John 12:44-46 - Seeing the Son, Seeing the Father

John 12:44-46

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.

Message: Seeing the Son, Seeing the Father

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: In the previous lesson, I saw how John mentions that there were some rulers that believed in Him. Prior to this there was mention of some that despite the signs they were receiving they still did not believe and this unbelief was actually a fulfillment of prophecy. But there were some who believed, like rulers. Yet while believing, their external witness of their belief was still met with fear of being put out of the synagogue. It made me wonder first of all if their belief was real. It also made me wonder if believing in Jesus meant not being part of the synagogue, but some sort of different fellowship. But John mentions while believing they still sought the approval of men, which can be a problem still today, even with me. 

And so now the rest of this chapter will be Jesus speaking, from verse 44 through verse 50. These verses form a paragraph as recorded in my Bible (that division of words being a conclusion of the translators). In these words, Jesus will now again talk about His relationship to the Father and that union He has with the Father to the point that believing in Jesus is actually believing in God. Jesus is God's representative. 

Much of this chapter has been about believing - believing that Lazarus was risen from the dead, Following belief in Jesus should be a desire for the approval of God and yet people can still at times continue to seek the approval of man instead. 

At first, I am looking at verses 44-46 today and seeing a few different ideas:

(1) Believing in Jesus is actually believing in the Father who sent Jesus. As I saw previously in John 3:16, God loves us so much and therefore sent His son. It all starts with God's love or God's desire and I think Jesus is trying to communicate this idea to the Jewish people. Jesus has come on the scene and sort of upset their notion of God. Many were still learning about Jesus and many were not sure about who Jesus is and that it was important to believe in Him. Many felt like their belief in God was enough. Some are believing but some are not. And this will continue throughout history. As Jesus says in verse 44, "He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me."

(2) Jesus has a special union with God the Father for He states that Seeing Jesus is seeing God - verse 45, "He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me." Jesus is saying there is no difference. He is asking people not to choose Jesus over the Father. Jesus is not saying He is better than the Father. This is important because I think some future false prophets will proclaim themselves not only equal with God but better than God. It is hard to not then conclude that Jesus and God are the same in essence. I might live my life in a way to point it to God and give Glory to God through my life, but I would not say that seeing me is the same as seeing Father God. We are different than God and different Jesus. Man is different. 

(3) After establishing this union He has with God, Jesus remarks that He is the light of the world. Without believing in Jesus, people live in darkness or separation from God. And believing in Jesus transforms a person from darkness to light. "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness." Jesus said this in John 8:12 previously, "I am the light of the world, he who follow Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." Something happens to a person when they are awakened by the Spirit of God and now walk in the Light. Darkness is still present in their life as they give in to sin or the ways of the world, but they now see life differently. There is a revelation that occurs, a sensitivity to the things of God, a recognition that we see our condition as sinners, in need of a Savior, not able to save ourselves, and live to Glorify God. It is a transformation that I notice. It is not simply a desire to go to church, but is deeper than that as this is a person that wants the things of God. 

None of these verses are unique to John. I think we have heard them before in what He has said. 

Summary: Believing in Jesus is believing in God who sent Jesus, and seeing Jesus is seeing God and believing in Jesus transforms people away from living in darkness. 

Promise: We must be insistent that the only way to see and to know God is to believe in Jesus alone for salvation.

Prayer: God, you have sent Jesus to this world and I believe that you sent Him and I believe in Him and by believing my life has been transformed. It is such a clear transformation that has occurred. Thank you for transforming me and yet it is is hard to be transformed while others are not - to see see that notion of darkness showing up in people's lives and them still living in it. Lord, I pray that you would transform lives and that you would transform people from darkness to light. Wake people up. Help them see You as never before. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 12:42-43 - A Call to Commitment

John 12:42-43

42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

Message: A Call to Commitment

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: The last lesson spoke of people rejecting Jesus. And that even through rejection the prophecy of ages past, as in from Isaiah, has been fulfilled. Jesus continues to walk toward the cross, but along the way he is ministering to people, healing people, while also showing people He is called by the Father and has the same authority as the Father and is equal to the Father - and repeatedly we see descriptions of people "believing" in Him and this is a sharp contrast to those that are not believing in Him. Thus, to believe in Him seems significant. 

