I) The Story:

Today's Gospel is a strange story- it doesn't follow- Greeks come to see Jesus. These are non-Jews; folks that have come from a long way away to worship the living God in Jerusalem at Passover- and somehow, now that folks from the rest of the outside world have come to find Jesus, perhaps adding to the "glory" of Jesus, it triggers an odd response.

You may notice that as Phillip goes to Andrew, and then they go to Jesus-no more Greeks! The Greeks disappear. There is no more mention of them! This long introduction, this big news that the Greeks have heard about Jesus, and -poof- no more mention of them. And then there's Jesus' odd response:

[23] Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." What does he mean?

II) The Glory

This word 'glory' is an important word in John. We haven't talked about it yet this year, but it's one he uses 26 times. It's used in various ways, but often, it is a code word for Jesus speaking about his death.

Wait- being "glorified" means "death?" When we look at the life and ministry of Jesus, is that where you'd say Jesus was glorified? I'd say his resurrection was when we see his glory! From the human perspective, I'd say that's more like it.

But that's not Jesus' perspective. Way back in chapter 3 Jesus starts talking about his crucifixion. He says to Nicodemus, John 3:14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, And later in John 8:28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be... And John 12:32

"But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

In the original language Jesus spoke, Aramaic, this 'lifting up' is a pun- lifting up meaning being lifted on a Cross, and 'lifted up' meaning 'praised' or 'glorified.'

We see this odd connection again in John 11:4 Jesus has just heard that Lazarus is sick: But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Lazarus is going to be raised from the dead- Jesus will receive a great deal of human glory through this- but it will also lead directly to the authorities lifting him up on a Cross. The price of his glorification would be his death, which is also his "glorification" in John. And his death, even though they thought they were just lifting him up on a Cross to destroy him, they instead were beginning the resurrection process.

Remember, in John, we get Jesus' view of what's going on. He lays down his life, and he takes it up again. He is in charge. They think they're killing him. Instead, they are beginning his victory over death. He is laying down his life that he may raise it up again.

That's not the way the world works, but then again, the world does not know anything about life. All it knows death and the fear of death. Jesus can walk into death, and see it as being glorified, because he is Lord of life and death. He lays down his life, to take it up again, once he has paid the price.

The world chases after glory, after million dollar contracts, news stories and pictures on TV. Jesus lays it all down, so that he can conquer it. He plays the game backward, as far as the world is concerned.

III) No Glory but Through the Cross

|:Jesus was glorified, but it was only through the Cross.:| Without that concept, we lose Christianity. We don't just lose an important concept- we lose the whole thing. Without the Cross, we lose Christianity.

To follow Jesus doesn't mean you have to clean yourself up to impress Jesus. That's what Luther would call a 'theology of glory'- the idea that to be a Christian means to try to gain Christ's glory. To be a Christian doesn't mean you have to make yourself perfect; it doesn't mean you have to make yourself good enough to be a Christian and approach Christ's glory. To be a Christian doesn't mean to make yourself worthy, nor successful, nor that you have to be really, really smart nor even really, really, really know your Bible; nor is it to really learn Biblical principals and really, really obey them so you can really be a good Christian- you don't become a Christian by doing all those things to change yourself to earn anything from God. You can't get anywhere on your own glory or effort. Our old nature loves to play games like that- but it's only a sad, sad game.

Those are all 'theologies of glory' that claim that to be a Christian you have to do something- to approach Christ's glory. You've got to try to climb your way, at least part way, to heaven. Theologies of glory say you have to try approach Christ's glory- what a futile goal! That was the mistake the medieval church fell into that Luther set out to correct. He called the Biblical teaching "the theology of the Cross."

The 'theology of the Cross' sets the theology of glory on its head. You can't do anything. You can't impress God. You can't earn anything. You can't love God by yourself, in fact, all you can do is rebel, look out for yourself and try to be religious. You can play deeper and deeper games- but it's still a theology of glory that tries to get you launched to heaven- but doesn't get one inch off the ground. You can't do anything to fix yourself up enough to approach God's glory.

