John 12:28-33 (WEL) “Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 Therefore, the people standing there and heard said, “It thundered,” others said, “An angel spoke to him.” 30 Jesus replied and said, “This voice didn’t come for me but for you. 31 “Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be thrown out. 32 “And if I, I, be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to me.” 33 He said this, indicating what kind of death he was going to die.
V28 “Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
Glorifying God should be the goal of every believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Compare Matthew 5:16, John 17:4, and 1 Peter 4:11.
This voice was real for many people who heard it. If it had been a hallucination or just a claim that no one else heard, then it must be doubted. There is no doubt that it is real by reading the next verse.
Not only does God the Father honor the Son but He promises to do it again.
What is glorying His name?
- Believing God
- Believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Reading and studying the Scriptures
- Obeying God’s rules
- Living God’s prescribed way of life
- Having the same worldview as God
- Doing everything in life aligned with God’s principles; it is a witness.
- Doing good to all if you are able to do so.
- Maintaining a good reputation
- Worshipping God
- Thanking God publicly for blessings
V29 Therefore, the people standing there and heard said, “It thundered,” others said, “An angel spoke to him.”
Why the different reactions? It appears that John heard it, for he believed in Jesus. Others may have only been favorable but not believers. Some might have rejected and heard nothing. Compare 1 Corinthians 2:14.
Principle: We need God’s assistance to understand the Scriptures. Compare 1 John 2:20.
V30 Jesus replied and said, “This voice didn’t come for me but for you.
God’s message was not for Jesus but a testimony to the people. They should have heard and understood this message, then they should have repented of their sins and believed that Jesus is the Messiah just as the prophets foretold.
(Ryle Expository Thoughts): “Let it suffice us to believe that this miracle was meant to show the intimate relations and unbroken union of God the Father and God the Son, throughout the period of the Son’s earthly ministry. At no period during His incarnation was there a time when the eternal Father was not close to Him, though unseen by man.—Let us also believe that this miracle was meant to signify to bystanders the entire approval of the Son by the Father, as the Messiah, the Redeemer, and the Savior of man. That approval the Father was pleased to signify by voice three times, as well as to declare by signs and mighty deeds, performed by the Son in His name.”
V31 “Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be thrown out.
The time has come to fulfill these two actions.
Judgment of this world, which is the world system in every area of life. It is the kingdom of darkness led by the prince of darkness, satan, and living the desires of his evil kingdom. Jesus is going to prove that He is greater than the king and kingdom of darkness.
The prince of this world refers to satan. He is not god, a god, or a representative of God. He is self-exalted, which guarantees his demise. He will not only be thrown out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12 (actual and promised future time), Luke 10:18 (a temporary casting out), and Revelation 12:7-10 (permanent)) but also eventually the universe itself (Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 20:10).
Principle: God has the authority and ability to cast the devil himself out of people, animals, and heaven itself, so worship the one true God—YHWH.
V32 “And if I, I, be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to me.”
Jesus, on the Cross, was lifted up for all to see (John 8:28, Luke 23:33, Psalm 22:16-18, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 2:24, and 1 Peter 3:18).
All people are the words of the Holy Spirit. All means all. Why would the Holy Spirit lie or need to be corrected? The plain, normal reading means all, so why change the meaning of the very words of the Holy Spirit? All are brought to the Cross, but not all believe. Compare John 12:17, John 15:24, Matthew 11:20, and Acts 19:9. See also Isaiah 53:3.
V33 He said this, indicating what kind of death he was going to die.
What kind of death refers to death on the cross. Compare Psalm 22:16 and Zechariah 12:10. Why the cross? One reason is that it proves the Jews did not kill Jesus. They wanted Jesus dead but Jews did not use the cross; they stoned people to death. Compare Acts 7:59.
Note how Jesus is a prophet for this did happen. He is God and has the incommunicable character trait of omniscience.
We learn:
The importance of glorifying God.
Jesus is a prophet.
Questions:
- Do you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
- Do you live and speak to glorify God?