There are 3 Latin words used by sixteenth century Protestant Reformers to describe the elements of saving faith: 

• notitia - knowing the basic facts concerning the person and work of Jesus
• assensus - the belief that these facts are true
• fiducia - personally entrusting ourselves to Christ to save us

People are to go from knowing to believing to trusting. And then while it is not part of salvation, after trusting people cannot help but then exercise their lives in visible ways. People bear fruit, showing their good works, confessing Jesus before others. 

In these gospel accounts, in seeing the contrasts from people believing and not believing, perhaps what I don't see is accounts of people trusting Christ and yet Jesus is declaring these truths as he speaks of living water and bread of life which seem to speak to a full commitment to God. But even today's words contrasts the previous verses of people rejecting God and states in verse 42, "Nevertheless many of the rulers believed in Him." So was this assensus belief only or did it also include fiducia? We may not know. 

Reading further perhaps is additional evidence for it says "but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him." Is this describing a people with belief but not trust or is belief already complete and they are not yet mature to live their faith out before men. I think we all experience fear of declaration at times. Yet, John describes here people that believe but are not confessing Him because of the fear of being left out of their current religious life at the synagogue ("for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue). This is interesting because they believed that believing in Jesus, the mere belief excluded one from the synagogue, despite Jesus being one that declared himself in the synagogue. Perhaps because these were rulers believing they believed that rulers of the faith surely could not also be synagogue adherents. 

But then the text makes it a little clearer when it says, "for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God." Once again this describes the commitment we are to make before the Lord - moving our belief to trusting and in that trusting willing to go to any length to being a child of God. Rulers were believing - yes! But then we don't see the works of the faith though works are not described here, but what is being described is whether we declare that we are in Christ and as such we are willing to have our lives change which may mean changing where we worship and changing those in our lives we previously sought for approval. 

In my life, I see this occurring in my life as I am a person that seeks approval. I think a child can't help but want approval from their parents. They want to make their parents proud in some way. I always think of Tyson playing upwards basketball, probably around 5th grade or early middle school and playing in a game, making a shot on one end and as he goes down the court he looks over at me. He has done something good and he moves his eyes toward me - look at me Dad. Look at what I did. Are you not proud of me? I also remember the time in our house on Moon when I got mad at him and the other kids and he went immediately to drawing a picture, taking me back to us going to the Lobos football game and taking us back to a good time we had together, trying to restore the relationship. Those two moments - my son looking to me, declaring himself to me, wanting me to recognize him. Those are two of the most memorable moments of me as a father to my oldest son. My son wants my approval and wants to know that everything is fine between us. 

So in this text are we seeing a description of people believing only and then is the defense to entrusting or the signification of trusting found in declaring God before men, no matter the cost. And perhaps did believing in Jesus then not include synagogue worship?

Summary: Following belief in Jesus should be a desire only now for the approval of God and yet people can still at times continue to seek the approval of man instead. 

Promise: Possibly we have not trusted in Christ if we are not willing to declare our faith publicly before others. 

Prayer: Lord, I continue to unpack these truths from You. Even as I know that I am your follower, describing it and defining and contrasting that faith from those that don't believe remains a goal of mine. As a converse with people that hold to different views or maybe even more advanced in their knowledge, I am challenged to unpack further these truths. I do want my faith to be not afraid of disappointing man or even not getting their approval because I want to be more concerned about your approval God. My faith needs to be before others. I am not to be hiding my faith and only a Christian with good speech in church. But proud of my faith beyond the church walls, at work, in my neighborhood and before others throughout the walk of my life.        

