His payment, trust Him, follow Him, be born
again of Him, love Him to the point that you hate your life on earth. In word or in deed, in profession or
behavior, you have decided to go it on your own.
C. Cast Out Satan (v. 31)
1. Jesus also goes further
to inform us that the cross of Jesus and His resurrection throws Satan out. The
word used means to drive out, force out, throw out, kick out, cast out, exclude, reject, expel, or send out.
The cross fulfilled the prophecy of Gen 3:15 of the bruising of the foot, and the crushing of the head.
Satan’s head was crushed on the cross, and like a wriggling snake he still has the power to harm, but his
end is secured. “The fundamental smashing of his reign of tyranny takes place in death/exaltation of
Jesus.” He was thrust out of any perceived authority, cast down, and his fate sealed.
2. 1 John 3:8, John 16:11, Col 2:13-15, Heb 2:14, Rev 12:9-11,
3. Illustration: Some of the early church fathers spoke about the incarnation as a great plan of God,
and described it like a hook and a fishing lure. God would bait Satan into killing of his Son, thus
accomplishing what He wanted to anyway, which was the defeat of Satan himself. Mel Gibson does a
pretty good job at this in the passion of the Christ, where Satan is doing the victory dance, then realizes the
accomplishments of the cross seal his doom, and is infuriated, read A Mighty Fortress is Our God p.8 &
sing We Shall Overcome/We Have Overcome, tell them about the saying that I saw on FB that says I want
to be one of those women who gets up in the morning, and when my feet hit the floor, Satan says, “Oh no,
she’s up…”
4. Know that although Satan is real and roaming, his days are numbered. Also his power is limited, and he is
only able to do what he is allowed to do. God will/has destroyed his works, his accusations, his power of
death, and will one day permanently and finally destroy him. Also remember that we overcome him with
the word of God, the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony. We are more than conquerors in
Christ, and through the cross He has bound the strong man that we may ransack his house! Go, charge
hell with a squirt gun because He has overcome!
D. Draw Men to Himself (v. 32)
1. One of the final aims, results,
consequences of the cross is that Jesus promises to draw men to himself.
This is somewhat paradoxical, because those to whom he spoke understood that he spoke of his death
on a cross, and this didn’t make sense. Why would people be drawn to a crucified, defeated, humiliated,
wanna-be messiah? But the “I” is emphatic; this is the work that Christ will do himself. It is important
that Christ said “all,” because it was the Greeks who had come. Christ was saying that he would draw all
kinds of people, and not just Jews. He didn’t mean every man without exception, but every man without
distinction. Everyone that comes too Christ will be drawn by Him.
2. John 6:37, 44
3. Illustration: tell about conversation between church member and daughter about, be saved, get married,
then have kids, one of Dr. Lyles final wishes was that he had lived more for Christ, told more people about
Christ, served Christ better,
4. You witness, let Christ do the drawing. You can’t change a heart, Christ can. You can’t make people’s
blinded eyes see. You can soften people’s hardened hearts, Christ can. And he will. He has promised to
draw men from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. You and I are the means to the drawing. We must
be faithful to share the gospel with others. No person can be saved without hearing the gospel. We must
go, we must share.
A.
B.
C.
Closing illustration:
Recap
Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
