Glorified Death of Jesus

Today’s Gospel Text:  When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified; 32 if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.' 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." JN. 13:31-33A, 34-35

Reflection: Is it an incident that is about to take place or an incident that has already taken place: "Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified.” (vs. 31)

How many of us can prophesy about our life and future; an incident that we believe is about to take place.

Rarely so and even if we can, then how many of us can confidently affirm their death as a glorious one.

Christ’s death, by human standards, was no glorious death but yet even to this day we see the glory of this death and rejoice because our salvation was achieved by the death of Jesus on the cross.

It is this death that Jesus is talking about in the farewell discourse in John’s gospel which begins with the thirteenth chapter of John; he identifies his death with the glory of God.

The death of Jesus was a necessary event in the history of humanity, which proves God as truth.  Any claim that Jesus death was caused by a body double or any other theory which contradicts scripture presents God as:

1) A deceiver and selfish creator who only looks to his own interest.

2) Least concerned about humanity and its many sufferings.

3) Wanting to keep people in the dark about the higher realities of life.

What use is God's salvation, if he has to keep people in the dark about his nature and goodness if any? 

In this world we live we could have a situation where people could be deceived by a lie and accordingly may follow it, even after an immediate assertion of truth with proofs.

One of the powerful message about the glory of Jesus is the existence of a dark reality of deception, which we as Christian know is brought about by  the spiritual forces of wickedness in the highest place.

None of us have been directly instrumental in the crucifixion of Jesus but it nevertheless speaks about a reality of us walking in deception and thus as collaborators in the crucifixion of Christ. 

Prayer:  Lord, we rejoice in your cross which is your power and wisdom for all men who choose to believe in you by responding to your merciful grace.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Glory

Scripture/Bible:  And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." Mark 10:32-34

Reflection:  The normal human tendency is to ignore the stark reality when one experiences a moment of glory. In such situations one is rarely willing to face that which is imminent.

We see a similar situation with the disciples of Jesus.  The situation of these disciples was that of denying what Jesus was communicating to them.

Looking at the situation in today’s gospel; we find that there was amazement and fear in the air about the people who were around Jesus. This was on account of the move towards Jerusalem. 

Jesus must have been to Jerusalem on many occasions but this moment was different, there was something about this Jesus. There seem to be a bent of mind, a resolve, a sense of mission and, specifically, a sense of awe about him and the people seem to have observed it. There could have been the special presence of the glory of God, like the one that went with the Israelites when they were walking towards the Promised Land.

Jesus, had to take the 12 aside and specifically instruct and admonish them that there was a greater glory in that which he was telling them; viz., “..the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles;  and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." (vs. 33-34)

We see as humans the reality and interpret them according to our ego and pride. We may see greater glory in power and positions, in seeking promotions and better emoluments, in degrees and qualifications and in having fans and followers rather than the drab cross of isolation, rejections, persecutions and trials, the cruel impositions of men on account of one’s faith and belief in Christ.

Remember, it is not merely enduring these trials and troubles that gives glory to God but the faith with which we carry on in such circumstances; the faith of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, I believe that you will supply every need of ours according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (cfr. Phil 4:19)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us