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 12:36b-41 - The Glory Isaiah Saw

John 12:36b-41

36b These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. 37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED?" 39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 “HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED AND I HEAL THEM. ” 41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.

Message: The Glory Isaiah Saw

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: In John 12, the rejection of Jesus has been prominent. At the beginning of the chapter, Judas questioned the use of perfume by Mary. In verse 10, the chief priests were seeking to put Lazarus to death as many Jews were believing in Jesus on account of what Jesus had done for Lazarus. All of this commotion for Jesus was not welcomed by the religious leaders. The Pharisees mention this further in verse 19. And then also in verse 34 is continued wonder about Jesus and why He should be lifted up. And so John concludes now in verse 37, despite the signs that were being performed by Jesus, "they were not believing in Him." 

John then speaks of a quote from Isaiah when he says, "This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet." - That phrase alone is a common phrase recorded in other places in John and Matthew as a means to record that Jesus was in fact a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. And yet what is being fulfilled here is similar to what occurred in Isaiah when Isaiah was rejected for speaking his message, the message of the Gospel. Isaiah 52:13-53:12 is the prophecy of Jesus by Isaiah or the Messiah's Atonement prophecy. 

But there is something more here and this is people are not believing what they see. John first quotes from Isaiah 53:1 which says, "Who has believed our message? And to whom (among the Jews) has the arm (or power) of the Lord been revealed?" Let's start by focusing on the idea of the arm or power of the Lord as this has been a recurring message of John in this gospel as he repeatedly has mentioned the calling on Jesus' life being from the Authority of God the Father. John 3:16-17 speaks of Jesus being sent by God out of God's love for the World. Jesus' words to the woman at the well were a gift of God in John 4:10. Jesus equates the work of God with His work in John 5:17. In John 5:19, the Son is only able to work by what the Father is doing. John 5:30 Jesus says he can do nothing on his own initiative. 5:43 speaks of Jesus coming in "My Father's name." John 6:29 we are told to believe in Jesus because God has sent Him. John 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me." John 6:40, "Everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life." He mentions in verse 40 that the only way to come to Jesus is if it has been granted by the Father. John 8:18 speaks for the Father bearing witness of Jesus. John 8:42 speaks of God must be our Father and if this happens then we love Jesus.

And so one hand the "Arm of the Lord" or power of God in sending Jesus and that authority that Jesus has from God on the earth is something that people are not believing.  

Beyond that, there is something more. The idea that the Lord is revealed to people and yet I think as a human we prefer the notion that people simply choose not to believe. Why? Because the onus then is on man and his free will. And yet these words from John are saying something different. Previously Jesus said in John 6:44, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." And now in verse 39, is the statement, "They could not believe." They could not, almost like they were incapable.

Verse 40 - HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED AND I HEAL THEM. Now going back to the quoted text in Isaiah 6:9-10 is some different words. It says, "9 He said, “Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’ 10 “Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed.”

Hmm. John has, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I believe put forth a more pronounced word of Isaiah 6:9-10. It is interesting because this message from John is that their eyes have been blinded and their hearts hardened. "So that they would not see...and perceive...and be converted." I mean, the words of Isaiah 6:9-10 are a little different, but I guess the same meaning. It is significant that these words from Isaiah were quoted both by the Christ (Matthew 13:14-15; Mark 4:12), by St. John (John 12:40), and by St. Paul (Acts 28:26-27). So these are words held by distinctive people. 

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) sums up this passage in Isaiah 6:9-10 in a great way:

God sends Isaiah to foretell the ruin of his people. Many hear the sound of God's word, but do not feel the power of it. God sometimes, in righteous judgment, gives men up to blindness of mind, because they will not receive the truth in the love of it. But no humble inquirer after Christ, need to fear this awful doom, which is a spiritual judgment on those who will still hold fast their sins. Let every one pray for the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, that he may perceive how precious are the Divine mercies, by which alone we are secured against this dreadful danger. Yet the Lord would preserve a remnant, like the tenth, holy to him. And blessed be God, he still preserves his church; however professors or visible churches may be lopped off as unfruitful, the holy seed will shoot forth, from whom all the numerous branches of righteousness shall arise.

