March 18, 2018, The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Sermon Hymn: “Glory Be to Jesus”

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

When you think of “glory,” what comes to mind? For example: An Olympian champion standing on the podium and receiving the gold medal. An actor getting an Oscar. A rock star performing on a spectacular stage. Glory is a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Glory is so radiant, that not only the glorious object, but those people who observe it are also emotionally moved and so share in that glory. We are all proud when our country’s athlete receives a gold medal. We are excited when our candidate or our team wins. We say “Ah” when the day ends in a glorious sunset.

The opposite of “glory” perhaps is “shame.” Even onlookers feel shame when the former object of glory is discredited and punished. If glory is so radiant that it makes other people proud, then shame sucks others into its defeat and gloom.

How about the glory of Jesus? There is the radiant glory of his transfiguration, his resurrection, his ascension, and of course his coming again at the end of the age. Because of his miracles, and especially the miracle of raising his friend Lazarus from the dead, the crowds waved palm branches and welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with glorious shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!” We, too, celebrate in this glory of Jesus.

In John Chapter Twelve, Jesus speaks of his glory. He is lifted up in glory when he is lifted up high on the cross. Often Jesus speaks paradoxes. Sometimes he gives new prophetic meanings to old words. His glory and victory are what most people would think of as shame and defeat. He says his death on the cross is his glory. It is glory because in his death he defeated the devil when he took our sins upon himself and died in our place. He is doing such a great thing that it surely is his most glorious hour. His death is so glorious that it is like the seed that is planted in the ground, like being buried, it dies as a seed becoming a new plant that produces many seeds. In the same way, Jesus dies and gives life to many people. The new crop is very glorious.

When Olympic champions receive glory, they are invited to come up on to the platform. Promotions are a step up when people are raised up in status. To receive his glory, Jesus, too, is raised up. He will be raised up on the cross. Jesus knew that this was the plan of God. He knew that this is why he was born in Bethlehem. He knew that the cross would be his hour of glory.

People are attracted by scenes of glory, but shun scenes of shame. However, in Jesus, it is different. He said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” And so we Christians are attracted to the cross. The symbol of shame and death has become the symbol of glory and victory.

There is one more thing in today’s Gospel reading that I think is important for us who are not born as Jews. Some Greeks came to Jesus. I want to read the first part of the story again.

20 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. …..… 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!”

I think that these words are important because they say that salvation is for the whole world. The Greeks represent all the Gentiles, including us, who seek Jesus. The hour of glory for the Son of Man is for the salvation of the world. The Jews thought that only they were the only nation whom God loved. But John 3:16 tells us that God wants to save the whole world. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” The Great Commission at the end of Matthew’s Gospel says, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus is one kernel of wheat that produces a bountiful crop for the whole world. Jesus invites all to be his followers and to serve him. The Father will honor those who serve Jesus. That honor of course is salvation.

And so this Gospel reading is an invitation for us also to seek Jesus. We, too, would like to see Jesus. We, too, would like to meet him. And so we do in Word and Sacrament. But what do we want to see? Do we want to see suffering and death? Do we want to see the shame of Jesus? Do we want to die like Jesus? No, we would rather see the miracles of Jesus. We want to be healed. We want to become successful. We want cash. We want fun. This is what many people want to see when they come to church. This is the “glory” that they want to see. We want Jesus to raise us up—up out of depression or defeat. But when we look for the things of this world, rather than trusting in God for our daily bread, we miss seeing Jesus. We are thinking more of our own glory than the glory of Jesus. But that will lead to shame, everlasting shame. As Jesus says, “25 The man who loves his life will lose it.”

The Good News is that Jesus sees us. Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” He sees us in our sin and shame. He sees that we do not know where to look. And so he is raised up high on the cross so that we can all look up and see him. As Jesus said, “32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” And “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.” In the midst of shame there is glory. In the midst of sin there is forgiveness. In the midst of death there is resurrection. This is when and where we see the real glory of Jesus.

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church

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