Jesus Glorified

Jesus lived during the times of the Roman Empire. Therefore, much of what He said was based on that time period. He spoke about the government and their demand for taxes and the requirement for citizens to be submissive to them. He often used soldiers and warfare in His illustrations. There were no better soldiers at that time than the Romans. And, everyone knew it.

It was this use of soldiers and the military that was at the foundation of Jesus’ teaching about His coming glory. The gospel of John speaks of the glory of Jesus unfolding before the people.

In John 7:37-39, Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” The next verse records why Jesus said this, “…because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 12:12-16 records Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Verse 16 reveals that the disciples remembered this event when Jesus was glorified.

In John 12:23, Jesus says that the hour of his glory is at hand. A voice from heaven said, “I have glorified Your name and will glorify it.” John 13:31 reads, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.” His glory came from the onset of the means of His glory—His death. It began when Judas left the assembly of Jesus and the disciples to betray Him.

In the Roman empire, when a general came home from a victory, he was honored with a public procession and a wreath woven into a crown. Jesus, too, was honored with a public procession and a crown woven from thorns.  He was glorified through His death and resurrection. Now, the King is on His throne!!

— Mike Johnson