John 13:31-33, Now Is the Son of Man Glorified

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.  32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.  33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’” 

With the departure of Judas, Jesus turns to his disciples to prepare them for their post-Easter ministry. In his betrayal, Judas has set into place the passion of Jesus. Knowing this, Jesus declares, “Now is the Son of Man glorified.” This glory is the glory of sonship and all that entails for Jesus in his arrest, beatings, interrogations, humiliation, mock trial, flogging, and crucifixion. All of this will likewise bring glory to God in and through Jesus’ submission. 

At this point we must step back in complete and total amazement. Who would have ever thought up this crazy scheme? What kind of God would let his creatures “uncreate” him? Only a God totally committed to revealing his inner-most character and perfect love to his creation would do this. No human being would make up this story. Its author can only be divine. 

Jesus tells his disciples, his “little children,” that what he is about to do they cannot do. They cannot be with him. Only he can do this work. At the Passover meal, it is the job of the elder male of the family to teach the children, the next generation that will follow Yahweh, what the meaning of Passover is. And so, Jesus begins to lay out to his disciples what the next generation (they) will do.” 

Lord God, your Son brought glory to you in facing his passion in total submission to you. Through your ever-present Spirit, assist us to submit our wills to yours, following the commands and examples of Jesus, that we too may bring glory to you in our generation. Amen.