Right after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem Jesus goes on to speak of his impending sacrificial death as his time of ‘glorification’. By normal standards his triumphal entry would have been seen as a time of glorification, but Jesus rejects that. At his entry into Jerusalem people cheered him and hailed him as King, whereas, at his crucifixion, the people jeered and mocked him. Yet Jesus refers to the latter as his time of glorification! Why? The answer is found in Jesus’ distinct idea of ‘glory’. ‘Glory’ is the manifestation of the full worth or significance of someone or something. Deep down, we all long for glorification and that indeed is the goal of God’s work in us (Romans 8:30). However, our disoriented hearts often confuse glorification with fame. Fame is purely external and relatively superficial; it is generally gained by your achievements. It is not a reflection of your intrinsic worth. In fact, fame can be dangerous because it confuses adulation with intrinsic worth. Imagine what happens, then, when the adulation ceases. Jesus’ glorification would be the manifestation of his true significance and worthiness. He would become the ‘worthy lamb’ (Revelation 5:12) who would pay for the sins of the world. In this his full divinity would also be manifest. Our glorification likewise, is the manifestation of our intrinsic worth. As the image bearers of God, human beings were created to manifest his glory. As God restores us, through the work of Christ, this glorious image is also emerging again. This is our glory, it is the emerging manifestation of the image of God in us.
Ask God to continue to transform you into the image of his son.
Read John 12:20-36 along with Romans 8:28-30
