Jesus is in the upper room with his disciples, eating the Passover meal. He knew that this was the end of his time on earth. He tells them that one of them will betray him and deliver him into the hands of his enemies. For the Apostles, this is a hard thing to understand. All but one have the greatest of respect for him as a friend and teacher. It is unimaginable for them to think there is one of them that does not feel this way about Jesus. This thought brought fear to their hearts and minds to imagen that they might be the one. What could make them do such a thing?
One of them looked the same as the rest and pretended to act the same as the rest. Judas knew Jesus was talking about him. What did Judas think at that moment? He was a skilled liar, and we are told that he was a thief. After the fact, they must have found out that funds went a lot farther when an honest person was managing the funds. He played along with the rest. Perhaps he thought someone had told Jesus that someone was betraying him, but he had not been told who it was.
If one can live in such great contact with the Savior, and can still turn the heart from Him. Is it possible that many in churches today look like children of God but are, in fact, children of the devil? Pretending to be what they are not claiming to know the truth that they have never experienced themselves. We can ask questions, but we never know for sure if someone else is saved or not. We must take their word for it. We are as clueless in this matter as the apostles were concerning Judas. The church must be a place of personal examination. It is easy to think someone else needs the message, but the reality is that every sermon is for the person that hears it. God always has something He wants you to get a hold of and implement or improve on in your life. We must examine our hearts and listen for the voice of God instructing us. The only salvation we can be sure of is our own.
Jesus identifies the traitor and sends him out to do what was in his heart. Judas leaves the house, and the rest think that he is going out to do business. Jesus is left with the eleven disciples who had believed. Those who remained were His own dearly loved disciples. Now, he can continue with the last instructions and encouragement that these men need for the next few days.
“Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.” (John 13:31-32)
Jesus knew that there was not years, months, or days left before the purpose of his coming would be done. There were only hours left before he would be arrested, tried, and crucified. The final events had now been set in motion.
How would he be glorified? He will is glorified because his purpose will be fulfilled. He was speaking of the cross; this is how Jesus was to be glorified. When the sinless God-man died for sinful men.
Jesus glorified the father in the cross by his obedience to His will, by establishing the New Covenant with his blood, by finishing the work that God had sent Him to do, and by the satisfaction of God’s justice.
God glorified Jesus in the miracles at the crucifixion. These include the captors falling back at his arrest, the darkness at midday, the earthquake, the dead rising, the temple curtain tarring top to bottom. Jesus was glorified in the resurrection, ascension, and by taking His place at the right hand of the father.
“… who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrew 12:2) This speaks of all of the glorification to come for Jesus. The brutal beatings, the scourging, the thorns piercing, the burdened walk, the nails driven, and the agonizing hours. What we see as horror, Jesus met with joy. What we see as humiliation Jesus saw as glory. (John 19:16-37) With the cross came the forgiveness of sins, victory over death, new life in Christ, the defeat of Satan. The cross was the glorification of Christ.