John 13:31-35

31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.

32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.

33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

when he had gone out (v. 31) — Judas, on his way to betray Jesus

 Now (v.31) speaking of the near future, which was a certainty. He spoke of His death as glory. The Cross was testimony to God’s power, justice, holiness, faithfulness and love.

Son of Man (v.31) — Jewish name for the Messiah

Christ was preparing His disciples for the horror of the next day. He begins with the assurance that the Messiah was already glorified — and more glory was to come (the Cross, His atoning work and His return to the Father where He would sit on His right hand).

little children (v. 33) = believers. Christ never used this term while Judas was part of the company.

a little while longer (v. 33) = a very short time (Greek — mikron)

as I said to the Jews (v. 33) — John 8:21

you cannot come (v. 33) — as in the Old Testament type (Leviticus 16:17) when the high priest went into the Holy Place to make atonement.

He promised to return to them (John 14:1-4), but in the meantime, He gives them a new commandment (John 15:12). In the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:18), it was “love your neighbor as yourself.” Now it was “love as I have loved.”

But wherein was Christ’s death on the Cross His glorification? Notice, first, that He said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified.” It was the Son of God as incarnate who was “glorified” on the cross. But how? Wherein? First, in that He there performed the greatest work which the whole history of the entire universe ever witnessed, or ever will witness. For it the centuries waited; to it the centuries look back. Second, because there He reversed the conduct of the first man. The first Adam was disobedient unto death, the last Adam was obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. The glory of man is to glorify God; and never was God more glorified than when His own incarnate Son laid down His life in submission to His command (John 10:18); and never was human nature so glorified as when the Son of Man thus glorified God. Third, because through death He destroyed him who had the power of death, that is the devil (Hebrews 2:14) … Fourth, because at the Cross was paid the ransom-price which purchased for Himself all [who are saved] … Finally, by virtue of His Cross-work, a glory was acquired by the Mediator: there is now a glorified Man at God’s right hand. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:10). — Pink, pages 336-337.

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