I love that summary. And again, as I have studied and saw in John 3, it is the Spirit which awakens man to an understanding of Divine mercies. In Romans 1 is the great treatise on men who abandon God and so Paul says He gave them over. And Henry speaks of this here that there "is a spiritual judgment on those who still hold fast their sins." I wonder, is the way the writers of Scripture see it, as they are writing and seeing people reject the complete evidence given. And in the process they are hardened to the work of God, almost refusing to see the truth before them. And the only awakening they have is the Spirit. 

This passage is titled "The Glory Isaiah Saw" by Tabletalk. As one goes back to Isaiah 6, there is potentially a prophecy Isaiah sees of the Glory of Christ, "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple." These words have longed thought to ascribe to Christ. And so this message now from these verses is Isaiah seeing the great strength of God ("Arm of the Lord") and Him being revealed (to some) and hardened (to others). As John records in verse 41, "These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him."

Summary: While Jesus previously appeals to the multitude to believe in Him now, John takes us back to Isaiah to show us that some who refuse are hardened toward believing. 

Promise: God used the hard hearts of Jesus' opponents to fulfill his salvific purposes. He can use what others mean for evil for our good. 

Prayer: O Father God, thank you for saving me, first and foremost. You are a gracious God and awoke me to a desire to know you and see you for the answers to life. Continue to awaken hearts, helping people to know You as Savior and Lord. Thank you for these truths, though they are hard at times, they make sense. Give me wisdom about sharing them with others. Give me patience and understanding with others. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 12:33-36a - Walking in the Light while There's Still Time

John 12:33-36a

33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. 34 The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, in order that you may become sons of light." 

Message: Walking in the Light while There's Still Time

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: As I begin these lessons, I always like to review as these lessons are often small little chunks of information, as I walk through these passages rather slowly at times. Thus far, this is lesson 8 in chapter 12. 

On the heels of Jesus rising Lazarus from the dead in Chapter 11, Mary anoints Jesus with an expensive bottle of perfume. This impacts some people while others are not impressed and want to see him and Lazarus put to death. Passover is near and Jesus is greeted in Jerusalem prophetically or in a similar way as kings have approached others, with palm branches yet with humility, riding on a donkey. The disciples continue to follow but still do not understand Jesus completely, but one day they will, we know this. Meanwhile, the Pharisees remain bothered. 

And then there are certain Greeks that are looking to Jesus and then Jesus begins to give some discourses or words of knowledge. He starts by speaking of his future death and how we need to lose our lives or hate our lives to find fruit and abundant life. Jesus admits he is troubled about future judgment coming before God and yet he knows God has a purpose for people, to give them assurance and Jesus is therefore willing to submit to this. The Father has a purpose at judgment and that is to cast out the prince of this world, Satan, and Jesus by his resurrection and ascension will draw men to Himself at an alarming rate. 

John is interesting and he offers commentary as Jesus is speaking. Like in verse 33 He says - "He was saying this (or these things) to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die." I just noticed the words in verse 32 in which Jesus said, "I be lifted up from the earth." I am sure it doesn't mean this, but as I think of a cross, I think of him being carried in on that cross and then it is lifted up and is upright and then He will die on that cross and He will bear the punishment for our sins. And He will conquer life by dying and then being resurrected. Perhaps this is what John's words are explaining. 

The multitudes are not pleased to hear this. They are not wanting a King or Messiah that will die. They don't see the rescue of them from that happening. They want a Messiah to be a political savior to them, to overthrow the Romans and restore the Jewish state to full independence. The people have read the Law (the entire Old Testament) and they see an everlasting reign for the Messiah: 

Psalm 89:29 - “So I will establish his descendants forever and his throne as the days of heaven."

