What is a time you knew something was coming that you were not looking forward to? Possibly your stomach was in knots and your anxious thoughts were overtaking you. Maybe it was a time you knew you were about to get in trouble and a punishment was coming. Maybe it was a time when you knew you were being challenged beyond your comfort zone. Maybe it was a time that you knew would be extremely difficult going forward. We can all think of moments that we have faced that might fall into at least one of these categories. In today's passage, we get to see Jesus in turmoil and working through his emotions as he heads toward the cross. A moment that he knew would come all along.
John 12:27-29 “’Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him."
Why was Jesus's soul troubled? Why was he internally in turmoil? We often think that it would be because Jesus was about to go to the cross. Being crucified has been one of the most excruciating ways someone could possibly die. However, I would say that there is more to it than just the physical pain and death. Many people have died the same way of being crucified and others have faced even more extreme ways of death or torture. Jesus knew that he was about to bear the sin of the world. This would cause a separation between himself and God's presence. Jesus, who was perfect and sinless, was about to bear the sins of the entire world and endure the wrath of God as he paid for our sins.
2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Galatians 3:13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
Jesus was troubled and in turmoil because he was about to pay the punishment for all sin. He knew that it was coming. This was way beyond just the physical toll that came from the cross. He who knew no sin, would willingly take our place, and take on God's wrath for us. Even with knowing all of this was to come, Jesus still continued on. He knew and recognized that this was why he had come. He proclaimed that he could not turn from this and instead said, "Father, glorify your name!” Jesus knew the plan and submitted to the plan, fully knowing that he, the Lamb of God, would be slain for all of our sin. What great sacrifice we see from our God and Savior! We can never be the same when we truly look at what Jesus went through for us!
Let us never forget or look away from the great sacrifice that Jesus made. Let us keep our eyes fixed on him. In him, we find salvation. In him, we find peace. In him we find hope. In him, we find true love. In him, we find life!
John 12:27-29 “’Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him."
Why was Jesus's soul troubled? Why was he internally in turmoil? We often think that it would be because Jesus was about to go to the cross. Being crucified has been one of the most excruciating ways someone could possibly die. However, I would say that there is more to it than just the physical pain and death. Many people have died the same way of being crucified and others have faced even more extreme ways of death or torture. Jesus knew that he was about to bear the sin of the world. This would cause a separation between himself and God's presence. Jesus, who was perfect and sinless, was about to bear the sins of the entire world and endure the wrath of God as he paid for our sins.
2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Galatians 3:13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
Jesus was troubled and in turmoil because he was about to pay the punishment for all sin. He knew that it was coming. This was way beyond just the physical toll that came from the cross. He who knew no sin, would willingly take our place, and take on God's wrath for us. Even with knowing all of this was to come, Jesus still continued on. He knew and recognized that this was why he had come. He proclaimed that he could not turn from this and instead said, "Father, glorify your name!” Jesus knew the plan and submitted to the plan, fully knowing that he, the Lamb of God, would be slain for all of our sin. What great sacrifice we see from our God and Savior! We can never be the same when we truly look at what Jesus went through for us!
Let us never forget or look away from the great sacrifice that Jesus made. Let us keep our eyes fixed on him. In him, we find salvation. In him, we find peace. In him we find hope. In him, we find true love. In him, we find life!