When I was just beginning to drive, my mom had an old 1959 Volkswagen. It was a cute car, but had a bit of primer spray on it from its former owner's handiwork. So, my friend Craig and I decided we'd paint Mom's car. I'm not sure if Mom was trusting, gullible or doting, but she actually let us. He had a $29.99 spray gun, and he had painted a couple things, so we thought we could do it. We went up to the hardware store, bought a quart of black enamel and some thinner, masked the windshield and trim for the most part, and went to work.

Out there on the driveway on that summer's day, we painted Mom's car. Sorta. It was all the same color. So was part of the trim. With bugs, and dust, and glorious hardware store paint. It looked a bit better; but it didn't look right. At least we didn't use a roller!

All of our attempts to glorify ourselves to reach God are about as effective as our custom paint job. They are always vain attempts to improve ourselves- falling as short as our sorta black VW. Our attempts at glory all fall short. We can't reach up to God's glory.

But the Cross comes all the way down to the ground. Jesus comes right to where you are. He has come to bring his glory to you- and it's on a Cross. He meets you in your brokenness. He enters deeply into your pain, your hurts, your shame, your bitterness, your bragging, your religiosity, your pride, your excuses, your loss, everything that breaks you down like those criminals on each side of him- he meets you right there. Right in the depths of the dark things you don't even want to admit. In the midst of your shame. In the midst of your shortcomings. In the midst of the things you don't want any other human being to know-

Right there is the foot of the Cross. Right there at the deepest, lowest, most shameful point of your pain. Right there is the foot of the Cross. And that's right where Jesus meets you this morning. So you can be forgiven. So you can experience peace and newness. No more excuses; he's right there at your worst. And he reaches out to you with nail-scarred hands and embraces you.

It's been so refreshing having some guys from New Hope Center being a part of our church these last couple years. What a great joy, and what a mighty work God has done in their lives. We rejoice in what they've re-taught us about the Cross and its power.

So where does God work? In the midst of lives that know that they're broken. One of the great dangers of walking the Christian walk is that we get comfortable with ourselves. There's a danger in that we don't see sin in ourselves anymore. Sin is something bad people do. Sin is something we used to experience, but now that we've been walking this walk for a long time, we've dealt with the big sins. We don't get caught up in the visible stuff. And we are so used to hearing we're forgiven that perhaps, just perhaps that the power of the Cross is wasted on us.

My parents moved to Little Canada in 1940. They had both grown up in cities, and had lived with electricity as a normal thing. When they moved to Little Canada, they began to build a house- only to have a little thing called WWII come up. Suddenly, all of the copper was going to the war effort, so no more wires could be strung by NSP. They waited. They learned to use kerosene lamps and even pump water by hand. They did that until 1947! For seven years they re-learned about how life was before electricity. Soon they had central heat, a steam iron, a refrigerator, running water and even a water heater! Five miles north of the state capitol!

They never again stopped being amazed at the wonder of electricity. All that power on the other end of those little prongs!

Have we become jaded to the power of God in the Cross? Do we take forgiveness for granted? Do we really ponder our complete helplessness and the truth of the Cross that meets us right where we're at? Jesus paid the price. Jesus came to meet you right where you're at. That's the Cross.

Invitation, Amen.

All forms of "glory" in John: 1:14; 2:11; 5:41; 5:44; 7:18; 7:39; 8:50; 8:54; 9:24; 11:4; 11:40; 12:16; 12:23; 12:28; 12:41; 12:43; 13:31-32; 14:13; 15:8; 16:14; 17:1; 17:4-5; 17:10; 17:22; 17:24; 21:19

P-18

Exodus 19:7-13

So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. [8] The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.

[9] The LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said.

[10] And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes [11] and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. [12] Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, 'Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. [13] He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.' Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain."

Philip. 1:18b-24

The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, [19] for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. [20] I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. [21] For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. [22] If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! [23] I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; [24] but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

John 12:20-30

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. [21] They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." [22] Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

[23] Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. [24] I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. [25] The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. [26] Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

[27] "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. [28] Father, glorify your name!"

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." [29] The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

[30] Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.