Thoughts on the Gospel of John (114) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.
John 12:27.28.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (114)
What troubled the Lord's heart so much that words failed Him? When people opposed Him in all their hatred, He always remained calm. It was in the garden of Gethsemane that we first see Him in this state of mind. He foresaw all the suffering that He, the Son of God, would undergo in the hands of men and God. His hour had come. He had already spoken of it, when He said that He, the grain of wheat, would fall into the ground and die.

John's gospel does not mention the terrible struggle in Gethsemane specifically, but we sense the weighty burden of approaching death on the Lord's soul. Nevertheless, He is still perfect Man. He can anticipate the unspeakable gravity of imminent judgment. He would be abandoned by God, something He could not wish for. Should He then ask God not to turn from Him? He had come to save mankind from God's fearful judgment! So He prayed, "Father, glorify your name!"

This request corresponded perfectly to the Father's mind, so that He responded immediately from heaven. The Lord Jesus had glorified the Father's Name throughout His life, particularly in the raising of Lazarus. Now the Father's Name was to be glorified again through the death and resurrection of His Son. As a result, "life and immortality (were) brought to light" (2 Timothy 1:10).

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today's reading: 1 Chronicles 28:1-21 · 1 Timothy 4:1-6