The cross is the manifestation of His glory

John Owen, et al.

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

John 12:23, "Jesus replied: The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified."

John 13:31, "When Judas had gone out, Jesus said: Now the Son of Man is glorified!"

Jesus Himself calls His coming suffering and death, His glory.
The crown of thorns was His glory.
The scourging was His glory.
The spitting and mocking were His glory.
The nails and spear were His glory.
The shame was His glory.
The Father's forsaking was His glory.
His sin-atoning sacrifice was His glory.

There was an unseen glory accompanying Jesus in all that He did, and all that He suffered. The world saw no beauty in Him, and wicked men crucified Him as though He were a despicable criminal. Yet faith beholds what unbelief cannot see: the glory of the eternal Son of God humbling Himself to become the sin-atoning Savior of His people.

Consider the wonder of His obedience. He came saying, "I have come to do Your will, O God." Every act of obedience, was therefore an act of infinite condescension, wisdom, grace, and love. The One whom angels worshiped, became obedient in the lowliest duties. The One who made all things, submitted Himself to the Father's will in all things.

And why did He obey? Not for Himself, but for His people. We were under the obligation of perfect obedience, but could never render it. Jesus rendered His perfect obedience in our place, so that "through the obedience of the one Man, the many will be made righteous." His impeccable righteousness, is imputed of His people.

But the glory of His obedience shines most brightly at Calvary. The eternal Son willingly suffered and died in the place of guilty sinners. He bore the wrath of God, for the curse which our sins deserved. He made His soul an offering for sin. The righteous One stood in the place of the unrighteous, that the guilty might be reconciled to God.

Here is the mystery that should overwhelm every redeemed heart: He paid what He never owed, that sinners might receive what they could never earn. The One who deserved no curse willingly became a curse for His people, that they might receive eternal blessing. The One who knew no sin was punished as sin's great Substitute, that those who believe might be clothed in His righteousness.

The cross is the manifestation of His glory. What the world regarded as weakness, was the wisdom and grace of God. What unbelieving eyes saw as shame, faith beholds as beauty. What appeared to be the darkest hour of His humiliation, was the hour in which His redeeming love shone with incomparable splendor.

O believer, behold Jesus! Look away from yourself, your sins, your corruptions, and your unworthiness -- and behold the One who willingly obeyed for you, suffered for you, bled for you, and died for you. Let your soul bow in adoration before such love and condescension. Let every accusation of conscience drive you afresh to His sin-atoning sacrifice. There is no greater marvel for us to behold, than the eternal Son of God willingly becoming the obedient, suffering, sin-atoning Savior of His people.

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Today's choice AI resource: The Glorious Christ!