Ezekiel 37:25 - They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons’ sons, forever; and David My servant will be their prince forever.

But still a man can die for His people and then be raised to fulfill this eternal reign. But they ask Jesus in verse 34, "Who is this Son of Man?" Jesus continues to get this question. Many are believing but many are not, for Jesus is on a mission and has an objective and that objective continues to get in the way of what people naturally want from Jesus. 

This lesson concludes with Jesus stating that He is the Light and He is walking with people now and people need to believe in Him now. Tabletalk for this day remarks that "it will not be any easier to believe after Jesus is crucified and is resurrected from the dead." What better time is there to believe in Jesus than when he is walking right beside you? And yet once he dies on the cross and rises again, the impact from that will grow the church exponentially. In both instances, there is no better time to believe than right now.

Summary: Despite many expecting Jesus to solve a political agenda, they have, Jesus makes it clear that salvation is found in believing in him right now, while he is with them.

Promise: All of us must trust in Christ for salvation today, and we must continue trusting in Him tomorrow as well.

Prayer: Oh, God, as I read the Scriptures and hear how you had worked and been walking this earth. I do often think that there would be no better time to believe in you than when you were walking right beside me physically. And yet through your word, and through the actions of your death, burial and resurrection and ascension, we have the clear testimony, as well of you conquering sent on my behalf, and concluding the work that you intended for all people, to be our permanent and complete substitution, and I have eternal life with you.

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 12:31-32 - The Moment of Judgment and Salvation

John 12:31-32

31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

Message: The Moment of Judgment and Salvation

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is teaching, possibly the Greeks from verse 20. Jesus speaks about his future death and how He will die and we need to lose our lives to find fruit and abundant life. Jesus admits he is troubled about future judgment before God and yet God has a purpose for people, to give them assurance and Jesus submits to this. 

Jesus has heard the voice of the Father from heaven. Jesus remarks in verse 31 that "judgment is upon this world." It is certain. 

"The ruler of this world will be cast out." Jesus announces the ruler of this world, Satan, will be cast out upon being judged. 

And Jesus will be "lifted up from the earth" and "draw all men to Himself (Myself)." 

As such, Charles Ellicott (1819-1905), an English theologian, writes this summary:

(1) the judgment (condemnatory) of this world; (2) the casting out of the prince of this world; (3) the establishment of His spiritual kingdom. 

(1) Jesus has mentioned this judgment back in John 3:17-18 - "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Natural man rejects Jesus. Judgment is certain for all. But there is a different result for those that have believed in Jesus. John 5:29 states, "those who did the good to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil to a resurrection of judgment."

(2) Satan's title of "the prince of the world" was the Rabbinic title of Satan, the ruler over Gentiles. But Satan more completely is the ruler of the unbelieving world. Unbelief crucifies Jesus. Joseph Benson (1749-1821) comments that "the devil, who has so long reigned in the hearts of the children of disobedience, is about to be dethroned." At the time of the resurrection and ascension is the declaration that Jesus is indeed the Son of God and Satan's control of the minds of the disobedience would begin to vanish. His kingdom begins to decline. He is cast out. At the cross, Satan throws everything at Jesus but Jesus passes through death and is resurrected, defeating death and Satan. 

(3) And as Satan is cast out, conversely Jesus is "lifted up," drawing men to Himself in setting up His kingdom on earth and in heaven. Up to this point, the ruler has drawn all people to himself, but now Jesus will draw all men to Himself. Some have been believing up to this point (like in John 10:42). Jesus has been speaking his message and some have believed. His message has been primarily to the Jewish people. But once resurrected, in contrast, all will the opportunity to believe. The resurrection and ascension will signal a huge birth of the Church. And now people from all kinds of backgrounds, from every tribe and tongue, from every culture, will now come to Jesus and the kingdom will grow. 

