Last Supper, miniature from a Psalter, in Latin [Alsace (Strasbourg), c.1220-40] on vellum – This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or fewer.

“Now is the Son of man glorified and God is glorified in Him.” – from John 13:31

You have to take it all as a package or there is no glory.

Jesus understood that these final days were one great redemptive event – from mingling with the crowds and teaching them, to provoking the Sanhedrin with His very presence, to the upper room, the washing of feet, the prayers in the garden, betrayal, denial, and on to the cross. It was the process of God glorifying Himself in His Son.

It was all part of the package: His life, death, and resurrection were one magnificent demonstration of the power of God.

Jesus had spoken similar words when some gentiles had come looking for Him. He responded that the coming of these men was an indication that He was soon to be lifted up from the earth and to draw all men unto Him. Lifting up could mean exaltation or crucifixion. In this case, it meant both. He moves from tragedy to triumph in a split second intersection of time and eternity.

This time he speaks of being glorified as he confronts the one who will betray him. This is strange to our warped thinking. But this is Jesus who donned the apron and wiped his disciple’s feet. This is the one who taught that the path to greatness is servanthood. This is the Master of great reversals.

Our Lord never lost sight of the big picture.

In John's portrait of Jesus, contrasting in  emphasis from those in the Synoptic Gospels, the Passion is about glory, being lifted up.

Jesus didn’t stop with cross in his panoramic view of his mission. He didn’t even end the story with rising from the dead. He taught his friends that he was going to the Father through this path of glory and that he would come to them in a new way to indwell them, that they might do even greater works.

He promised further that He would come again visibly to introduce a grand new eternal day.

It was about glory.

It is still about glory.

Look ahead to Sunday without missing today, its reality, darkness, and profound sadness.

Look ahead for perspective.

Take a walk in the garden this morning where there is an empty hole in a rock, a barren place where death once dwelt.

What do you notice but emptiness?

He is not there. He is risen!

The work of redemption is done. It was worth it all. The pain and the suffering have accomplished their ends. He is alive and we can live also. What name do you give to your pain of the moment, your struggle of this hour?

Call it suffering or call it glory. It all depends upon whether you view it from the present or from the resurrection.

Now is the Son of man glorified

It is is a path he has walked and a way he has built for us to follow. The degrees of difficulty vary from person to person and from season to season.

But this end of the game is glory.