3.5 Recurring Themes – Glory
Recurring Themes: Glory on the Cross
Read John 17:1–5. What did Jesus mean when He said, “Father, the hour has come: glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you”?
In John 17:1–5, Jesus speaks of His impending “hour” and asks the Father to glorify Him so that He may glorify the Father. This statement refers to the climax of His earthly ministry—the impending suffering, death, and resurrection. Although the cross is seen by humans as a place of shame and humiliation, it becomes a place of glory in God’s plan.
The glorification of Jesus begins at the cross, where He bears the sins of humanity. In the greatest human weakness, divine strength and love are revealed. The cross demonstrates God’s glory because it is the ultimate revelation of His love, grace, and redemption. Jesus glorifies the Father by fulfilling the plan of redemption and opening the way to God for humanity.
This paradoxical idea—that the greatest glory is revealed in the deepest shame—shows how closely human and divine histories are intertwined. God’s glory is not only visible in triumph and power but also in sacrifice, humility, and love.
Think about what it means that such a drastic matter—God Himself on the cross—was necessary to redeem us from sin. What should this tell us about how terrible sin really is?
The fact that God Himself had to come to the cross to redeem us from sin shows us how serious and destructive sin truly is. Sin is not just a minor moral failing or mistake but a deep separation from God that results in death and eternal separation from Him. The price of sin was so high that only the sacrifice of the perfect and sinless Son of God, Jesus Christ, could overcome this separation and reconcile humanity with God.
When we imagine the Creator of the universe coming in human form to die on the cross, the severity of sin becomes even more apparent. It shows that sin cannot be taken lightly—it is a radical break with God’s holiness and requires an equally radical solution. This sacrifice reveals the depth of God’s love, but it also shows that sin is a serious, life-altering matter that cannot be overlooked.
The message of the cross should deeply humble us and show us how desperate our need for redemption truly is. It reminds us that sin has destructive consequences, but also that God’s grace is greater than any sin when we turn to Him through Jesus Christ.
The connection between the glory of Jesus on the cross and our everyday lives and faith is profound and formative. The glorification that Jesus speaks of in John 17:1–5 shows us that God’s glory is not only revealed in moments of triumph and power but especially in moments of suffering, dedication, and sacrifice. This has several practical implications for our lives and faith:
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Suffering with Purpose The fact that Jesus was glorified through suffering on the cross helps us see our own sufferings and difficulties in a new light. It shows that God can use even the darkest and most challenging situations to reveal His glory and love. So, when we go through challenges or pain, we can trust that God is present and carrying us through these times, shaping us through them.
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Humility and Dedication Jesus glorified the Father through His dedication on the cross. This teaches us that true greatness and glory lie in humility and self-sacrifice. In our daily lives, we are called to be humble in our relationships and actions and to serve others, even if it costs us something. God’s glory is revealed when we are willing to let go of our ego and do the Father’s will.
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Forgiveness and Grace On the cross, Jesus bore the sins of the world, showing us the depth of the forgiveness available to us through Him. In our daily lives, this reminds us of how serious sin is but also how great God’s grace is. It encourages us to receive forgiveness and to forgive others. The power of the cross works in us as we practice grace and forgiveness in our daily lives.
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Life-Changing Love The glory of the cross shows us God’s unconditional love. This love should shape our daily lives by not only receiving this love but also passing it on to others. Jesus’ death on the cross is the ultimate sign of how far God is willing to go to save us. This should change our hearts and motivate us to love others with the same dedication and mercy.
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Hope and Trust The cross is also a symbol of hope. In the eyes of the world, it was a moment of defeat, but in God’s plan, it was the moment of victory. This shows us that even in times when it seems like everything is lost, we can trust in God’s plan. His plan is greater than we can imagine, and He leads us through every crisis to His glory.
