Enter your e-mail address below to get Musing Upchurch sent directly to your in-box!

Past Ponderings

Sunday, December 14, 2014

PONDERING... For This Purpose


John 12:27-33 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.  28  Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."  29  The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."  30  Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine.  31  Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.  32  And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."  33  He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 


Quick Background: The Hour
Just as a reminder, throughout the gospel, Jesus has referred to His death and glorification as His hour. That hour has now come. I never want to read into the text what is not there, but really do feel this passage sheds light on why Jesus came-- the purpose of His hour.

Why Did He Come?
1. To Glorify the Father
28  Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." 29  The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."  30  Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine.
It's worth pointing out that immediately after saying "for this purpose I have come" He says, "Father, glorify your name." This was His priority. The focus of His ministry was the glory of God. To see the Father lifted up. All things fall under this purpose. He knew the world needed to see God's greatness--His wrath, His mercy, and His love. That's why He came. Thus, everything He did was exactly what God wanted.

It is also worth noting that He told those around Him that the voice, the evidence of His divine personage and purpose was for their sake and, by implication, ours. We need to remember who Jesus is and why He came as much as those disciples who were about to see Him die and would wonder why.

2. To Bring Judgment? (yes or no?)
31  Now is the judgment of this world; ...
Wait, so did Jesus come to judge the world or not? Some passages make it seem like He did (like this one), and others like He did not (John 3:16-17, John 12:47). Which is right? As mentioned, the previous verse says the voice was not for His sake, but ours. Could these be connected? He has come pointing people to the truth and condemning those who reject it. He did not come to judge, but to save. Nonetheless, those who do not believe are judged already. In His death, there would be, and still are, many who, though seeing, do not believe.

(I feel John 12:47-48 sheds a lot of light on this. Those who have heard His word and do not believe are under judgment already. They are without excuse. John 12:47-48  If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.  48  The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.)

3. To Cast out the Ruler of this World 
31  ... ; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.  
The ruler referred to is Satan. This was a common expression at the time. It is not meant to imply that Satan has any actual authority, but rather that his dominion is represented by the sinful hearts of men. Jesus came to put an end to this once and for all. There is a lot of eschatological weight placed upon this phrase, but I think the key is to realize that Jesus came to defeat sin. This was not immediate (for He is allowing time for more to come to Him and be saved). Nonetheless, the death blow was dealt (pun intended).

(Side Note: Contrary to popular misconceptions, Satan does not rule in Hell either. Unfortunately, there is a popular caricature of Christianity that paints a pagan picture that is akin to dualism. You have your good God ruling Heaven and your bad God ruling Hell. This is not the case. Satan is a fallen creation of God. He is not the evil counterpart. He is punished in Hell--experiencing the full wrath of God.)

4. To Draw All People?

32  And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."  33  He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 

This lifting up is twofold. Physical (the cross is actually lifted up) and spiritual (glorified, magnified, raised up). Thus, what kind death would He die? One of physical crucifixion. One that glorifies God. One that defeats sin. One that the judges the unbelieving. And, one that to calls. But calls who? Are all people to be saved? This is a popular thought, and a very compelling one, but not true. All peoples, Jews and Gentiles alike will be amongst those saved, but not all will believe (we'll see this a lot in a few weeks). The mystery of who will and who will not be saved is one that remains in the heart of God. What we do know is that He does call, and His sheep do come. We are blessed to be part of that ride.

Conclusion:
I can think of no better way to conclude this than repetition. What kind of death did He die? One that glorifies God; one that defeats sin; one that the judges the unbelieving; and one that calls sinners to Himself. 

No comments:

Post a Comment