Summary: The Father has a purpose at judgment and that is to cast out the prince of this world, Satan, and Jesus by his resurrection and ascension will draw men to Himself at an alarming rate. 

Promise: There is no longer any distinction in the people that will be drawn to Him upon the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. All will have an opportunity. 

Prayer: Lord, you have taught me something today, that brings some truths together, regarding how through your resurrection and ascension all people will be drawn to you. In your time walking this earth,  your mission was primarily to Jews though some Greeks slipped in, but following your death, burial and resurrection all will come to know You Jesus as Savior and Lord. All will believe in You. The Truth of You will be more clearly seen. Thank you for this lesson and walking me through it. Help us to continue to be confident and excited about those that are coming to know You, maybe not simply on our American soil but many throughout the World still, in other parts of this world. Lord, be glorified. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 12:27-30 - Hearing a Voice from Heaven

John 12:27-30

27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes.

Message: Hearing a Voice from Heaven

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: In the Open Bible, starting with verse 23, it has given a heading of "The Messiah Teaches" from verse 23 to the end of the chapter, verse 50. So this is an interesting discourse that Jesus is giving now and John has witnessed and wrote down for us to read. Verse 20 mentions Greeks coming to worship Jesus and so the words now from Jesus seem to be a response to this. 

In verse 27-30 Jesus almost is talking to Himself and others are witnessing. In verse 23, He has mentioned "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." John Gill (1697-1771, pastor beginning in 1719 for 51 years in Southwark (oldest district of London)) mentions this: 

that the son of man should be glorified; by rising from the dead, ascending to heaven, sitting at the right hand of God, and from thence pouring forth the Spirit upon his disciples, who should go and preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, as well as Jews; and which would issue in the conversion of many of them, and so in his glory, of which the coming of these Greeks was an earnest. 

In verse 27 is Jesus' honest reflection on this moment, anticipating the death that is coming. Though this is His destiny, He still struggles with it. He is "troubled." He wants to be saved from this hour. He is completely man, exhibiting the challenges that man faces when he is approaching something difficult. He is troubled about facing the judgment of God. The Christian has a peace about this judgment for believing in Jesus an trusting Him alone for their salvation. Often we will say that God might look at us and ask us why He should let us into heaven and we would respond because we are trusting in the blood of Jesus alone. Our hope is that at that moment our works will not be judged and yet I think we need to still hold onto some sort of fear for this judgment. We still should fear God.

Following these statements, Jesus still he sees His purpose and knows that the Father will be glorified. And then a voice from heaven speaks out confirming this - confirming that this is the intended outcome and goal of Jesus. God the Father speaks to the history of mankind in the statement, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." 

People heard the voice from heaven. And Jesus confirms that all that will transpire, his death, will be for the sake of all of them. All that Jesus will do and the Father's purpose is for the sake of mankind. 

Tabletalk makes this last statement in the devotion for today (July 9, 2018) - "God reveals (v. 28) that the cross will mark a new era in His dealings with His people, assuring them of their salvation." This is an interesting statement and it seems to be saying that 'a new era' is a new dispensation which is a new order at a particular time. And that order is people will be assured of their salvation. Why? Because Jesus will have achieved the defeat of death that all prior had been looking forward to His doing. So perhaps those in the past held onto a promise but now going forward people will be able to hold onto the actual event - the death, burial and resurrection event - as providing each person now complete assurance of their salvation. 

Summary: Jesus admits he is troubled about future judgment before God and yet God has a purpose for people, to give them assurance and Jesus submits to this. 

Promise: God is willing to go above and beyond in making Himself clear to us. 

Prayer: O God, thank you for the peace that is found in You and the honesty that you speak to me about what you experience, troubled about God's judgment and possibly death. But sometimes God we must go through these things that are tough. Help me to stay focused on the future and good things that You will do even when I don't understand it at the time. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.